Senior Traffic Engineer

Contra Costa County; California (MO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Contra Costa County's Public Works Department seeks a Senior Traffic Engineer to lead the Transportation Engineering Division, shaping traffic operations, reviewing plans, and guiding Neighborhood Traffic Management and Vision Zero programs. This role demands leadership, rigorous analysis, and a focus on safety and efficiency for county roads.

Ideal candidates will have a Civil Engineering degree and several years in traffic engineering, with strong project management, communication, and team

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or closely related discipline required.
• Significant experience in traffic engineering within public works preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Traffic Engineering team in administering the County's traffic operations program.
• Review roadway construction plans and recommend changes related to traffic engineering.
• Review subdivision plans for compliance with traffic engineering requirements.
• Prepare contract plans, specifications, and cost estimates for traffic signal construction projects.
• Administer traffic-related programs, including the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program and Vision Zero.
• Provide technical expertise and oversight on traffic engineering projects and initiatives.

Skills

Traffic engineering

Leadership

Project management

Team supervision

Communication

Public works familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Job description

The Position

Bargaining Unit: Local 21 - Supervisory Management

Why join the Contra Costa Public Works Department?

The Contra Costa County Public Works Department seeks qualified individuals to fill a Senior Traffic Engineer vacancy in the Transportation Engineering Division. The Department is looking for individuals who thrive in leadership, seek to implement safe and efficient plans, and are eager to set goals to solve traffic-related problems. If you want to make meaningful impacts in communities while using your skills in innovative ways, we invite you to join our mission to deliver high-quality, reliable services to our residents while looking towards the future.

Senior Traffic Engineer

• Leads the Traffic Engineering team in administering the County's traffic operations program.
• Reviews roadway construction plans and recommends changes related to traffic engineering.
• Reviews subdivision plans for compliance with traffic engineering requirements.
• Prepares contract plans, specifications, and cost estimates for traffic signal construction projects.
• Administers traffic-related programs, including the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program and Vision Zero.
• Provides technical expertise and oversight on traffic engineering projects and initiatives.

Our mission is to deliver cost-effective, safe, reliable, sustainable projects, programs, and quality services, as well as to provide support services that are competitive, attentive, responsive, efficient, safe, and of high quality to our customers and other County Departments.

We became the first County in California to be accredited by the American Public Works Association in July 2001 and were re-accredited 6 times, most recently in 2024. As an accredited agency, we strive to improve continuously. We review and improve work processes regularly and are re‑evaluated for accreditation on a four-year cycle.

The Contra County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) is responsible for the maintenance and operation of over 650 miles of roads, 79 miles of streams and channels, and over 150 County buildings. CCCPWD services include parks and recreation, sandbag distribution, flood control, road and facilities maintenance, and storm water management. CCCPWD operates two airports, Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, and Byron Airport in Byron. CCCPWD strives for continuous improvement to deliver cost effective, safe reliable and sustainable projects, programs, and quality services.

We Are Looking For Someone Who Is

• Self‑motivated and enthusiastic
• An effective communicator with a positive attitude
• Committed to workplace safety and safe work practices
• Visionary and purpose‑driven
• A dependable team player
• Innovative and forward‑thinking

What you will typically be responsible for

• Leading a team in delivering traffic operations programs and services
• Supervising, coaching, and managing individual and team performance
• Responding to traffic‑related requests and delivering effective solutions
• Evaluating/Assessing traffic safety concerns and making sound decisions
• Identifying and implementing process improvements
• Developing, administering, and evaluating traffic engineering programs

A few reasons you might love this job

• Opportunities to grow professionally and expand your skills
• Work alongside a collaborative team of experienced professionals
• Help shape the future of traffic operations in Contra Costa County
• Make a direct impact on public safety
• Improve the quality of life for the communities we serve

A few challenges you might face in this job

• Balancing community needs and stakeholder expectations with established codes, regulations, and County policies
• Managing competing priorities and finding solutions with available resources
• Working with aging infrastructure while looking for opportunities to modernize and improve systems
• Navigating different perspectives to solve complex traffic‑related challenges

Competencies Required

• Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Safety Focus: Showing vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards
• Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
• Delivering Results: Meeting organizational goals and customer expectations and making decisions that produce high‑quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high‑quality, timely, and cost‑effective results
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Presentation Skill: Formally delivering information to groups
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Managing Performance: Ensuring superior individual and group performance
• Visionary Leadership: Taking a long‑term view and building a shared vision with others; acting as a catalyst for organizational change
• Political & Organizational Savvy: Working skillfully with politics, procedures, and protocols across organizational levels and boundaries
• Project Management: Ensuring that projects are on‑time, on‑budget, and achieve their objectives

The eligible list established from this recruitment will remain in effect for six (6) months. To read the full class spec, click: County of Contra Costa - Class Specification Bulletin (governmentjobs.com).

Minimum Qualifications

License Required

• Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License. Out of state Motor Vehicle Operator's License will be accepted during the application period. AND
• Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Traffic Engineer or Civil Engineer issued by the California State Board of Registration for Civil and Professional Engineers.

Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a major in civil engineering or closely related discipline.

Experience: Four (4) years of full‑time or its equivalent experience as a professional civil engineer which must have included at least two (2) years in a traffic operations function.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience implementing Vision Zero principles
• Experience with transportation asset management
• Experience working for a public agency
• Knowledge of corridor management principles and implementation
• Experience with traffic operations technologies

Selection Process

Selection Plan

• Application Filing and Evaluation: Applications will be evaluated to determine which candidates will move forward in the next phase of the recruitment process.
• Online Video Interview Assessment: Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in the online video interview assessment. The interview assessment will measure candidates' competencies as they relate to the job. These may include, but are not limited to: Critical Thinking, Legal and Regulatory Navigation, Professional and Technical Expertise, Project Management and Displaying Ownership and Accountability. Candidates must achieve an overall passing score of 70% or higher (Weighted 100%) . The assessment is tentatively scheduled September 2026.
• Departmental Hiring Interview:To be scheduled by the department once the eligible list is established.

Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to participate in the selection process.

The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with the Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.

For recruitment‑specific questions, please contact Fina Prak at [e-mail]. For any technical issues, please contact the GovernmentJobs’ applicant support team for assistance at [phone].

CONVICTION HISTORY

After you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with Contra Costa County. If you accept a conditional job offer, the Human Resources department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Contra Costa County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker‑related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

It is the policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

Contra Costa County Is Committed To Providing Equal Access And Opportunity To Qualified Individuals With Disabilities In Its Employment Practices. If You Believe You May Anticipate Needing Reasonable Accommodation, Please Visit Our Job Seeker Resources Page At Special Testing Accommodations | Contra Costa County, CA Official Website.