Transportation Design Engineer

Transportation Design Engineer

Salary

$118,560.00 - $166,920.00 Annually

Location

Tacoma, WA

Job Type

Non-Classified

Remote Employment

Flexible / Hybrid

Job Number

T0150-25A

Department

Public Works

Opening Date

04 / 17 / 2025

Closing Date

Continuous

Description

Benefits

Questions

Position Description

The Traffic Engineering, Operations, and Safety Section of the City of Tacoma’s Transportation Division of the Public Works Department, is recruiting for a Transportation Design Engineer position which requires the candidate to be a licensed professional engineer (preferably in civil engineering) in Washington (or able to obtain transfer from another state). We are seeking an experienced and skilled professional engineer to carry out a variety of technical and managing duties related to addressing traffic engineering needs within the City as well as supporting capital projects, and other projects with transportation elements, at each stage of development and implementation. The position duties require someone who is highly motivated; interested in diverse and challenging engineering projects; thrives on being part of a dynamic team, and able to excel at collaborating with a multitude of staff, contractors, and the public. Under the overall direction of the City Traffic Engineer, the incumbent will perform, and oversee when appropriate, professional and technical engineering duties in support of the Traffic Engineering Section’s day-to-day operations and systematic implementation of the City’s transportation objectives, such as the Transportation and Mobility Plan, in the form of capital project design, review, funding opportunities, and construction support. The ideal candidate will be to successfully execute their duties by drawing from their depth and breadth of understanding transportation engineering principles, capital project processes, overall task management, and leadership experience.

Division Overview :

The mission of the Transportation Division is to support the City of Tacoma’s goals through the fiscally and environmentally responsible planning, design, maintenance, and operation of transportation systems for everyone who lives, works, or plays in Tacoma. Our services enhance the community by improving the function of the multi-modal transportation network for all users.

Safe : We prioritize the safety of all users, and strive to build a transportation system that provides safe and reliable access for all users and neighborhoods

Equitable : We center anti-racism in our work and work to decrease disparities in our transportation system.

Sustainable : We recognize that transportation is a leading contributor to local greenhouse gas emissions and work to improve the efficiency of our existing investments and to prioritize active transportation and transit in new investments.

The Transportation Division collaborates with a broad cross-section of disciplines within the City of Tacoma staff organization, City Council, Transportation Commission and other boards and commissions, and community stakeholders to establish and implement transportation plans and policies, including :

Transportation and Mobility Plan

Safe Routes to School Action Plan

Vision Zero Action Plan, and

Transportation elements of the City’s Right-of-Way Design Manual, City Standard Plans, City-developed Special Provisions for Capital Projects, and long-range planning documents.

The Transportation Division provides a unique opportunity for engineers to work with a wide variety of City Departments, local, county, and statewide partners, and community stakeholders and members to create and support a transportation system that is safe and accessible for all ages and abilities. This position will have opportunities to influence our objectives through investigating and addressing community requests; performing or leading ongoing traffic engineering analyses; and helping guide, design, review, and implement capital projects and similar City-involved endeavors.

The Principles that Guide Us :

Tacoma, the City of Destiny, has a workforce of dedicated, talented and open-minded employees with unique skills and perspectives. We embrace innovation and strive for excellence and community engagement in all that we do. The Principles that Guide Us, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Equity, speak to the values that we embody as City of Tacoma employees, and represent the core of our work in public service.

Position Details :

This position's responsibilities will include performing professional and technical engineering duties in support of the Transportation Division’s services provided to internal and external customers with respect to traffic engineering analyses and decisions (relying on experience and industry resources like the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices), transportation design supportive elements and tasks (incorporating and promoting directives from the City’s Right-of-Way Design Manual), and capital project support ranging from interpreting Transportation and Mobility Plan objectives (and other City policies) to the design of specific transportation features, including temporary traffic control to support a successful and safe construction phase. The expertise needed to be successful in these tasks also will mean the person in this position will provide similar services to the Division’s counterpart sections and / or within the Public Works Department or other City departments.

Qualifications

Minimum Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering or directly related field

Minimum Experience

4 years of professional-level engineering experience

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirement

Washington State Licensed Professional Engineer and maintenance thereafter

AS ASSIGNED :

Washington State Driver's License

• Equivalency : 1 year of experience = 1 year of education
• 6-month grace period allowable to transfer PE license from another state to WA

Knowledge & Skills

COMPETENCIES : Technical

Demonstrated ability to read and understand engineering plans, site plans, traffic impact analyses, technical reports and manuals. Proficient in engineering practices and principles within the field of expertise. Ability to be innovative and make independent decisions.

Problem Solving

Use intelligence, common sense, hard work and tenacity to solve particularly difficult or complicated challenges. Employ expertise and credibility, evaluate and resolve complex or sensitive issues and problems.

