Traffic Engineer

City of Lake Stevens; Lake Stevens (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan through state system

Job summary

The City of Lake Stevens is seeking a Traffic Engineer to plan, design, analyze, and implement multimodal traffic projects and policies to enhance safety and efficiency of the transportation network. The role leads the traffic safety camera program and advises on operations and policy for all travel modes.

With independent judgment and technical leadership, you will manage capital projects, review development proposals, and collaborate with departments to improve city transportation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or related field.
• Experience in traffic engineering or civil engineering with public transportation focus.
• Familiarity with federal, state, and local traffic laws and standards (MUTCD/ADA).
• Project management and coordination across multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage multimodal transportation projects from planning to construction.
• Develop and administer traffic safety programs and policies.
• Review traffic studies, accident reports and propose safe, effective countermeasures.
• Lead design reviews, traffic impact analyses, and capital project reviews.
• Coordinate with Police, public works, and other departments; present at meetings.

Skills

Traffic analysis

Public speaking

Project management

Communication

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

ArcGIS

Synchro

Highway Capacity Software

Job description

Traffic Engineer

This recruitment will remain open until closed. If needed our next review date will be October 5, 2026, applications must be received prior to this date to be considered.

Position Purpose

The Traffic Engineer serves as a mid-level professional within the Engineering Division of the Public Works Department. Under the direction of the Engineering Division Manager, this role is responsible for planning, designing, analyzing, and implementing multimodal traffic engineering projects and policies to enhance the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the City’s transportation network. In addition, this position is responsible for delivering the traffic safety camera program. The position requires independent judgment, technical expertise, and leadership in managing capital projects, reviewing development proposals, and advising on traffic operations and policy for all travel modes.

About The City Of Lake Stevens

Lake Stevens is a vibrant and growing community - the second fastest-growing city in Snohomish County - with a population of over 40,000 makes us the 4th largest city in the county.

Lake Stevens is generally a residential community with access to numerous commercial, retail and recreational opportunities. Of course, the crown jewel of the community is the lake itself, which boasts some of the greatest water recreational opportunities in the county. Lake Stevens is also uniquely situated, being close to the lake, ocean, and Cascade mountains, to take advantage of many outdoor activities. The Lake Stevens Schools are excellent and coupled with a city priority of parks and increased walkability, makes Lake Stevens an ideal place to raise a family.

The City of Lake Stevens operates under the mayor-council system. The city’s motto, “One Community Around the Lake”, embodies our quality of life, top-ranked school district, and the City Council’s commitment to providing excellent services and amenities for its residents.

Why City of Lake Stevens?

• Work-Life Balance - We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individual's lifestyle.
• Work Where you Live!
• The City of Lake Stevens offers a comprehensive benefits package including:
• Retirement- through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.
• Deferred Compensation- with city match.
• Excellent healthcare options-including medical, dental, vision insurance, city-paid life insurance and long-term disability, health savings accounts (HSA), and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA/VEBA).
• Paid leave- including paid sick leave, paid vacation, flexible holidays, paid holidays, and bereavement leave.
• See our benefits page for a complete list of all the benefits available to the City of Lake Stevens employees.

Why work for the Public Works Department?

The Public Works Department leadership team have established core values along with mission and vision statements for all employees. It is vital as we continuously improve and raise our standard of work that all employees understand and abide by a set of guidelines which provide a framework for a professionally engaged organization. It is important that candidates seeking employment within Public Works understand and are committed to these guidelines as you perform your duties.

Our Mission

We serve the Lake Stevens community by providing consistent maintenance and operations of City infrastructure through professional public works services, organizational excellence, and community interaction.

Our Vision

The Lake Stevens Public Works Department is a trusted, safety-minded, and qualified group of dedicated public works professionals. As a team, we work tirelessly to set the standard for public works operations and maintenance.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES * Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Oversee and administer the city’s traffic safety camera program, which includes, but is not limited to, management of design and installation of cameras, development of policies and procedures and interdepartmental collaboration with the Police Department and court.
• Develop and oversee the city’s traffic safety program, including maintaining the Local Road Safety Plan and implementation of the Traffic Calming Program.
• Review accident reports and potential causes, perform traffic studies and identify and manage the construction/installation of alternatives to improve roadway safety.
• Manage the design and construction of the transportation projects, with emphasis on multimodal options, from planning through construction.
• In collaboration with the Streets Operations Division, resolve traffic engineering matters, including street channelization, signage and markings, studies of traffic and transportation impacts, including problem-solving concerning collisions.
• Develop policy options and recommendations on highly visible or sensitive issues integral to the City's transportation network.
• Facilitate public involvement processes for policy input, to resolve significant issues, and to achieve important City objectives.
• Serve as the City’s technical expert in reviewing engineering deviations related to transportation issues.
• Create and process for adoption, programs and operational standards to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and policies; interpret policies and procedures and assure the consistent application of rules and regulations.
• Attend Council meetings, regional meetings, committee meetings and public hearings as needed; make presentations and respond to questions or issues.
• Maintain regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.

Peripheral Duties

• In their absence, perform the duties of other engineering department employees as necessary.
• Review land use applications and civil plans, right-of-way permits and associated traffic control plans, or other improvements that may impact public transportation infrastructure.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands, Equipment & Work Environment

Please see the attached questionnaire and below for position-specific physical requirements and typical working conditions. The physical demands and work environment characteristics described in the attached form are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk; and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit for extended periods of time and type on a keyboard for extended periods of time. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.

Work is generally in-office with the occasional site visit to perform field engineering work. Office work is ordinarily sitting at a desk or computer terminal for extended periods. Some travel to a variety of locations to perform work and/or attend meetings is required. Meeting deadlines, frequent interruptions, and working under moderate stress levels are illustrative of the environmental requirements of the position. Work requires an emphasis on the safety of City employees and the public.

The incumbent may also be required to work on weekends, evenings, and holidays or after normal work hours for emergency work. The incumbent may also be exposed to individuals who are irate or hostile and must respond in a professional and safe manner.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Civil Engineering or a related field.

Experience: Three (3) years of experience in traffic engineering or civil engineering with emphasis on public transportation infrastructure.

Or: Any combination of education and experience, which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the job, may be substituted for these qualifications. Examples of these skills include:

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances.
• Municipal organization structure, policies, procedures, practices, and objectives.
• Principles, practices and techniques of engineering related to the program area
• Engineering plans, specifications, design and drafting procedures applicable to the program area.
• In-depth understanding of federal, state, and local traffic engineering laws and standards, including, but not limited to, ADA standards/PROWAG and the MUTCD.
• Project management principles and practices.
• Modern engineering methods as applied to design, project management and construction.
• Asset management practices, including familiarity with asset management software.
• Traffic analysis software such as Synchro, Highway Capacity Software, or similar.
• Geospatial mapping software such as ArcGIS or equivalent.
• Lean Management System or Six Sigma principles.
• Design principles and best practices for bikeways, pedestrian paths, and crossings; pavement design; intersection design, including roundabouts and traffic signals; and/or illumination design.

Ability To

• Conduct traffic studies, including data collection (using tube counters and/or radar counters) and analysis for capital projects.
• Plan, design, review and manage construction of transportation capital projects.
• Prepare engineering plans, specifications and estimates.
• Prepare operational and safety analyses and roadway project feasibility studies (for street projects, including, but not limited to: road diets, one-way street conversions, quick-build path projects, intersection control modifications, etc).
• Read, analyze, and interpret various items such as technical documents, operating and procedure manuals, construction drawings, laws, regulations, specifications, and contracts.
• Interpret and assess field data used for the maintenance and design of construction projects.
• Establish and maintain trust, confidence, and effective working relationships with subordinates, other city officials, and the general public.
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; apply common sense understanding to solve practical problems.
• Apply lean or Six Sigma principles to improve processes and procedures and implement change management continuously.
• Demonstrate positive and effective interaction and communication with individuals of diverse social and economic backgrounds.
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, including the ability to listen effectively and to explain complex issues and applicable legal requirements, policies, and procedures to internal and external customers.
• Manage multiple projects and the activities of assigned staff simultaneously.
• Maintain confidentiality of business records, city business and other information.
• Perform several tasks simultaneously while maintaining the accuracy of information and meeting deadlines.

Licenses Or Certificate Requirements

• Valid driver’s license and a driving record which meets the city’s requirements. Must be able to obtain State of Washington driver’s license within 30 days of hire.
• A Professional Engineer (PE) license is desirable.
• Project Management Professional certification preferred.
• Completion of position-relevant background check.

The City of Lake Stevens is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veteran’s status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. There are no limitations to who’s a best fit to serve this community. If we contact you for an interview and you need specific accommodations, please let us know. Please contact Human Resources at [phone], ten (10) days in advance to allow time for us to make proper arrangements.