Transportation Engineer

Charlotte, County of (FL); Punta Gorda (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Charlotte County seeks a Senior Director of Transportation Engineering to provide strategic and technical direction for traffic operations improvements that enhance safety and mobility across the County.

You will lead professional and maintenance staff, oversee traffic signal and street lighting operations, studies, and the design of roadway improvements, while coordinating with agencies and securing funding for priority projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with specialization in transportation/traffic engineering or closely related field.
• Minimum four (4) years of experience in traffic engineering or civil engineering, including lead or supervisory duties.
• Must hold a valid driver’s license; licensed as a Professional Engineer with ability to obtain Florida registration within six months; within twelve months obtain a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer license.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical direction for Transportation Engineering and traffic operations improvements.
• Oversee staff responsible for traffic signal and street lighting operations, crash analysis, studies, and roadway/intersection design.
• Coordinate with multiple agencies, consultants, developers, and contractors to align projects with standards and goals; secure funding for priority projects.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and policy recommendations for County leadership and the Board of County Commissioners.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Data analysis

Communication

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering

Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation Engineering

Bachelor’s Degree in Traffic Engineering

Job description

Are you ready to lead the future of transportation in our community? In this senior leadership role, you’ll provide strategic and technical direction for Transportation Engineering—guiding the development, design, and implementation of traffic operations improvements that promote safe, efficient travel throughout the County. Your work will directly influence roadway safety, congestion management, pedestrian mobility, and long-term transportation planning.

You’ll oversee professional, technical, and maintenance staff responsible for traffic signal and street lighting operations, crash analysis, traffic studies, and the design and evaluation of roadway and intersection improvements. From signal warrant and speed studies to congestion analysis and special traffic operations planning, you’ll apply sound engineering judgment to complex transportation challenges.

Collaboration is central to this position. You’ll coordinate with County departments, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, local and state agencies, consultants, developers, and contractors to ensure transportation projects align with regulatory standards and community goals. You’ll review development and construction plans that impact the County’s road system, provide recommendations, and help secure funding from federal, state, and private sources to advance priority projects.

In addition to technical leadership, you’ll guide staff development, oversee performance and safety, manage administrative responsibilities, and serve as a key resource to County leadership and the Board of County Commissioners—preparing reports, presentations, and policy recommendations that shape transportation decisions.

If you’re a strategic thinker with strong engineering expertise, leadership experience, and a passion for improving mobility and safety, this role offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on how our community moves.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree
  • Civil Engineering
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Traffic Engineering
• Four (4) years of experience in traffic engineering or civil engineering, to include lead or supervisory experience.

Licenses and/or Certificates:

• Must maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Registered Professional Engineer from any state with the ability to obtain registration in Florida within six (6) months of date of employment.
• Within twelve (12) months of position assignment:
  • Must obtain a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer license.

You bring a strong foundation in transportation engineering principles and practices, including statistical analysis, research methodologies, and the design and operation of electrical and electronic traffic control systems. You’re comfortable evaluating complex technical data, interpreting engineering plans and specifications, and applying sound judgment to transportation challenges that impact safety and mobility.

You have proven leadership and managerial skills, with the ability to build and motivate teams, mediate issues, and guide professional, technical, and administrative staff toward shared goals. You approach decision-making with confidence, discretion, and an understanding of established policies, regulations, and best practices.

Clear communication is one of your strengths. You can translate complex technical concepts into meaningful information for both technical and non-technical audiences, prepare detailed reports and proposals, and present recommendations to leadership, public officials, and community stakeholders. You’re proficient in Microsoft Office and other job-related software, and you maintain accurate records and documentation to support data-driven decisions.

Organized and strategic, you can prioritize competing initiatives, develop effective proposals, and manage multiple projects while maintaining strong working relationships with County leadership, partner agencies, consultants, and the public. You also have the ability to operate a motor vehicle and represent the department professionally in the field and at meetings.

Above all, you bring technical expertise, thoughtful leadership, and a service-oriented mindset dedicated to advancing safe and efficient transportation systems for the community.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Walking, sitting, hearing, seeing up close, seeing far away, talking, standing, finger movement, repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a relatively safe, and secure work environment. Work is primarily performed indoors but requires some exposure to environmental changes (e.g., outdoor weather and/or field conditions, warehouses, covered loading docks, garages, etc.) or irate customers, extreme noise, odors, heights and/or dust.

RISK/SAFETY CONDITIONS

The position requires no exposure or risk related to physical and/or mental health and safety.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Charlotte County is an affirmative Action/ADA/Veterans’ Preference and Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities are Encouraged to Apply.