Engineer III - Traffic

Milwaukee Succeeds; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Waukesha seeks an experienced Traffic Engineer to plan, design and manage public works projects in the Traffic area, reporting to the City Engineer and Director of Public Works. Expect coordination of multi-party contracts, plan reviews, and public information sessions.

Responsibilities include traffic studies, signal timing, signing/pavement marking oversight, and technical leadership on transportation projects. PTOE within 18 months; WI PE license required.

Qualifications

• Requires Civil Engineering degree and Wisconsin PE license.
• PTOE certification within 18 months of hire.
• Experience with public works and traffic engineering.
• Ability to manage complex projects and multitask.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, supervise, and review plans, drawings, specs and estimates for public works projects.
• Lead multiple complex construction projects and manage contracts with consultants and vendors.
• Coordinate with City departments, staff, and public outreach activities.
• Lead public information meetings and cross-governmental coordination.
• Oversee traffic signal systems, signing, and pavement markings; conduct traffic studies.

Skills

Public speaking

Communication skills

Project management

Leadership

Budgeting

Multitasking

Education

Civil engineering degree

Professional Engineer license (WI)

PTOE certification (within 18 months)

Job description

This position works closely with the City Engineer and the Director of Public Works in planning, designing and managing projects within a particular area of responsibility (Traffic).
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, occasional weekend/evening hours
Initial interviews: TBD for those selected to move forward in the process
Tentative start date: TBD
Explore the City's 2026 benefits here: City of Waukesha 2026 Benefit Guide
Explore the City's 2027 benefits here: City of Waukesha 2027 Benefit Guide

Essential Job Functions

The job functions listed herein are neither exclusive nor exhaustive but are intended to be illustrative of the types of tasks the employee will most likely be expected to perform on a regular basis. The employee may be asked to perform different or additional tasks than the ones listed here, as the needs of the employer and/or the requirements of the position change.

General:

• Prepares, supervises, and reviews the preparation of complete plans, drawings, specifications and estimates for public works projects for compliance with codes, regulations and standards, and for compliance with approved plans.
• Manages multiple complex construction projects from beginning to end including the direct purchasing of materials, inspection and survey staff and public outreach.
• Manages construction projects for other City departments.
• Leads Public Information meetings and meetings with other local agencies related to project development, safety issues and other cross-governmental coordination.
• Manages multi-party contracts between the City and consulting firms for necessary services.
• Prepares Requests for Proposals/Quotes for consult and services.
• Attends Committee, Board and Council meetings, as needed.
• Oversees and checks the design work of other Engineers in the Department.
• Coordinates with DPW operation and maintenance crews.
• Must make independent judgments and decisions with little guidance.
• Competes technical engineering research work and compiles comprehensive reports with effective recommendations on engineering problems.

• Prepares, supervises, and reviews the preparation of complete plans, drawings, specifications and estimates for public works projects for compliance with codes, regulations and standards, and for compliance with approved plans.
• Manages multiple complex construction projects from beginning to end including the direct purchasing of materials, inspection and survey staff and public outreach.
• Manages construction projects for other City departments.
• Leads Public Information meetings and meetings with other local agencies related to project development, safety issues and other cross-governmental coordination.
• Manages multi-party contracts between the City and consulting firms for necessary services.
• Prepares Requests for Proposals/Quotes for consult and services.
• Attends Committee, Board and Council meetings, as needed.
• Oversees and checks the design work of other Engineers in the Department.
• Coordinates with DPW operation and maintenance crews.
• Must make independent judgments and decisions with little guidance.
• Responsible for major input into developing Departmental policies.
• Competes technical engineering research work and compiles comprehensive reports with effective recommendations on engineering problems.

