Traffic Services Technician, Intermediate

Dakota County; Empire (MN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical benefits

Excellent work-life balance

Pension with employer contribution

Job summary

Dakota County is seeking an Intermediate Traffic Services Technician for the Empire location. The role involves installing and maintaining highway signs, pavement markings, and traffic controls, with duties including fabrication, detours, and MUTCD compliance.

The job supports snow operations and requires the ability to work at heights and in moving traffic. Qualifications include a high school diploma, two years in related fieldwork, and a valid driver’s license with ability to obtain a

Qualifications

• High School graduate or equivalent.
• Two years roadway maintenance, construction, and/or traffic control work experience.
• Valid driver's license and ability to obtain class B MN license within 12 months.
• Safety sensitive position per county policy.

Responsibilities

• Operates equipment for intersection pavement marking needs.
• Fabricates highway signs and barricades per standards.
• Inspects signs, signals, and traffic control devices for MUTCD compliance.
• Maintains road signs, signals, and work zone controls around moving traffic.
• Keeps records of installation and maintenance using Access and Excel.
• Coordinates sign placement and detour signing per MUTCD and county requirements.
• Lead worker directing seasonal/maintenance staff.
• Supports snow-plow operations when needed.

Skills

Traffic control knowledge

Sign fabrication

Computer literacy

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Tools

SignCAD

Microsoft Excel

Job description

General Description

POSTING TYPE: Open-competitive
DEPARTMENT: Transportation
HOURS: Full-time
FULL SALARY RANGE: $52,326 - 81,760/year (105 grade Level) DOQ
LOCATION: Empire
UNION: None
CLOSE DATE: 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 19, 2026

What You'll Do

Intermediate Traffic Services Technicians perform traffic services work in design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of highway signs, work zone traffic controls, pavement markings, and traffic signals for Dakota County Highways. Staff must have ability to work at heights of up to 45 feet and over moving traffic. Staff in this position also provides assistance to the highway maintenance area as a snow-plow operator as needed. Work is reviewed by a technical or professional superior for degree of accuracy required and attained.

Who We Are

Dakota County is Minnesota’s third largest county and home to more than 400,000 residents. Our motto is “Be More” and we strive every day to achieve excellence in public service, with a focus on four values: Service, Integrity, People, and Innovation.

Dakota County aims to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and experiences. Our goal is to have a workforce that is reflective of the communities and individuals we serve. We promote an equitable and culturally aware work environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School graduate or equivalent
• Two years roadway maintenance, construction, and/ or traffic control device (signs, signals, markings, etc...) general work experience.
• Valid driver's license and ability to obtain a class B Minnesota driver's license to operate GW 26,001 lbs. or greater with an airbrake endorsement within 12 months of start of employment. Dakota County will help facilitate this licensure if necessary.
• Pursuant to Dakota County Policy and Procedures this position is designated as Safety Sensitive.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Operates equipment for intersection pavement marking needs.
• Fabricates highway signs and barricades in accordance with National and State Standards. Staff is fully competent with fabrication tools and software.
• Regularly inspects and evaluates the condition of signs, signals, and traffic control devices to ensure ongoing compliance with the requirements of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and County specifications including, but not limited to minimum retro-reflectivity, placement, and visibility.
• Performs maintenance of road signs, traffic signals, and work zone traffic controls around and overhead of moving traffic.
• Keeps detailed and accurate records of installation and maintenance activity using Microsoft Access and Excel.
• Places and maintains temporary roadwork signing, detour signing, and barricades according to MUTCD, Temporary Traffic Control Zone Layout Field Manual, and County requirements.
• Performs on-street layout of pavement markings, removes conflicting markings, and applies road markings.
• Operates and maintains sign installation/maintenance equipment.
• Computes daily/weekly/seasonally material (posts, signs, paint, beads, signal equipment, etc.) needs for crew operations.
• Acts as a lead worker to direct seasonal/maintenance staff assisting Traffic Services for sign installation, maintenance, pavement marking, and/or signal activity.
• Flags and marks signs for utility locates. Communicates (by phone, fax, and/or meetings) with locators and utility companies for safe installation of signs and ensures sign placement is in accordance with Pipeline Safety Commission requirements.
• Provides assistance to the highway maintenance team as a supplemental snow-plow operator or conducts other snow/ice removal activities during or following snow events as requested.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities And Work Environment

• Knowledgeable of practices and techniques of the Traffic unit.
• Knowledge to make effective and responsive decisions for daily sign and pavement marking installations and maintenance.
• Demonstrate proficiency with computers including SignCAD (software specific to traffic signs), Microsoft Outlook, Performance Manager, and Windows 2013.
• Knowledge and experience with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Temporary Traffic Control Layout Field Manual, and Standard Signs Manual Pt. 1-3, in order to problem solve sign and marking issues when observed in the field.
• Knowledge of mid-level mathematics.
• Ability to safely work under pressure in situations in moderate to heavy traffic.
• Ability to work at heights of up to 45 feet and over moving traffic.
• Ability to work in adverse weather conditions.
• Ability to effectively communicate and work as a team with supervisors, co-workers and citizens.
• Ability to effectively direct and motivate the work of support personnel (Traffic Technicians, maintenance assistance, and temporary seasonal work force).
• Knowledge and ability to operate all equipment as assigned.
• Demonstrate skill and concern for safe working conditions and procedures and the need to follow county and departmental policies and procedures.
• Ability to read and comprehend materials contained such as equipment manuals, procedure manuals, safety manuals, and seminar information.

Work Environment

20% inside, 80% outside. Must be able to perform the following on an occasional to frequent basis: sitting, standing, walking, balancing, bending/stooping, turning/twisting, low-level position, climbing, reaching forward & overhead, grasping, fingering and push/pulling. Positions requires lifting 0 to 22 pounds on a constantly, 31-45 pounds of force frequently, 45 - 75 pounds occasionally, anything above 75 pounds is rare and should be done as a team lift. Exposures may include, but are not limited to, changing weather conditions, roadway traffic and construction equipment on roads or constructions projects, working on uneven/rough/slippery surfaces, dust, dirt, paint, solvents, cleaners, exhaust, and noise. Staff must have the ability to use a variety of equipment including but not limited to: light and heavy equipment including bucket truck, tandem snow plow, sign truck post puller and post pounder, small hand tools, power and larger hand tools, drill press, pipe threader, pry bar, soldering iron, wire cutter, highway striping unit, personal computer, printers, telephone, cellular phone, calculator, copy machine, video equipment, personal safety equipment, electronic drafting equipment, utility locating equipment, and survey instruments. Incumbent must have the ability to work at heights up to 45 feet in an aerial bucket and over moving traffic and work in/around moving traffic when placing signs and working on signal boxes. Working nights and/or weekends may be necessary for construction or emergency shifts. Driving is required; therefore, the position is designation as safety sensitive and the candidate must successfully pass a DOT drug test and DOT exam if offered the position. “Safety-sensitive position” means a position, including any supervisory or management position, in which impairment caused by drug, alcohol, or cannabis use would threaten the health and safety of any person as defined in Minnesota Statutes.

Contact the Human Resources (651-438-4435) if you need a full report of physical and occupational demands of the Traffic Services Technician positions.

Benefits

• Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, vision, and other benefits
• Excellent work-life balance
• Generous paid time off (accrual rate starts at four weeks per year)
• Eleven paid holidays and one floating holiday each year
• Pension with a generous employer contribution

Selection Process

• You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions
• We assign you a score based on your qualifications
• Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration
• We conduct interviews and reference checks before extending an offer
• We extend an offer and conduct background checks