Professional Engineer II, Traffic - Grand Junction

Salary: $119,184.00 - $122,940.00 Annually
Location : Grand Junction, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:
Department: Department of Transportation
Division: CDOT Region 3
Opening Date: 09/14/2026
Closing Date: 9/27/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address: 2330 G Rd, Grand Junction, CO 81505, USA
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information: madelyn.katz@state.co.us
Hiring Pay Rate: The 2026 Step Pay Program may increase the salary range for employees with time in the class series.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Description of Job

About the Work Unit
Region 3 Traffic is charged with ensuring the safe and functional operation of the State Highway System. The Traffic Unit ensures this operation with the use of traffic control signals, pavement marking, lighting, signage and devices. This is achieved through capital improvement projects, routine maintenance and immediate response to changing traffic control needs.

About the Position
This position exists to supervise all aspects of the Region Traffic Operations Unit in fulfilling CDOT and Region 3's mission to improve the safety and operations of the state highway system. This position supervises maintenance and engineering staff, manages the MLOS budget, represents CDOT to the public, and makes program level engineering decisions relating to traffic operations and safety.

Your duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following

• Supervise 28.5 FTEs in the Traffic Operations Unit.
• Ensure unit objectives are communicated, and appropriate progress is maintained towards achieving these objectives.
• Evaluate performance and development of personnel as rater and reviewer-level supervisor daily as well as through CDOT's Performance Management Program.
• Establish staffing levels for program, recommend all personnel actions within the design and permits section, including hiring, transferring, disciplinary action, personnel conflict investigations, etc.
• Resolve personnel problems, including employee complaints, disputes & grievances.
• Evaluate in-house human resource availability & decide when to utilize consultants for program delivery.
• Plan, organize, direct, analyze and control the activities of the Traffic Operations Unit to ensure consistency with the Department's mission and goals and with the standards for the practice of Professional Engineering set forth by the State of Colorado.
• Attend scoping, field inspections or final office review meetings to provide guidance & direction to professional engineering personnel on standards, design principles, Region desires, etc. Ensure that environmental clearances have been obtained.
• Review all aspects of transportation engineering (design features, design specifications & standards).
• Approve projects for advertisement.
• Coordinate work with other Regional Maintenance Sections.
• Set work priorities based on available resources and political sensitivity.
• Establish and oversee preventative programs for the maintenance, safety and operation of the highway system.
• Respond directly to a variety of traffic investigation requests from citizens, elected officials, media, RTD, Executive Director, Traffic Engineer and others over a 15-county wide area.
• Investigate and determine solutions.
• Provide & monitor traffic engineering support to the Region including studies & investigations of various traffic engineering issues such as access management, traffic impact, speed zoning, school zones, pedestrian crossing, traffic signal warrants, traffic signal timing, hot spot analysis, traffic control devices, conducting corridor safety performance using Vision Zero software, reviewing construction traffic control, etc.
• Calculate associated costs/benefits with proposed improvements.
• Determine budget constraints and prepare written or oral reports.
• Budget and allocate resources as necessary to complete improvements.
• Represent CDOT and R3 specifically at public meetings to discuss and defend CDOT traffic engineering and operational programs.
• Negotiate and explain the rationale for traffic-related projects and programs that achieve public consent for action using a thorough knowledge of the business practices of CDOT.
• Answer public (local agencies, citizens, elected officials, special interest groups, etc.) inquiries and complaints & negotiate to reach acceptable solutions. Also works with intergovernmental agencies with improving technology and making sure that equipment/requests meets warrants to justify the installation of safety devices or equipment requested by the other agency.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Environment:

• Primarily 8:00 am - 5:00 pm work hours, Monday-Friday; hybrid.
• Approximately 10% spent in the field, 90% spent in the office.
• Travel required during work hours.
• Occasional overnight travel 4-8 times a year throughout Colorado.
• A valid Colorado driver's license is required; required to operate CDOT vehicles.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Minimum Qualifications

• Current, valid licensure as a Professional Engineer from the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors.
• Two (2) years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position, one of which must have been as a licensed professional engineer.

Substitutions

• Appropriate education in addition to that required for the professional engineer license will substitute for the required general experience on a year-for-year basis, but not the supervisory or staff authority experience.

Please Note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. "See Resume" statements on the application or resumes in lieu of a complete application may not be accepted. Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.

College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or an official foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show the name of the school, completed credit hours, and (if applicable) that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have been assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. The credential evaluation report must be an official report. Failure to provide a transcript or official foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Conditions of Employment

• Must pass a pre-employment screening which may include social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks. More information in the supplemental information section.
• A current valid driver's license is required for all Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) positions which require operating a state or personal motor vehicle to perform one or more essential functions of the position.
• Essential Services Designation - Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
• Be available for contact during the day, evening or night for construction projects, highway impacts or closures and staffing snow teams at various locations.

Preferred Qualifications

The Exceptional Applicant will be an experienced engineering program manager and will possess the proven ability or accomplishment in the following:

• Demonstrated success with the duties listed in the Description of the Job section;
• Highest work/personal ethics and integrity;
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in public and/or private management of a multi-million dollar program or organization;
• Knowledge and experience with engineering fundamentals, DOT Pavement Design Manual, CDOT's Standard Specifications for Road & Bridge Construction, and M & S Standards;
• Comprehensive understanding and experience with transportation engineering, related engineering specialties, and Local Agency programs;
• Maintain current working knowledge of engineering processes, theories, laws, principles, conceptual models, and best practices;
• Being open to change and new information; adapting behavior and work methods in response to quickly changing conditions or unexpected obstacles;
• Demonstrated ability to develop and mentor staff members
• Proven ability to manage multiple assignments, priorities, and projects in a demanding environment;
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and be adaptable to changing assignments;
• Ability to take initiative to solve problems in an innovative manner;
• Ability to partner with professionals, consultants, vendors, stakeholders and staff, with sensitivity to their needs and priorities;
• Working with general public, professional, consultants, and staff, with sensitivity to their needs, priorities, promises made and commitments;
• Negotiating mutually acceptable solutions; building consensus through give and take;
• Interpersonal and relationship building skills;
• Strong time and project management skills, including prioritization and multi-tasking ability;
• Excellent reasoning, investigative, analytical, and problem solving ability;
• Excellent facilitation, presentation, and communication skills, both written and oral;
• Strong attention to technical detail and accuracy;
• Excellent ability to identify and analyze problems using sound reasoning to arrive at conclusions;
• Passion for safety;
• Working effectively in both independent and team situations;
• Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access), Gmail, SAP, AASHTO ME Design, MicroStation, InRoads, and the strong ability to quickly learn other software systems.

Supplemental Information
Applicant Checklist

Complete Applications must include the following documents:

1. A complete CDOT Application for Announced Vacancy (please submit online using the green 'APPLY' button at the top of this announcement)
2. A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (The questionnaire is part of the online application. You will be prompted to answer them as you are completing your online application.)
3. A cover letter that describes your interest in this position, how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Cover letters must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application. Cover letters will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement.
4. A detailed chronological resume. Resumes must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application.
5. If you are using education to qualify, a copy of your official or unofficial transcript showing completed coursework and credit hours, that your degree has been conferred (if applicable), and the name of your school, or your NACES accreditation. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.
6. If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.

Please note that you may redact information o