Principal Transportation Engineer

ICF; Dallas (TX); Remote; USD 131,000 - 223,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF seeks an experienced ITS/TSMO consultant to join our Transportation Operations team in a principal role focused on technical advisory, project delivery, and client relationship building. The position emphasizes strategic thinking, problem solving, and scoping work for federal and state transportation programs.

The candidate will lead planning, assessment, and roadmapping efforts for TSMO and ITS, supporting modernization and data-driven operations initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 12+ years of experience in TSMO/ITS or related consulting for public-sector clients.
• Experience leading planning and program implementation for state and federal clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead TSMO planning, strategy, technology assessment, and program implementation for state and federal clients.
• Analyze emerging transportation technologies and operational concepts (connected and automated vehicles, corridor management, data platforms, traffic management systems).
• Manage task orders and workstreams: scope, planning, staffing, scheduling, budgeting, quality control, subcontractor coordination.
• Develop client-ready deliverables: technical memos, strategic plans, roadmaps, business cases, performance frameworks, executive presentations.
• Facilitate client meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagement to build consensus and translate complex issues into actionable recommendations.
• Cultivate client relationships, identify follow-on opportunities, and support proposals and capture activities.
• Contribute to high-quality project delivery across assignments with senior leaders, peers, and technical staff.

Skills

Self-motivated

Proactive

Independent work

Ambiguity management

Trusted advisor

Clear communicator

Collaborative leader

Mentoring staff

Cross-functional collaboration

Market awareness

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Title

Principal Transportation Engineer

Location

Washington DC metro area, but remote work locations will be considered.

Overview

ICF is seeking an experienced ITS/TSMO consultant to join our Transportation Operations team. We work with federal and state transportation agencies to advance TSMO, ITS, technology modernization, and data-driven operations. The ideal candidate combines strong domain knowledge with a consultant mindset: strategic thinking, clear communication, collaborative problem solving, and the ability to help clients move from ideas to implementable solutions. This is a non-managerial role with the focus on technical advisory - managing task orders, supporting high-quality project delivery, building trusted client relationships, and help identifying opportunities for follow-on and new work.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead TSMO and ITS planning, strategy, technology assessment, and program implementation activities for state and federal transportation clients.
• Analyze emerging transportation technologies and operational concepts, including connected and automated vehicles, integrated corridor management, data platforms, traffic management systems, and digital modernization initiatives.
• Manage task orders and workstreams, including scope development, task planning, staffing coordination, schedule management, budgeting, quality control, and subcontractor coordination.
• Develop client-ready deliverables, including technical memoranda, strategic plans, implementation roadmaps, business cases, performance frameworks, and executive-level presentations.
• Facilitate client meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagement activities that build consensus, surface priorities, and translate complex issues into practical recommendations.
• Cultivate client relationships, identify follow-on opportunities, and support proposals, capture activities, and account growth efforts.
• Contribute to high-quality project delivery across multiple assignments while collaborating effectively with senior leaders, peers, junior staff, and technical specialists.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• 12+ years of progressive professional experience supporting TSMO, ITS, transportation operations, technology modernization, or related consulting services for public-sector transportation clients.

Skills

• Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, and take ownership of assigned work.
• Trusted advisor who builds credibility with agency executives, managers, operators, technologists, vendors, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Clear and persuasive communicator who can simplify complex operational and technical issues for varied audiences.
• Collaborative leader who mentors staff, draws on diverse technical expertise, and creates high-performing teams.
• Market-aware, with curiosity about emerging technologies, agency needs, and new strategies and technologies for TSMO.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP) or Professional Engineer (PE), or ability to pursue certification, is desirable but not required.
• Knowledge of TSMO and ITS programs, including transportation operations planning, systems engineering, strategic planning, data management, technology assessments, and program evaluation.
• Ability to assess operational needs, define practical solutions, and frame recommendations in terms of client value, implementation feasibility, cost, risk, benefits, and performance outcomes.
• Experience supporting digital modernization of transportation operations systems, software platforms, data environments, or traffic management capabilities.
• Experience facilitating meetings, workshops, interviews, or collaborative planning sessions with agency staff, executives, operators, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to support business development through client engagement, capture strategy, proposal writing, solution development, and thought leadership.

Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future.

We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building a workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read ourEEO policy.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation, please [e-mail] we will be happy to assist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

Read more aboutworkplacediscriminationrights or our benefit offerings which are included in theTransparency in (Benefits) Coverage Act.

Candidate AI Usage Policy

At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is not permitted. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the interview process.

However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodation that involves the use of AI. If such an accommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance [e-mail]. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.

Pay Range

The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is:

$131,256.00 - $223,134.00

Nationwide Remote Office (US99)