Traffic and Lighting Technician (20720640)

City of San Mateo; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 95,384 - 108,810; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Free fitness classes

Deferred compensation contributions

Job summary

A municipal authority in California is seeking a Traffic and Lighting Technician to maintain and repair electrical systems related to traffic control and street lighting. The role requires three years of experience in electrical maintenance and the ability to work safely in various conditions. Ideal candidates will have strong troubleshooting skills and can effectively communicate and lead other maintenance personnel. This position offers competitive pay and excellent benefits, making it a great opportunity for qualified individuals.

Qualifications

• Three years of skilled experience in electrical and electronic equipment maintenance.
• Must possess a valid California Driver's License.
• Ability to work in various weather conditions and with traffic hazards.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and repair traffic control signage and signal equipment.
• Guide and train maintenance personnel.
• Inspect and repair street lights and auxiliary equipment.

Skills

Knowledge of traffic control systems

Ability to assess work methods

Electrical troubleshooting

Safety compliance

Education

Technical courses in electrical maintenance

Tools

Handheld electronic devices

Job description

Traffic and Lighting Technician (20720640)

San Mateo is a city of more than 100,000 residents located in San Mateo County, California, on the San Francisco Peninsula. One of the City’s strengths is its diversity, both in the ethnic makeup and the physical development of the community. San Mateo has a vibrant business and retail environment with national and international businesses, two major shopping centers and an active downtown. You would be joining over 500 people whose mission it is to serve the San Mateo community with a collaborative, innovative and professional spirit. We are looking for someone who embodies our shared values of respect, creativity, inclusivity, transparency, and integrity in their words and actions.

The City of San Mateo Public Works Department is seeking a Traffic and Lighting Technician

The Department

The Public Works Department is comprised of the Engineering and Facilities Services Division (EFSD) and the Environmental Services Division (ESD). Each division is led by a Deputy Director reporting to the Director of Public Works. The department is responsible for the City’s major capital projects and infrastructure including streets, street lights, traffic signals, sewer and storm conveyance systems, wastewater treatment plant, pump stations, a major lagoon, and dams and levees. A key player on this team is the Traffic and Lighting Technician. You would be joining over 500 people whose mission is to serve the San Mateo community with a collaborative, innovative and professional spirit.

The Traffic and Lighting Technician performs skilled electrical and mechanical work in the maintenance and repair of traffic control signage, traffic signal equipment, and street lights; and guides the work of and trains other maintenance personnel, and performs related work as required. Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Guide and participate in the work of other maintenance personnel. Ability to set-up work zone safety and prepare traffic control work plans.
• Inspect, install, remove, and repair signal controls and auxiliary equipment such as light standards, control boxes, light fixtures, lamps, and circuitry; diagnose malfunctions; adjust and replace electronic and mechanical components.
• Inspect, install, remove and repair street lights and auxiliary equipment.
• Repair, replace or modify electric and electronic components, controllers, relays, switches, fuses, timers and other parts; design and construct special test equipment for shop testing of electronic components.
• Investigate complaints and reports of signal and traffic light malfunctions; adjust, repair or remove defective equipment; make field repairs of damaged equipment.
• Identify, locate and indicate with appropriate identification markers underground utilities (USA); respond to USA work orders within regulatory requirements; and document services accordingly.
• Be available for standby assignments in accordance with Department policies and procedures.
• Assist in the design of electrical circuits and systems for street lighting and traffic signals.
• Inspect the work of contractors during the course of construction and upon completion.
• Monitor traffic control computer and make adjustments as necessary.

The Traffic and Lighting Technician receives general direction from the Field Maintenance Manager and direct supervision from a Public Works Supervisor or higher level department staff and may exercise technical or functional direction over and provide work review to a Traffic Safety Worker or Maintenance Worker I/II.

• You possess knowledge of the methods, materials, tools and practices used in the repair of electronic and mechanical devices; understanding and application of the MUTCD Code Book; work zone traffic control to mitigate hazards associated with working in streets and roadways; components and parts of electronic devices used in traffic control and street lights; the principles of electronics and electrical repairs; build, install and repair mechanical traffic control devices in including signs, poles, and fasteners; measure, mark and install lane striping, parking stalls, stop bars and other written street marks, using paint and or thermal plastic material; and mitigate occupational hazards and put in place standard safety precautions necessary in the work.
• You possess the ability to work with independence and to make decisions relative to work methods and tools; understand and interpret written and oral instructions, including blueprints and wiring diagrams; prepare simple reports, such as daily journal entries, work order close out, material procurement documents; use computers and handheld electronic devices in the course of work; ability to safely work at heights using ladders and various personnel lifting equipment; use and care for tools and equipment used in maintaining and repairing electronic and mechanical devices; work in emergency situations; and lead and assign others in traffic signal, street light and electrical maintenance functions.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• Three years of skilled experience in the installation, repair, and maintenance of electrical and electronic equipment, preferably some including experience in the maintenance of either traffic signal systems or street lights.
• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade, supplemented with technical courses in electrical or electronic maintenance.
• Must possess, and maintain, a valid California Driver's License on date of hire.
• Possession of, and ability to maintain, a valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License is required within 12 months of employment.
• International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA) Traffic Signal Technician Certification Level II or ability to obtain one within 12 months of hire date and retain the certification while employed in this position, is desirable.
• Must be willing to work out of doors in all weather conditions and to work with exposure to heavy traffic and other hazards. Must be willing to work overtime and off-hours shifts in emergency situations.