Communications Effectiveness

Provide clear explanations of recommendations with supporting details and documentation. Effective communication both verbal and in writing including the compilation of reports, presentations, and records; and interacting respectfully and sensitively with individuals and groups to develop and maintain productive relationships and achieve results. Makes excellent customer service the standard, responding to changing customer needs, and helping customers implement complete solutions.

Professionalism

Conduct all assignments, including responds to requests, in a professional and timely manner. Review engineering documents efficiently, accurately, and thoroughly. Model effective group behavior such as listening, discussing, negotiating, encouraging and motivating. Maintain current knowledge of industry by reading and interpreting applicable ordinances, rules, regulations, practices, policies and procedures.

Program Management

Appropriately prioritize and concurrently provide guidance and consultation on multiple programs, integrating many factors into decisions, and ensuring that work progresses toward achieving goals and objectives.

Leadership

Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with co-workers, the general public, and other municipalities and federal agencies. Ability to lead small to medium working teams. Establish, coordinate and direct work teams to accomplish assigned tasks to a successful completion. Ability to work as a team member in a supporting or managing role. Ability to coordinate multi-disciplined project teams.

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

City of Tacoma's Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Tacoma's diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma's entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success. In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress. One of our goals is for the City of Tacoma workforce to reflect the community it serves. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and / or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.

The City of Tacoma is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workplace. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital or veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and local laws.

Apply :

Interested individuals should apply online and attach a detailed resume and cover letter that includes job experience, major responsibilities and accomplishments related to this position.

Reference checks will be conducted on final candidates and appointment is subject to passing a background check.

Communication from the City of Tacoma :

We primarily communicate via e-mail during the application process. E-mails from cityoftacoma.org and / or neogov.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk e-mail folders.

Should you have any questions about this position please call Human Resources at (253) 591-5400 before 4pm on the closing date.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details :

Hourly Rate : $57.00- $80.25

Annual Salary : $118,560.00 - $166,920.00

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma ()

The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police / Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage : For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Dental Coverage : For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Vision Coverage : For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave : City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick / vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans : Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation : Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement : All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit : Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases : Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation : Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note : The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and / or revoked without notice.

01

The Supplemental Questionnaire is part of the examination process; accordingly, it should be completed carefully. It must be submitted with your application. Responses to supplemental questions must be original content created by the applicant using their own words. The use of online tools or resources to create responses, such as Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT, etc), Google, Bing, etc., or plagiarism in any form, is considered cheating and falsification of the application. Do not indicate "see resume" or copy unrelated content from your resume when answering these questions. Answer all information requested in each question. Failure to do so may result in rejection of your application. I certify that the information provided is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any falsification may cancel any terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.

Yes

No

02

Do you have the equivalent combination of educational degree and / or experience to meet or exceed the minimum qualifications for this position?

Yes, I have a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or directly related field AND 4 (or more) years of professional level engineering experience (i.e., years while registered as a practicing professional engineer).

Yes, I have 8 (or more) years of professional level engineering experience (i.e., years while registered as a practicing professional engineer) to meet the education equivalency and the remaining years to meet the 4+ professional engineering experience requirement.

No

03

Do you have a Washington State Professional Engineer license?

Yes

No, but able to achieve through reciprocity or comity

No

04

Please indicate all the areas you have professional experience in (check all that apply)

Roadway / street design

Analysis of traffic operations

Determination of traffic engineering features, especially related to safety

Preparation and / or support for transportation grants

Project management experience

05

In 300 words or less, please describe your technical experience as it pertains to evaluating transportation issues and the need for design or mitigative solutions. In describing your experience, please list any reference materials, tools, or specialty software that you relied on in your efforts.

06

In 300 words or less, please describe your knowledge and experience with the process to develop, design, and implement transportation / capital projects. As part of your description, include any l best practices you follow and / or lessons learned to support successful transportation designs and implementation.

07

One of the City's Principles that guides us is Equity. Describe what equity means to you (in 300 words or less) and describe any experience you have working with diverse groups of people.

08

Please tell us how you learned about this job opening.

Job Interest Card notification

Internet search

Professional organization

Military organization

Union job posting

City of Tacoma employee

Online job board posting

Word of mouth

LinkedIn

SEED

TTEP (Tacoma Training and Education Program)

Indeed

Facebook

Instagram

Careers in Government

Government Jobs

NWPPA

Outreach Event

09

Please provide specific, besides your selections in Question 8,regarding how you learned about this job opening. Thank you, your feedback will be used to evaluate our success reaching the public and refine our methods for future job postings

10

Did you remember to upload a cover letter and resume?

Yes

No

Required Question

Employer

City of Tacoma

Address

Human Resources Department 747 Market Street Tacoma, Washington, 98402-3764

Phone

253-591-5400

Website

Apply

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