Transportation Engineer (ITS and Signal Operations)

Transportation Engineer

Salary: $116,729.13 – $137,328.07 Annually

Location: Kirkland WA 98033, WA

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 202100542

Location: Public Works – Transportation

Opening Date: 12/17/2024

Closing Date: Continuous

FLSA: Exempt

Bargaining Unit: AFSCME

Job Summary

Note: The salary range listed reflects 2024 rates of pay.  This position is subject to a cost of living adjustment pursuant to collective bargaining. 

Who We’re Looking For

This full-time permanent Transportation Engineer position is focused on monitoring traffic flow and traffic signal operations in the Traffic Management Center (TMC), proposing and implementing signal timing adjustment/modifications to address construction impacts and traffic pattern changes, strategically evaluating existing and new Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) equipment, and providing engineering expertise in the implementation of existing and future ITS systems. This position will work with centralized traffic management systems software, as well as various ITS components such as vehicle detection cameras, CCTV cameras, traffic signal controllers, and more.

About Public Works

The Public Works Department ensures the City’s infrastructure remains safe, functional, and sustainable. It oversees vital services including stormwater management, transportation, water and wastewater systems, maintenance of streets and grounds, and capital improvement projects.

As the City’s largest department, we are committed to the City’s vision and the Department’s mission. We play a vital role in making Kirkland livable, sustainable, and connected. We are City employees who take pride in being trusted stewards of the public’s resources, infrastructure, environment, and quality of life.

We have a One Team approach, strive for excellence and attract, value, and keep diverse, talented employees.

Why Kirkland? 

Ranked as one of the most livable cities in America, Kirkland is an attractive and inviting place to live, work, and visit.  We have big city vision while maintaining a small-town, community feel.  If you are a candidate with the desire to join an organization looking to innovate into the future, the City of Kirkland is the place for you!   

If you ask our employees why they love where they work, they will tell you about the great people, work environment, supportive leadership and City Council, and fearless innovation.

We also invest in you! 

Competitive Wages:  We strive to maintain competitive compensation packages and work to provide wages that meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities of our employees.

Awesome benefits:  The City offers benefits that are unmatched by most other employers.  Please click on the benefits tab above to view more details.

Childcare Programs:  To help address the challenge of finding reliable childcare, the City of Kirkland has reserved spots for City employees at local and regional providers, available at a discount.  New employees gain access to Kirkland’s reserved spots as soon as they start employment.  Learn more!

Training and Career Development:  The City of Kirkland believes in developing it’s employees.  You will have access to training opportunities designed for career development and advancement based on your position, skills, and interests.

Job Summary
The role of the Transportation Engineer is to provide traffic engineering services in one or more of the following areas: traffic signals, signs and markings, development review, transportation concurrency analysis, traffic safety analysis, traffic data collection, and analysis and evaluation of transportation alternatives. The Transportation Engineer may maintain and use Kirkland’s crash/collision record system and travel demand forecasting model, provide design review input and propose appropriate projects for the CIP, operational changes, forecast future traffic volumes/impacts, and/or utilize the City’s Intelligent Transportation System (ITS).

Distinguishing Characteristics: This is the journey-level classification in the Transportation Engineer series. The incumbent adheres to clear methods to attain desired objectives working within established policy and engineering standards, guidelines, and practices. Uses initiative and resourcefulness in researching and developing processes and procedures. Works under supervision, conferring with supervisor on unusual matters.

Essential Functions: Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following.

• Provide design review support to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Division for ITS, traffic signals, crosswalk, lighting improvements, signing, and marking to ensure effective, proper, and safe design. Assist in the preparation of the CIP.
• Assist in the development of transportation related ordinances, standards, codes, and regulations. Prepare annual revisions to Pre-approved Plans including new policies, standards and procedures regarding traffic control devices, parking, and access control.
• Prepare and assist others in the preparation of grants applications from Federal, State, regional and county funded programs for transportation projects. May manage grant implementation.
• Work with staff and contractors to review and provide technical guidance for traffic control plans. May prepare traffic control plans occasionally.
• Prepare responses to inquiries from community members to Transportation Engineering Supervisor, Transportation Manager, Public Works Director, and/or elected officials.
• Provide excellent service to internal and external customers.
• Work with diverse groups to arrive at agreements on transportation engineering issues.
• Conduct advanced and complex transportation engineering and related studies, evaluation of alternatives, make recommendation and present reports to the Transportation Engineering Supervisor, Transportation Manager, Public Works Director, and/or Transportation Commission.
• Develop and implement innovative programs to increase pedestrian, bicycle, and transit safety and mobility.
• Perform comprehensive review of transportation elements such as signing, pavement markings, street lighting, and more, and provide recommendations for improvements related to safety and mobility. May work in special areas such as school zones and areas of work zone traffic control, as well as more broadly throughout the City.
• Foster a positive and supportive work environment; promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace, contributing to a respectful environment living and working in a multicultural society.

