Principal Engineer – Transportation

The City of Tustin is currently recruiting for the position of Principal Engineer – Transportation.  Under administrative direction, supervises, coordinates, and participates in transportation / traffic engineering activities.

The Principal Engineer is a supervisory classification assigned to supervise and participate in the work of engineering, plan check, and administrative support staff in the traffic section of the Public Works Department. An employee in this classification is responsible for planning, coordinating, and conducting professional traffic engineering operations and activities of the Public Works Department including conducting traffic engineering and transportation planning studies; reviewing the preparation of plans and specifications for traffic engineering projects; plans, designs, and reviews traffic control systems; administers traffic control programs. Work requires creativity and resourcefulness to accomplish goals and objectives, and involves significant interaction with other City staff, consultant/contractor personnel and other public agencies to facilitate the development and promotion of transportation projects/programs. Judgment is required both in interpreting established policies, goals and objectives, and in applying concepts, plans and strategies which may deviate from traditional methods and practices.  The Principal Engineer is distinguished from lower-level professional engineering by a broader scope of responsibility for an assigned section, greater decision-making authority, and specialized professional engineering expertise in the area of assignment. In contrast with higher level engineering classifications, the Principal Engineer has lesser budgetary and program management accountabilities and a narrower span of supervisory control.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives administrative direction from the Deputy Director of Public Works / City Engineer.

Provides direct supervision to professional, technical, and administrative support staff.

SELECTION PROCESS
Application materials will be carefully reviewed to identify those candidates who meet the minimum qualifications for this position. Individuals who are best qualified will be invited to participate in a panel interview. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of December 16, 2024. All candidates who pass the panel interview will earn placement on the eligible list, which may be used for current and future vacancies in the job classification.
Examples of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Plans, assigns, coordinates, and evaluates the work of traffic staff; ensures quality of work and adherence to policies and procedures
Participates in the selection of staff; coaches, motivates, mentors, and trains staff; recommends employee recognition and discipline
Assume responsibility for recommending a variety of personnel actions in such areas as performance evaluation, training, selection and disciplinary measures; monitor and review work in progress, providing technical assistance and guidance
Develop and implement City traffic engineering operations and transportation planning goals, priorities and funding strategies; assists in the development and implementation of goals, priorities, policies, and procedures; recommends revisions and improvements to unit policies, procedures, and resource allocation
Oversee transportation efforts such as Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects, funding and grant application submittals; negotiate, coordinate and prepare funding agreements; coordinate with Caltrans, County, other Cities and agency personnel; resolve problems and clarify City positions on regional issues; provides review of traffic related plans for private development and CIP projects, including traffic signal plans, signing and striping plans, street light plans, traffic control plans, cost estimates, and specifications for traffic related portions of CIP projects
Supervises and participates in the review of construction plans for accuracy, suitability, and completeness; makes recommendations for revisions and improvements
Manage the most difficult and complex projects of the section; monitor work in progress, review staff work products and provide technical assistance and guidance; direct and participate in the analysis of conceptual construction proposals and development plan feasibility
Prepares and oversees the preparation of traffic engineering designs, specifications, and cost estimates for the construction and improvement of a variety
Reviews traffic scoping agreements, traffic studies, VMT analysis, and traffic circulation aspects of development projects during entitlement; interprets codes and regulations pertaining to area of assignment; analyzes and resolves transportation / traffic project design and engineering problems
Meets with architects, engineers, developers, and contractors, and citizens to discuss City requirements, policies, and procedures related to design review, plan check, construction, and maintenance for assigned projects and activities
Provides information to the public; responds to and resolves questions and complaints regarding the interpretation and application of relevant codes, ordinances, rules, and regulations
Oversees preparation and administration of contracts for engineering services; determines scope of engineering projects; prepares requests for proposals and contracts for consulting services; review plans of consulting engineers and private contractors
Participates in the review of projects under construction in the field; resolves disputes and problems between inspectors, engineers, developers, and contractors
Compiles and analyzes statistical data; prepares a variety of technical and administrative reports and analyses relating to assigned projects and programs
Compiles and reviews traffic counts, accident histories, speed surveys, signal timing, and other traffic related data; makes recommendations for improvements to the City’s traffic facilities
Coordinates unit activities with other divisions, departments, and external agencies and organizations
Assists with the preparation of the division budget; coordinates and monitors expenditures for assigned unit
May act as the Division Manager as required
Minimum Qualifications
A combination of education, experience, and training that has provided the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities is required for entry into the classification.  A typical combination includes:

Education and/or Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field and four years of professional civil engineering experience related to the area of assignment.  Three years of administrative and/or lead supervisory experience is desirable.

Licenses and/or Certificates:

Possession of a valid Class C California driver’s license and an acceptable driving record.  Possession of a Certificate of Registration as a Professional Engineer or Traffic Engineer issued by the State of California.

Special Requirements:

Satisfactory results from a background investigation, physical examination and administrative screening.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

Modern principles, methods, and practices of transportation / traffic engineering as related to the area of assignment
Traffic signal operations, including timing of street lights, review of traffic counts, and analysis of collision records
Review of studies related to traffic engineering for conformance with City Standards and Guidelines, including traffic scoping agreements, traffic studies, and VMT analysis
Review of engineering plans related to traffic engineering, including: traffic signals, signing and striping, street lights, temporary traffic control, etc.
Operations, services, and activities of the area of assignment
Federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations related to engineering design and construction in the area of assignment
Methods, techniques, and materials used in the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings and structures pertaining to the area of assignment
Subdivision engineering, plan review, mapping, and construction practices
Engineering design standards and issues affecting developers, property owners, contractors, private engineers, and others in working with the City
Principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration
Safety standards and practices in the construction industry
Principles and practices of employee supervision, training, motivation, and performance evaluation
Proper English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Skill to:

Operate standard office equipment, including a personal computer and related word processing, spreadsheet, and database software
Operate a motor vehicle safely
Ability to:

Interpret, explain, and apply pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations
Read and understand construction plans and specifications
Review and check complex transportation / traffic engineering designs, computations, plans and studies
Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of projects and goals
Plan, organize, coordinate, and prioritize projects and tasks in order to meet established deadlines and budgetary requirements
Supervise, train, counsel, motivate, evaluate, and discipline assigned staff
Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, including preparing clear and concise technical reports
Establish and maintain courteous, cooperative, and effective relationships with architects, engineers, contractors, designers, homeowners, and others encountered in the course of work
Working Conditions & Physical Demands
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to sit; talk or hear, in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; and reach with hands and arms.  An employee is frequently required to walk and stand.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus to read and operate office equipment as necessary during the course of the work assignments.

Mental Demands:

While performing the duties, employees of this class are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret financial and statistical data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; use math and apply mathematical reasoning and abstract statistical concepts; observe and interpret people and situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform highly detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks; work under intensive deadlines; and interact with staff and others encountered in the course of work.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee works under typical office conditions and the noise level is usually quiet.  Employees may be required to travel to work sites or other sites for meetings.
The City of Tustin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.