City Traffic Engineer

City of Long Beach • Long Beach, CA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Public Works has an opening for a City Traffic Engineer in the Transportation Services Bureau - Traffic Engineering Division. This position 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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

• 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.
• Bilingual skills (Spanish, Khmer and/or Tagalog) are desirable.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Benefits

• The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.
• The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are.
• The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act.
• The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices.
• The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager