Lead Traffic Engineer

Personna Employment Solutions; Pasco (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus up to $8,000

Relocation assistance up to $5,000

Competitive salary and benefits

Job summary

Personna Employment Solutions is seeking a Lead Traffic Engineer / Traffic Engineering Manager to guide traffic operations, planning, and development review for a growing community in Washington state. You will act as the senior traffic engineering expert, shaping priorities and delivering multi-modal transportation improvements.

The role combines technical leadership with policy influence, mentoring staff, and communicating complex issues to officials, developers, and the public.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Traffic Engineering, Transportation Engineering, or closely related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in traffic/transportation planning or related field.
• Professional Engineer license with ability to reciprocity within six months.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Lead traffic operations and transportation planning efforts.
• Review traffic patterns and collision data to improve safety.
• Plan and deliver transportation-related capital projects from concept through construction.
• Mentor staff and strengthen internal standards and processes.
• Represent the organization to leadership, developers, and the public.
• Coordinate with state agencies, MPOs, transit providers, and consultants.

Skills

Traffic Engineering

Transportation Planning

Leadership

Project Management

Public Speaking

Written Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Civil/Transportation Engineering

Job description

Lead Traffic Engineer / Traffic Engineering Manager

Help Shape the Future of Transportation Infrastructure

We are seeking an experienced transportation professional to lead traffic engineering, traffic operations, development review, and long-range mobility planning for a rapidly growing community.

This is a highly visible role with the opportunity to influence how streets, intersections, signals, pedestrian routes, bicycle facilities, and future transportation investments are planned and delivered. You will serve as the organization’s senior traffic engineering expert, help establish priorities, guide complex projects, and provide trusted technical advice to public works leadership, elected officials, developers, consultants, and community partners.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with practical judgment, clear communication, and the ability to move projects from analysis to implementation. This position is well suited for an engineer who wants to do more than complete studies. You will help shape policy, guide investment decisions, mentor staff, solve real transportation challenges, and improve how people move throughout the community.

What You Will Be Doing

Lead Traffic Engineering and Transportation Planning

You will lead traffic operations, transportation planning, corridor studies, safety evaluations, and mobility improvement initiatives. This may include evaluating congestion, identifying operational improvements, recommending roadway modifications, and helping establish long-term transportation priorities.

Improve Traffic Flow and Roadway Safety

You will review traffic patterns, collision data, intersection performance, and roadway conditions to identify practical solutions that improve safety and mobility.

Examples may include:

• Evaluating a high-crash intersection and recommending signal, striping, signage, lighting, or geometric improvements
• Reviewing signal timing and coordination along a major corridor
• Analyzing intersection capacity and level of service
• Identifying pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements
• Developing recommendations for traffic calming, turn lanes, access changes, or roadway reconfiguration

Guide Transportation Infrastructure Projects

You will help plan and deliver transportation-related capital improvement projects from early concept development through design and construction.

Examples may include:

• Developing project scopes, schedules, budgets, and consultant assignments
• Reviewing engineering plans, technical reports, cost estimates, and specifications
• Coordinating with utilities, contractors, consultants, and other public agencies
• Supporting grant applications and funding strategies
• Monitoring projects to ensure they meet technical, financial, and schedule expectations

Review Development and Growth Impacts

You will evaluate how proposed residential, commercial, and industrial development will affect the transportation system. You will review traffic impact analyses, site plans, access locations, circulation patterns, and proposed mitigation measures.

You may be asked to determine:

• Whether a development requires turn lanes, signal improvements, frontage improvements, or pedestrian connections
• Whether proposed access points create operational or safety concerns
• Whether traffic studies and mitigation recommendations are technically sound
• How infrastructure improvements should be phased as development occurs

Provide Technical Leadership and Mentorship

You will serve as a technical resource for engineering staff and help strengthen the organization’s traffic engineering capabilities. Depending on the final structure of the role, this may include assigning work, reviewing technical analyses, mentoring engineers and technicians, and helping improve internal standards and processes.

Represent the Organization

You will communicate complex transportation issues in a clear and practical way. This may include presenting findings and recommendations to leadership, elected officials, developers, neighborhood groups, regional agencies, and members of the public.

You will also coordinate with state transportation agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, transit providers, neighboring jurisdictions, consultants, and other regional partners.

Support Policy, Standards, and Compliance

You will help ensure transportation improvements comply with adopted engineering standards, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, accessibility requirements, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

You may also help update transportation policies, design standards, development requirements, traffic study guidelines, and long-range planning documents.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a thoughtful and credible engineering leader who can evaluate complex information, make sound recommendations, and build trust across technical and nontechnical audiences.

The strongest candidates will bring:

• Strong knowledge of traffic engineering, traffic operations, transportation planning, and roadway safety
• Experience analyzing intersections, corridors, traffic signals, access, and development impacts
• Experience managing transportation projects, consultants, schedules, budgets, and technical deliverables
• The ability to translate engineering analysis into practical, implementable solutions
• Confidence presenting recommendations to leadership, elected officials, public agencies, developers, and community members
• Strong writing, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
• The ability to balance safety, mobility, development, funding, public expectations, and long-term infrastructure needs
• A collaborative leadership style and the ability to guide, mentor, and support other technical professionals

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Traffic Engineering, Transportation Engineering, or a closely related field
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in traffic engineering, transportation engineering, transportation planning, or a related field
• Professional Engineer license, with the ability to obtain reciprocity within six months of hire
• Valid Driver’s License

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading traffic engineering programs, technical staff, consultants, or complex transportation projects
• Experience working within public works, municipal government, county government, a state transportation agency, or another public-sector environment
• Experience with traffic signal systems, signal timing, corridor analysis, roadway safety, development review, and multimodal transportation planning
• Experience managing capital improvement projects from planning through construction
• Professional Traffic Operations Engineer certification
• Experience presenting technical recommendations to elected officials, executive leadership, public agencies, developers, or community groups
• Familiarity with transportation funding, grant programs, regional planning, and interagency coordination

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Sign-on bonus of up to $8,000, based on qualifications
• Relocation assistance of up to $5,000
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
• Opportunity to lead high-impact transportation initiatives
• Direct influence over long-range planning and capital investment priorities
• Visible role supporting public safety, economic development, and community growth
• Opportunity to mentor staff and help build a strong traffic engineering program
• Meaningful public-sector work with lasting community impact
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Employer-Paid Basic Life Insurance
• Vacation and Sick Leave Programs
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan with Employer Contribution
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Additional Voluntary Benefit Options

Ideal Professional Backgrounds

Traffic Engineering | Transportation Engineering | Traffic Operations | Transportation Planning | Public Works | Municipal Government | County Government | State Transportation Agencies | Transportation Consulting | Metropolitan Planning Organizations | Transit Agencies | Roadway Safety | Development Review | Capital Improvement Programs | Multimodal Transportation | Infrastructure Planning

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, military status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.

We encourage candidates from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the hiring process for qualified individuals with disabilities.