 
Specific Functions and Responsibilities by Focus Area:
Development Review

• Jointly operate and maintain the City’s travel demand model with the Cities of Bellevue and Redmond. Keep the model updated for accurate analysis of existing and future traffic conditions. Work with local jurisdictions to ensure model accuracy and integrity.
• Perform development review according to Impact Analysis guidelines, including scoping and reviewing traffic impact studies and evaluation of traffic mitigation. Estimate traffic impacts of development proposals using the forecasting model, explore/negotiate alternatives with project proponents. Ensure that applications for development are reviewed according to City’s ordinances and guidelines. Where guidelines are not applicable or definitive, base decisions on qualitative and quantitative information.
• Use the travel demand model to identify future roadway and traffic system deficiencies (with respect to signal operation, vehicular level of service, and overall traffic operations). Develop and evaluate alternatives to include street improvements, signalization projects, road connections, and transportation management programs. Analyze and evaluate long-term traffic impacts of land use alternatives.
• Support Public Works and other Departments in the preparation/revision of the Comprehensive Plan. Assist Planning and Building Department in the development of Planning and Zoning regulations.
• Assist Planning and Building Department in maintaining an accurate land use inventory on an annual basis.
• Perform transportation concurrency analysis including transportation concurrency tests, city-wide annual evaluation of transportation concurrency tests, city-wide annual evaluation of transportation concurrency, operate and maintain transportation concurrency database and propose appropriate improvements.
• Assist staff in reviewing transportation and traffic engineering aspects of private development requests such as access location, marking, and signing.

ITS and Signal Operations

• Operate the City’s Traffic Management Center (TMC) and various ITS devices and applications.
• Review, evaluate, modify, and implement operating strategies for a complete range of ITS devices such as advanced traffic signal controllers, surveillance equipment and vehicular/pedestrian detection systems.
• Propose and implement traffic signal operating strategies including channelization, detection enhancement, signal interconnection and signal timing optimization.
• Review, evaluate, modify and/or develop signal timing plans and signal controller data on a periodic basis.
• Develop, modify, and implement signal timing plans and traffic signal controller parameters for anticipated construction projects and/or special events.

Analysis and Reporting

• Manage the City’s Collision Reporting System (CRS) including periodic software upgrades, data entry, analysis, and reporting.
• Prepare traffic information including safety analysis, Intersection/corridor LOS (Level of Service Analysis) and access control for transportation studies.
• Manage the City’s traffic count program. Work with vendors to collect data at several locations around the City and compute Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) every two years.
• Support the City’s Commute Trip Reduction program and projects.
• Manage requests for service for signing, markings, lighting, parking, and similar, from the public and staff.
• Assist Neighborhood Traffic Control Program Coordinator by providing technical assistance on transportation and traffic engineering issues.

Peripheral Duties:

• Support operation of the City’s Employee Transportation and Commute Trip Reduction Programs.
• Monitor traffic conditions on ITMS (Intelligent Transportation Management System) corridors in coordination with corresponding agencies and/or jurisdictions.
• Engage in procurement processes for professional services, including developing RFQ/RFP documents and contracting.
• Performs functions as assigned in the City’s emergency response plan in the event of an emergency.
• Other duties as assigned by the Transportation Engineering Supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, including the ability synthesize complex tasks into manageable procedures.
• Knowledge of traffic signal operation principles.
• Knowledge of standard traffic engineering standards, guidelines, and practices such as the MUTCD, AASHTO, NACTO, etc.
• Knowledge of highway safety management principles and practices, such as the FHWA’s Safe System Approach.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data and come up with a recommendation or conclusion.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities may also include the following depending on focus area: 

• Proficiently skilled in the use of a wide range of traffic and video management hardware and software.
• Proficiently skilled with traffic operation and planning software packages as they relate to the evaluation and simulation of traffic control strategies.
• Proficiently skilled with ITS devices and applications.
• Knowledge of Four-Step Travel Forecasting Process.
• Knowledge of traffic signal optimization and simulation software.
• Knowledge of and experience with Commute Trip Reductions strategies, programs, applications, and management.
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and County grant processes, requirements, and regulations.
• Knowledge of accounting requirements as it relates to grants.
• Knowledge of software for development review.
• Knowledge of zoning and development regulations.
• Knowledge of interlocal agency agreements, contracts, and procedures.
• Familiar with transit, non-motorized, and demand management and their relationship to a complete transportation system.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
• Experience: 4 years’ experience in transportation engineering or related field.
• Or: In place of the above requirements, the incumbent may possess any combination of relevant education and experience which would demonstrate the individual’s knowledge, skill, and ability to proficiently perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above.

Licenses and Other Requirements:

• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) strongly preferred. 
• Professional Engineer (PE) and/or Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) preferred.
• Master of Science in Civil Engineering with Transportation or Traffic Engineering focus preferred.
• Must have a valid Washington State Driver’s license (or the ability to obtain within six months) and ability to remain insurable under the City’s insurance to operate motor vehicles.

Other

Physical Demands and Working Environment:
This position works primarily in an office environment but also outside at construction sites and sites with existing development on occasion. The fieldwork may occur in varying weather conditions and involves investigating existing infrastructure, issue identification, and private and public construction monitoring related to transportation infrastructure. This position may require climbing, bending, stooping, kneeling, and crawling. This position encounters foot hazards as defined by the WAC, which may include any of the following: falling objects, rolling objects, piercing/cutting injuries, or electrical hazards.

Selection Process

Position requires a resume and cover letter for consideration of application.  Please note how you meet minimum qualifications within the cover letter.  Applicants who are selected for next steps in the hiring process will be invited by phone or e-mail.  Candidates are encouraged to apply at the earliest possible date as screening, interviewing, and hiring decisions will be made through the recruitment period, until such time as the vacancy is filled.

The City of Kirkland is a welcoming community where every person can thrive and grow. We value diversity, inclusion, belonging, and work together to support our community. We do this by solving problems, focusing on the customer, and respecting all people who come into the City whether to visit, live, or work.  As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to creating a workforce that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. We encourage qualified applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply to our job postings.  Persons with a disability who need reasonable accommodations in the application or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 425-587-3210 or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf 711.

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