Salary: $68.43 - $90.42 Hourly
Location : City of Long Beach, CA
Job Type: Unclassified - Full-Time, Permanent
Job Number: PW26-139
Department: Public Works - (UC)
Division: PW-ENG-TRAFFIC ENGINEERING
Opening Date: 07/31/2026
Closing Date: 8/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

DESCRIPTION

The department of Public Works currently has one (1) opening available for City Traffic Engineer in the Transportation Services Bureau - Traffic Engineering Division.

Appointment to this position is expected to be at or below the midpoint $165,766.107of the salary range, however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization.
POSITION
The City Traffic Engineer provides strategic leadership for the City's Traffic Engineering Division and serves as the designated professional authority responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient movement of people and goods throughout Long Beach. The role advances citywide mobility, safety, and operational objectives through the development, oversight, and implementation of engineering solutions, transportation technologies, and policies that guide the City's transportation network. This position also ensures the integrity and compliance of traffic control systems and oversees major investments that enhance reliability and safety across the City.
The City Traffic Engineer directs complex citywide systems and programs, monitors transportation performance, and evaluates the effectiveness of operational strategies and capital improvements. It also leads public-facing engagement, provides technical guidance to City leadership, and supports transparent and responsive communication with community stakeholders. Overall, the City Traffic Engineer exists to provide the high-level technical expertise, leadership, and accountability necessary to maintain a safe and well-managed transportation system that aligns with City priorities and regulatory requirements.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
DUTIES FOR THIS POSITION INCLUDE:

• Serve as the City's designated Traffic Engineer pursuant to the Municipal Code and California Vehicle Code, responsible for oversight on various items, such as traffic control devices, traffic regulations, signing, striping, speed limits, parking restrictions, and other traffic engineering determinations.
• Direct the planning, design, implementation, operation, and maintenance of the City's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), including traffic signals, communications infrastructure, advanced traffic management technologies, connected infrastructure, and emerging transportation technologies.
• Provide executive oversight of the City's Traffic Management Center (TMC), including traffic signal operations, system monitoring, incident response coordination, special event traffic management, and regional transportation system coordination.
• Lead the development and implementation of citywide traffic engineering policies, standards, procedures, and design guidelines to ensure consistency with federal, state, and local requirements and engineering best practices.
• Establish division priorities, performance metrics, and operational standards to ensure timely delivery of traffic engineering services and continuous improvement of customer service and operational efficiency.
• Lead the development of the Division's operating and capital budgets, including prioritizing capital investments, forecasting resource needs, and ensuring effective stewardship of public funds.
• Review proposed legislation, engineering standards, and regulatory changes affecting transportation systems, and recommend policy, operational, and capital improvements to maintain compliance and advance City objectives.
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with neighboring jurisdictions, regional transportation agencies, utilities, developers, emergency responders, and other stakeholders to coordinate transportation improvements and regional mobility initiatives.
• Serve as the Department's principal technical authority on traffic engineering matters, providing recommendations to executive leadership, elected officials, boards, commissions, and community stakeholders regarding transportation policy, operational issues, and capital investment decisions.
• Responsible for the overall operation and performance of the Traffic Engineering Division, leading the City's efforts in bicyclist and pedestrian safety, traffic safety, traffic engineering design, traffic control and management, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), pavement striping, parking restrictions, preferential parking districts, disabled parking on public streets, and healthy living in accordance with the City's Municipal Code.
• Staff the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee, Metro Technical Advisory Committee, Long Beach Transit Board, and Gateway Cities Council of Governments (COG) advisory committees.
• Coordinate activities with the Port of Long Beach, Caltrans, Long Beach Transit, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), and other external agencies to ensure the City's interests are effectively represented.
• Serve as the City's subject matter expert in legal depositions and court appearances related to traffic engineering, traffic incidents, and traffic safety matters, as required.
• Present traffic engineering and traffic safety matters before the City Council, boards and commissions, and stakeholder and public meetings.
• Review and approve signing and striping plans, traffic control plans, and traffic impact analyses prepared by City staff, Capital Improvement Projects, and private development applicants.
• Coordinate with other Public Works Bureaus, City departments, traffic engineering consultants, and vendors to support the delivery of traffic engineering services.
• Serve as the contract manager for as-needed on-call traffic engineering consultant contracts.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will embody the attributes of principled leadership: trusteeship, values, ethics, commitment, honesty, involvement, and vision. The City Traffic Engineer will possess a demonstrated ability to provide committed leadership in a changing government environment. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of project management technical skills and best industry practices.
• Uses a high level of tact, diplomacy, and discretion in dealing with sensitive confidential and political situations.
• Assesses and organizes work and set priorities.
• Communicate expectations effectively and holds staff accountable.
• Take initiatives and exercise sound independent judgement.
• Able to handle frequent interruptions while completing multiple assignments with competing deadlines.
• Manages a wide range of projects simultaneously.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with stakeholders at all levels including City and department management, public officials, contractors, vendors, employees, and the public.
• Creative problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional customer service skills and dedication to continuous improvement.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills including the ability to serve as a department spokesperson in small or large group settings.

Core Competencies

Technical Expertise:
The manager must have strong knowledge of traffic engineering practices and regulatory requirements. This includes making sound engineering decisions and overseeing traffic control, signing and striping, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) operations, and the City's Traffic Management Center.

Communication and Data Reporting Skills:

The role requires the ability to communicate clearly in high-pressure situations and to present technical information in a way that is easy to understand. This includes interpreting operational data, preparing clear reports and presentations, and explaining technical issues to leadership and the public.

Strategic and Analytical Skills:
The candidate must be able to evaluate data, interpret regulations, and propose policies that support compliance and advance City goals. This includes planning for future needs and recommending improvements that support safe and efficient mobility.

Leadership Skills:
Strong leadership is essential to direct staff, manage division performance, and ensure effective oversight of an operation that supports critical mobility and safety functions.

REQUIREMENTS TO FILE

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION

• A Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or Transportation Engineering from an accredited college or university (proof required)*
• Candidates may substitute experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

EXPERIENCE

• Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience working in an environment that administers the operation of a traffic engineering or transportation planning function.
• One (1) year of the required experience must have been at a lead or supervisory level.

LICENSE

• Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license.
• Possession of a current registration as a Professional Traffic Engineer in California.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Professional degrees / certifications in Traffic Engineering, or a closely related field. (Copy of degree or transcripts denoting degree conferment required).
• Experience in organizations of similar size and complexity.
• Experience within the City of Long Beach, non-profit, or equivalent local government.
• Willingness to work evenings to represent the Bureau and City at public input meetings and external agency hearings.

SELECTION PROCEDURE
This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Monday, August 31, 2026. To be considered, please submit an online application, including a cover letter, resume, and proof of education (if qualifying with a degree) in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration.
Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate