Lead Consultant, Traffic Engineering

WSP • New York, NY

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

WSP USA is seeking a Lead Traffic Engineer to join our team in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Area. This role provides high-level technical assistance and guidance for multi-site/phase project investigation, remediation, analysis, improvement, planning, engineering, design, and operation of streets and highways, their networks, adjacent land uses, and interaction with other modes of transportation and their terminals. Tasks include performing capacity analyses, reviewing permitting, and engaging in the design, concept development, and construction of roadways, traffic patterns, work zone maintenance of traffic, roadside safety, and traffic signal design and timing. The role ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, and functionality. The Lead Consultant will also provide guidance with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from various sources for project development, design, and construction. They will apply high-level traffic engineering techniques to identify improvements across all project phases, from concept to operation. This includes conducting investigations and inspections of proposed and existing conditions, developing and incorporating advanced technologies, and overseeing cross-functional teams. The role involves verifying site characteristics, providing technical assistance on complex studies, coordinating and reviewing traffic design plans, and acting as a trusted advisor to clients. The Lead Consultant will initiate and direct studies, analyze and evaluate data, prepare comprehensive technical reports and presentations, and interact professionally with regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and clients. Collaboration with professionals on various funded projects and business development opportunities is expected, along with staying current in the latest traffic engineering techniques and practices. The role requires responsible and ethical decision-making and adherence to WSP's Code of Conduct.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, or closely related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• 7 to 10 years of relevant post education experience in engineering and prior traffic design experience.
• Valid Driver’s License
• Proficient and extensive knowledge of traffic engineering principles, practices, process, and design/build related to traffic engineering preliminary and final design, including functional layouts of roadways and parking facilities, traffic control equipment, capacity and operational analysis, project management, and related communications systems.
• Experience with roadway planning, design, and construction management, including experience in preliminary and final design of roadways, parking lots/garages, frontages, access/egress, intersections, toll plazas, pedestrian elements, and bicycle accommodations.
• Previous work should also include project involvement in a variety of larger and more complex infrastructure projects, rehabilitation and construction of pavement, navigational aids, design of work zone traffic control and traffic analysis of work zone closures, grading design, and safety management.
• Well-defined specific knowledge of relevant roadway transportation construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
• Well-developed ability to make technical computations and calculations involving the application of engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations.
• Experience in preparing cost estimates, with a focus on construction costs of traffic design elements. Estimating experience includes design costs for conceptual through final design stages.
• Ability to plan and conduct inspections and investigations on various aspects of transportation corridors, applying applicable regulations and policies
• Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
• Demonstrated high-level of self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
• Works independently with minimal oversight and provides guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Highly proficient with technical writing, office automation, AutoCAD (including AutoTurn and GuideSign), technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools; superior knowledge of traffic engineering standards and guidelines including the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), Highway Capacity Manual (HCM), AASHTO Green Book, and Roadside Design Guide, and National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Design Guides
• Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, statistical analysis and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solutions.
• Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating and assertively directing subconsultants and others to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree in Engineering.
• Professional Engineer license, preferably in New York or New Jersey.
• Knowledge and experience with Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) transportation infrastructure and existing operations of its facilities, particularly JFK, LGA, and EWR (airport frontages, landside and airside roadways, parking facilities, cargo areas, patron flow inside terminals).
• Experience with Port Authority Design Standards and Processes, Traffic Standard Details, Specifications, Cost Estimating, Policy & Procedures, PA Airport Signing Manual, and FAA design guidelines for roadway, sign, and pavement marking design.

Responsibilities

• Provide high level technical assistance and guidance for multi-site/phase project investigation, remediation, analysis, improvement, planning, engineering, design, and operation of streets and highways, their networks, adjacent land uses, and interaction with other modes of transportation and their terminals.
• Perform capacity analyses, review permitting, and engage in the design, concept development, and construction of roadways, traffic patterns, work zone maintenance of traffic, roadside safety, and traffic signal design and timing.
• Substantiate reports and documentation to advise on materials and construction specifications.
• Ensure that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, and functionality.
• Provide guidance with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from the physical work site, surveys, design plans, GIS data, maps, technical data, and other matrices for project development, design, and construction.
• Apply high-level traffic engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements for various project phases involving roadway transportation engineering work including concept development, preliminary design, final design, procurement, construction, and operation.
• Perform professional traffic engineering work and conduct investigations and inspections of proposed and existing site conditions, roadways, intersections, roadside safety measures, signing, signals, pavement markings, and transportation corridors to determine conformance with applicable rules, standards, and construction or operating permits.
• Be involved from inception to completion in the management of design and construction of traffic projects, including work zone maintenance of traffic plans, signing and pavement marking plans, specifications, phasing plans, and construction safety plans.
• Develop and incorporate advanced technologies, design requirements, and operating strategies to account for the safety and functionality of end-users, transportation vehicles/systems, and implementing future-ready solutions with traffic engineering design standards.
• Oversee and monitor cross-functional teams of engineers and planners to execute project work on mid-level and/or multiple concurrent projects, including budgets, tracking hours and expenses, task completion, cost and quantities of materials/equipment/labor, technical calculations, permit applications, construction, compliance documentation, and regulatory and technical analysis memos.
• Verify the characteristics of a site, providing technical assistance on complex or larger-scale traffic engineering studies, capacity analyses, traffic complaint investigation, traffic plan review, signal system design, monitoring and control, and operations analysis to ensure roadways are designed in a safe and efficient way and the driver is provided with all of the necessary information and safety metrics to help ensure that their driving experience is safe and efficient.
• Coordinate, review and approve traffic design plans, ensuring data integrity and work is compliant with all applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Work closely with the client as a “trusted advisor” to determine the impact that a new structure, development, or construction project might have on the road system and makes recommendations to mitigate or offset the impact.
• Initiate, direct, and apply the results of studies and program reviews to evaluate existing and projected roadway and transportation layouts, traffic impacts of proposed developments, recommending traffic safety enhancement projects on the basis of respective studies.
• Analyze, evaluate, and interpret data obtained during field/site investigations, offering input with developing action plans for moderate- to high-level risk mitigation activities.
• Prepare data and visualizations such as tables, charts, reports, models, cross-sections, and other illustrations for the interpretation or presentation of more complex data, findings, or analyses.
• Prepare comprehensive technical reports and presentations that explain research, concepts, and recommendations to prevent, control, restore, or address engineering, design, and/or construction issues or opportunities.
• Prepare and implement site Health and Safety Plans (HASPs).
• Interact with regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and clients in a confident and professional manner.
• Collaborate with professionals, other engineers, planners, and DOT authorities on Federal, State, regional, and locally funded road and transportation improvement and development projects, as well as proposal and business development opportunities.
• Remain current in latest traffic engineering techniques and practices.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Benefits

• Coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life
• Retirement savings
• Paid sick leave
• Paid vacation (or other personal time)
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

What This Job Offers

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