Bonus Points (highly desirable)

• International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA) Traffic Signal Technician Certification Level II
• Class A Commercial Driver’s License

ADA Special Requirement: Essential duties require the following physical abilities and work environment: Ability to sit, stand, walk, kneel, crouch, squat, stoop, reach, twist, climb, drive, and lift 50 pounds; exposure to cold, heat, outdoors, electric hazards, vibration and mechanical hazards.

What We Offer

• Salary: $8,547- $9,750 per month
• Comprehensive benefits package including generous paid leave and health benefits
• CalPERS retirement (2% @ 55 for classic members; 2% @ 62 for new members). Classic employees contribute 8.23% to CalPERS and New members contribute 7.50% to CalPERS.
• Participation in the Social Security Program
• Deferred Compensation: City will contribute 1.0% and will match an additional 0.5% of base salary
• City contribution of 0.75% of base salary to Retirement Health Savings Account
• Free Fitness classes through City of San Mateo Parks and Recreation, Employee Assistance Program and Credit Union Membership
• Bilingual Diff: $195 monthly (if applicable)

Submit an online application, résumé (recommended), and supplemental questionnaire at www.calopps.org or to the Human Resources Department, City of San Mateo, 330 W. 20th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403, [phone].

Application Deadline

Recruitment will be Open Until Filled and is subject to close at any time without notice. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The first review of applications is tentatively scheduled for April 3, 2026.

Interview Process

All applications, résumés (recommended) and supplemental questionnaires received will be reviewed for minimum qualifications. A fully completed application is required; a resume does not replace the information required on the employment application, including work history. Applications with "see résumé" as a substitution for the work experience description, those with none or unclear current/past employment information, or those with insufficient information to evaluate possession of minimum qualifications will not be considered; missing information cannot be assumed. A limited number of the most highly qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may consist of an oral panel interview, written exercise, or in the form of a practical demonstration of skill and ability, or any combination of these. A Zoom oral panel interview is tentatively scheduled for April 22, 2026.

An employment list will be established for those who pass the examination process. Current and future vacancies may be filled from this list. The list will remain in effect for at least six months with the possibility of an extension for an additional six months. Once placed on an employment list, and at the time a vacancy occurs, eligible candidates may be contacted by the hiring department and scheduled for additional department interviews.

Date Posted – March 13, 2026

Note: The City of San Mateo reserves the right, at its discretion, to limit the number of qualified candidates invited to the selection process. ALL RESPONSES WILL BE CONDUCTED VIA THE EMAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED IN YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION. Therefore, it is imperative that you provide an email address to which you have access, and it is recommended that you frequently check your email for notices from: [e-mail]

Fine Print

Prior to hire, candidates will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, including a driving record review, reference check, and a Department of Justice (DOJ) fingerprint check. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment. The policy of the City of San Mateo is to grant equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, ancestry, physical or mental disability, sexual preference, marital status, or national origin. It is the intent and desire of the City of San Mateo that equal employment opportunity will be provided in recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, wages, benefits, and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, applicants requiring accommodations for any part of the testing or recruitment process must notify [e-mail] or [phone] seven days in advance of the deadline for the part of the process requiring accommodations. Do not upload any documents related to your request for accommodation in CalOpps. The City of San Mateo complies with employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

1. Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:• You possess three years of skilled experience in the installation, repair, and maintenance of electrical and electronic equipment, preferably some including experience in the maintenance of either traffic signal systems or street lights.• You possess the equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade, supplemented with technical courses in electrical or electronic maintenance. Yes No

Supplemental Questions

Please provide answers to the following questions, limiting your response to one (1) page each. Responses to the supplemental questions will be used in the selection process. Usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) software (e.g., ChatGPT) is not acceptable. Neatness, clarity of expression, grammar, spelling, and ability to follow instructions will be considered in evaluating your responses. Failure to answer the questions will result in an incomplete application packet and your application will not be considered for the position; do not put “see resume” or copy parts of resume/work duties as a response. (Questionnaire responses must be submitted with the employment application.)

1. Safety: Incident Response:You are the first City employee to arrive at an intersection where a car has hit a signal pole. The pole is snapped and leaning on the vehicle, and the energized wires are down, arcing on the wet ground. Police are just pulling up behind you. As the senior technician on site, what are your immediate actions, and how do you specifically communicate the unique electrical hazards to the Police Officer so they can establish the proper perimeter?

2. Traffic Signal Systems: Conflict Monitor: A contractor just finished re-hanging a signal head after a pole replacement. Now the intersection is stuck in flash. You open the cabinet and see the Conflict Monitor Unit (CMU) has a red LED indicating a "Red Fail." What does this tell you about the problem, and what is your step-by-step process to isolate whether the issue is in the cabinet (load switch, wiring) or in the field (the new signal head)?

3. Street Lighting: You are dispatched to replace a failed High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) cobra-head streetlight with a new LED luminaire on an existing streetlight pole. The circuit is a 240V multiple (parallel) system. When you arrive, you visually confirm the HPS light is dark. Before you bucket up, you need to verify the circuit is de-energized, as the pole has no disconnect switch at the base. Walk me through your exact steps to locate the correct circuit feeder and positively verify the circuit is safe to work on. Specifically, how do you ensure you have identified the correct circuit in a handhole full of unlabeled cables, and what tool and method do you use to confirm zero voltage at the pole before touching the wires?