• Reviews, investigates and responds to resident traffic inquiries.
• Serves as staff Engineer for the Building & Grounds (B & G) committee; reviews referrals from council, formulates recommendations to B & G, prepares bi-weekly agenda, attends and runs the meetings; prepares meeting minutes and corresponding reports to council.
• Performs traffic engineering data collection including analysis of traffic flow, speed studies and safety issues; issues summary of findings and recommendations for action and associated costs.
• Performs traffic studies reviews, such as Development Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA), transportation corridor traffic studies related to improvement projects and review of traffic capacity analysis; develops comments and dispositions related to transportation infrastructure improvements.
• Oversees the design and operation of 65+ traffic signals in the City; reviews traffic signal data collection; reviews and performs traffic signal capacity analysis; reviews and develops new traffic signal timing plans; designs traffic signal systems; reviews consultant traffic signal designs; develops contracts for yearly traffic signal preventative maintenance; assist the signal electrician with troubleshooting and operational issues.
• Reviews all signing related issues, including plan reviews; sign installations association with B & G committee resolutions; review and replacement design of all non-compliant signs; preparation of detailed sign work orders for the shop; reviews and administers the sign inventory database.
• Reviews all pavement marking related issues, including plan reviews; prepares and administers the yearly centerline marking contact and work orders to the shop for yearly pavement marking upgrades and maintenance.
• Lead Engineer related to traffic signals, pedestrian safety or signal system operations, including designing improvements; assisting with preparation of plans; developing bid items and specifications; review of plans and specifications for other City projects; and developing and monitoring costs and general administration.
• Monitors Citywide traffic and pedestrian accident issues; maintains a database; reviews safety upgrade opportunities; applies for state and federal construction grants for safety improvements.
• Reviews and updates weight restrictions and truck routes within the City street network.
• Performs ongoing review and development of policies and best practices related to safety, traffic studies, traffic signal, signing and pavement marking.
• Attends Public Information meetings and meetings with other local agencies related to project development, safety issues and other cross-governmental coordination.
• Serves as the railroad project manager for the City; works with railroad personnel to keep railroad crossings in good condition; maintains the Quiet Zone.
• Approves all permits for special event street closings.
• Supervises and coordinates Engineering design and technical staff including hiring of new staff, and completing performance reviews and discipline issuance as needed.

Requirements of Work

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in Civil Engineering and additional education to obtain and maintain a Wisconsin Professional Engineer License, and at least 10 years of civil engineering experience; a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) certification is required for the Traffic Engineering position (within 18 months of hire); or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the following knowledge, ability and skills:

Knowledge of

• Applicable local, state and federal laws, regulations and policies.
• The principles and practices of municipal civil engineering.
• Investigation, design, and construction of general public works projects.
• The principles and practices of administrative management in the public sector.
• The principles and practices of civil, structural, traffic and/or hydraulic engineering as applied to the preparation of plans, designs, estimates, and specifications for public works engineering projects.
• Surveying, staking, inspection and related construction inspection procedures, materials, equipment, and methods.
• Report writing and preparation.
• The use of standard office equipment including computers and relevant software programs.
• Occupational hazards and the safety precautions used to avoid or minimize risks.

Ability to

• Assign, manage and supervise the work of others.
• Multitask and prioritize workload.
• Perform difficult technical engineering research and compile comprehensive reports with effective recommendations on engineering problems.
• Perform heavy physical tasks under varying weather conditions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, subordinates, other City employees, contractors, and the general public.

Skill in

• Public speaking and presentation.
• Oral and written communications.
• Organization and time management.
• Budgeting and preparing cost estimates on complex projects.
• The use of specialized equipment and technology.

Necessary Special Requirements

Professional Engineer License; valid Wisconsin driver's license; a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) certification is required for the Traffic Engineering position within 18 months of hire.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is performed mostly in an indoor office setting, where hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment; employee also does work outdoors in all types of weather when making site visits and is, at times, exposed to hazardous conditions when making an inspection or working out in the field.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, prolonged visual concentration and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk and hear; use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to bend, balance, stoop, kneel or crouch.
• The employee may occasionally be exposed to adverse weather and other unpleasant conditions such as heat, cold, wetness and humidity; dust, noise, vibrations, toxic agents and electrical currents.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

The City of Waukesha is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is not typical for someone to be hired at or near the top of the salary range. The specific compensation offered to a candidate is reviewed and based off a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, certifications, and internal equity.

Internal City applicants: please review HR Policy F2 Salary Plan and Administration regarding promotions/transfers.