Salary : $114,493.00 - $171,739.00 Annually
Location : Millbrae, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:Division: Planning
Department: Planning
Opening Date: 07/03/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
GeneralThis is an exciting and rare opportunity to help shape transportation improvements along some of the Peninsula's most important corridors through complex, high-visibility projects that require strong coordination across agencies, jurisdictions, and stakeholder groups.
The Principal Transportation Planner/Principal Transportation Engineer (Major Corridors) will play a key role in advancing , an effort to create a faster, more reliable transit connection between East Palo Alto and Redwood City while improving access for people walking and biking. This position will also help advance work on El Camino Real through the , where SamTrans is partnering with corridor cities, Caltrans, and other public and community partners to implement major safety and mobility improvements.
Reporting to the Manager, Major Corridors, this position will serve as a project manager or deputy project manager on these and related efforts, helping move major multimodal projects from planning through environmental review, design, and construction.
SamTrans is seeking a collaborative and experienced professional who can lead complex technical work, build strong partnerships, and deliver corridor improvements that respond to regional growth, changing travel needs, and increasing demand for safe, reliable, and connected transportation options.
Essential Functions & Duties - Lead and advise on long-range transit and multimodal corridor plans and projects from conceptual planning through design and construction.
- Manage and procure consultant contracts; approve and monitor project schedule and budget; direct and review consultant work.
- Develop and maintain working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to advance planning projects and initiatives.
- Present SamTrans projects and initiatives to internal and external audiences, including project goals, objectives, and recommendations.
- May supervise staff as needed. Hire, mentor, and take appropriate corrective and/ordisciplinary action. Ensure EEO and affirmative action policies and procedures are followed. Participate in selection, coordinate staff training, and professional development. Establish performance objectives, monitor, and evaluate employee performance.
Examples of Essential Duties:
- Design and review complex and varied transportation projects, plans, and policies, and provide meaningful input and recommendations that promote transit priority and complete streets.
- Oversee development of major capital project design phases extending from conceptual planning through final design, and review design plan sets for consistency with SamTrans policies and guidelines.
- Analyze, compile, and evaluate data, and/or supervise the work of others; integrate principles of transportation and land use planning, utilizing transit best practices and equity-focused approaches into planning projects and studies.
- Lead and facilitate meetings and workshops, prepare reports and presentations to senior staff, board members, and outside agencies and committees.
- Coordinate project teams, including staff and consultants, and provide technical guidance and mentorship to staff, as needed.
- Review and comment on technical drawings and specifications, project plans, and schematics for roadway projects, including complete streets and transit priority projects.
- Develop sound project goals, objectives, and methodologies for creating and prioritizing project outcomes and recommendations.
- Develop and/or supervise development of public outreach plans and conduct field outreach.
- Oversee request for proposal (RFP)/request for qualifications (RFQ) processes with contracts and procurement, including writing scopes of work, developing cost estimates and evaluation criteria to procure consultant services for projects.
- Monitor work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures; consult with senior management regarding policies and procedures.
- Perform all job duties and responsibilities in a safe manner to protect yourself, your fellow employees, and the public from injury or harm. Promote safety awareness and follow safety procedures in an effort to reduce or eliminate accidents.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Supervision: Work under the general supervision of the Manager, Major Corridors, who establishes goals and objectives, monitors and evaluates performance.
Minimum QualificationsSufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Development of the required knowledge and abilities is typically obtained through, but not limited to:
- Bachelor's degree in urban planning, transportation planning, transportation engineering, geography, economics, public policy, civil engineering, or related field.
- Four(4) years of full-time progressively responsible transportation planning experience, including design phase through to completion.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working at/with a public transit operator on corridor planning projects.
- Experience leading complex transit priority and/or bicycle and pedestrian projects through planning, environmental and design phases.
- Experience developing engineering drawings, schematics, and plans.
- Experience in technical grant writing and project scoping.
- Experience working with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) on permitting and project approvals.
- Strong presentation skills with Boards and committees and experience facilitating meetings and workshops.
- Experience with AutoCAD, GIS, and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
- Fluent in Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese), or other language often spoken in San Mateo County.
- Holds a Professional Engineer (PE) license
The selection process may include a panel interview, written and skills test assessments, or supplemental questions. Only those candidates who are the most qualified will continue in the selection process. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to continue in the process.
How to Apply - Complete an online employment application by 11:59 p.m. of the listed closing date. Resumes and cover letters will not be accepted in lieu of fully completed applications. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that applications are completed with all relevant information (experience, education, certifications, licenses, references and/or other information).
Below is a summary of the comprehensive benefits provided to District full-time employees:
Health and Welfare Benefits:
- Healthcare Benefits -District employees are offered a choice of healthcare providers under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program. The District will contribute ninety (90) percent towards monthly premiums for full-time employees. Fifty (50) percent for part-time employees.
- Free Dental and Vision Benefits provided - Employer Covers Premiums
- Free Employee Assistance Benefit - Employees are entitled to 5 face-to-face sessions or telephonic or web-video consultations for problem-solving support per incident, per calendar year.
- Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified Health or Dependent Care expenses.
Retirement Medical Benefits:
- Long Term Disability Insurance - After 90 days of total disability, Administrative full-time employees are eligible for 60% of monthly income covered by the District.
- Health and Wellness - Gyms located at most work locations and discounted Weight Watcher Membership Option.
Holidays and Paid Time Off:
- Paid Time Off - Newly hired employees accrue 6.5 hours bi-weekly when hired (if Exempt 8.25 hours). As you move up in years of service credit, the rate of the amount of PTO accrued will also increase.
- Paid Holidays - The District provides seven paid holidays throughout the year - New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
- Floating Holidays - District employees can earn up to five (5) floating holidays.
Financial Planning Benefits:
- Pension Benefits through CalPERS -You must have a minimum of 5 years of service to be eligible for this pension.
- CalPERS PEPRA vs. Classic - All employees hired on, or after January 1, 2013, are considered PEPRA members and will contribute 8% of their salary up to the maximum IRS cut-off. All Classic members will contribute 6%
- Deferred Compensation Options - Select to contribute to one or both of our Tax Deferred Compensation Options
- Reliance Standard Life Insurance with 100% premium paid by the District - 1 times annual salary of employee - max $200,000
- Optional Life Insurance - Employees may purchase additional life insurance for themselves and their eligible family members.
Growth and Education Benefits:
- Professional Development - Access to LinkedIn Learning and San Mateo County's professional training. District Tuition Reimbursement Program - A maximum of $5,250 per year for courses related to your job or career goals with the District.
- Computer Loan Program - Interest-free two-year loan with a maximum amount of $2,000.
Other Amazing Benefits:
- Credit Union - Employees and family members are eligible to join the San Mateo Credit Union and Patelco Credit Union.
- Employee Clean Commute (ECC) - Car/Van poolers and Public Transit riders receive a monthly reimbursement.
- Commuter Benefits - Free Employee Parking; Free Bus Pass for employee as well as children/spouse; Clipper Card/Go Pass Program for Central employees.
For union employees, all of the above benefits are subject to the employee's Collective Bargaining Agreement. Benefits listed are also subject to change with or without notice and are subject to contract/provider terms and conditions.
01
Which best describes your education?
- Bachelor's degree or higher in urban planning, transportation planning, transportation engineering, geography, economics, public policy, civil engineering, or a closely related field
- Bachelor's degree or higher in another field
- Associate's degree or some college coursework, but no bachelor's degree
- High school diploma or equivalent
02
How many years of full-time transportation planning experience do you have?
- Less than 4 years
- At least 4 years, but less than 6 years
- At least 6 years, but less than 8 years
- 8 years or more
03
Have you worked on transportation projects that moved beyond planning into design, construction, or implementation?
04
Briefly summarize your transportation planning experience, including your primary responsibilities and the types of projects you have supported or led.
05
Briefly describe one transportation project you worked on that moved into design, construction, or implementation. Include your role and the project phase.
Required Question
