Salary : $127,668.00 - $157,608.00 Annually
Location : City of Santa Monica, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 261127-01
Department: Santa Monica Department of Transportation
Opening Date: 06/08/2026
Closing Date: 7/6/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Job Summary

DEFINITION

Performs professional engineering and project management work related to transportation programs, operations, and facilities. Operates and maintains the City's traffic control system, signing and striping, and residential traffic management programs.

SUPERVISION

Works under the administrative supervision of the Principal Traffic Engineer. May supervise, oversee, or coordinate the work of assigned staff, contractors, and consultants.
Representative Duties

Prepares, reviews, and approves the design, supporting calculations, specifications, and estimates for a wide variety of transportation engineering projects, including but not limited to; traffic signals, signing and striping, temporary traffic control, and event traffic management.

Prepares analyses related to proposed traffic and circulation changes. Analyzes the impacts of proposed developer traffic mitigation strategies.

Conducts or oversees studies and prepares reports and correspondence related to traffic control issues; presents associated information to City Council, the Planning Commission, local neighborhood advisory committees, and civic groups.

Supports the preparation of grant applications with technical review of proposed project scope and cost estimate, participation in meetings, and review of drafts prepared by the division's planning staff.

Provides assistance regarding traffic safety issues to other City departments, such as evaluating vertical speed reduction treatments and traffic signal priority systems for improved emergency response, analyzing speed data for enforcement, and recommending devices appropriate to restrict access to the pier, as required.

Directs the design and implementation of traffic signal devices. Operates, and monitors the City's traffic signal system, including providing technical expertise in identifying and correcting signal operational problems, programming signal operations, coordinating parameters, and reporting malfunctions.

Directs and/or performs the collection of traffic and other related data, such as traffic volume, capacity origin and destination, speed, accident reports, and pedestrian and bicycle counts in order to prepare reports, tables, maps, and graphs related to traffic and pedestrian safety, road and intersection design, and traffic control.
Issues work orders, specifications, and standards for new or revised traffic control devices. Responds to non-routine public requests for traffic control changes. Provides technical guidance to transportation planning, traffic operations, and other City staff. Coordinates with the signing and striping crews to ensure that work standards are met for the division.
Leads and coordinates the work of others, including division staff, contractors, and consultants to ensure that work is completed on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with the terms of the contracts and the division's work plan.
Performs project management work, including monitoring status, design, budgets, and account balances for transportation engineering projects.

Reviews local traffic operating conditions in the field.
Prepares capital project scoping and cost estimate reports. Assesses the feasibility of proposed designs.
Performs inspection of contractors' field layout and completed work to ensure compliance with contract documents.
Ensures the division's compliance with applicable ordinances, regulations, and standards for a variety of projects.

Performs other duties, as assigned.
Requirements
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:

Principles and practices of transportation engineering

Design principles and construction techniques, scheduling, and phasing

Signal system technologies

Traffic operations and highway capacity theory fundamentals

Vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian and transit design and operational standards

Various state and federal standards pertaining to road design, such as the California on Uniform Traffic Control Devises

Government processes and regulations

Project management techniques

Effective customer service techniques
Ability to:

Read, interpret, and check engineering drawings and designs, including specifications, cost estimates, and signal timing and phasing plans

Prepare calculations to support engineering designs in accordance with applicable codes

Develop comprehensive programs for the analysis and implementation of new traffic engineering strategies

Identify the need for change orders and evaluate the financial status of projects

Prepare traffic control and construction phasing plans

Prepare recovery schedules to ensure completion of projects in a timely manner

Prepare clear and concise written and oral reports, including recommendations

Direct and monitor the installation of traffic control devices

Manage multiple tasks with varying deadlines

Interpret and apply policies, codes, and regulations

Exercise sound business decisions

Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with city employees and the public.

Provide effective customer service

Work effectively with people from diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds as

well as a variety of work styles, personalities, and approaches

REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a closely related field.
Experience: Four years of paid, work experience in transportation engineering, transportation management, civil engineering, or a closely related field. Two years of the required experience must include project management and municipal engineering experience.
Licenses and Certificates:
Possession of a valid Class C driver license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer (PE) in the State of California.

Registration as a Traffic Engineer (TE) in the State of California is desirable.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work is regularly performed indoors in an office or home environment, in accordance with the City's Telework/Flexible Workplace Policy. Site visits are required so some work occurs outdoors in the community. Outdoor work requires exposure to moving equipment, dust, noise, odor, slippery surfaces and season weather conditions; it will be required to use safety gear and follow safety procedures. Work during weekends or evenings may be required.
Supplemental Information

HOW TO APPLY: All applicants must submit an online City application and required supplemental questions to be considered for this position. Please note, applications may be rejected if incomplete. Résumés, CVs and cover letters are not reviewed as part of the application screening process and should not be submitted.

NOTE: You must submit a copy of your college diploma/transcript with your application. Applicants who indicated receipt of degree from a foreign institution must provide United States degree and credential equivalency verification along with a copy of your college diploma/transcript. All materials must be received in the Human Resources Department no later than close of business on the application closing date. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified. You must upload and attach a scanned copy of your transcripts or diploma to your on-line application.
SELECTION PROCESS: All applicants must submit clear, concise and complete information regarding their qualifications for the position. All applicants will be reviewed and only those candidates determined to be most qualified on the basis of experience and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process. Testing may consist of the following:

Training & Experience Evaluation - Qualifying
Oral Interview
NOTE: If three or more qualified City employees apply and pass the examination, a promotional list will be established in addition to an open-competitive list. If fewer than three qualified City employees pass the examination, the appointing authority, in accordance with the City's civil service rules and regulations, can decline to use a promotional list, in which case a promotional list will not be established for this position.

01

The Traffic Engineer position requires graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field. Do you meet this requirement? Note: If yes, you must submit a copy of your college-level transcripts or degree to your online application. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified. Applicants who indicate receipt of college-level coursework from a foreign institution must provide United States credential equivalency verification along with a copy of your transcripts. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified.

• Yes
• No

02

The Traffic Engineer position requires registration as a Professional Civil Engineer (PE) in the State of California. Do you meet this requirement?Note: If yes, you must attach a scanned copy of your registration to your online application. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified.

• Yes
• No

03

The Traffic Engineer has a desirable qualification of registration as a Traffic Engineer in the State of California. Do you meet this requirement? If yes, please attach a copy of your registration.

• Yes
• No

04

Describe your experience and expertise in municipal engineering and project management within the area of transportation management. Be specific and describe your duties and responsibilities, and the number of years you have performed these duties.
05

Describe your experience with traffic signal control systems. Please include specific details regarding your role on any projects and the type(s) of control systems.
Required Question