Principal Traffic Engineer

Principal Traffic Engineer San Diego County, CA | Leadership Track | Ownership Potential

Are you a proven Traffic Engineering leader looking for more influence, greater autonomy, and a clear path toward ownership?

An established, employee-focused engineering consulting firm is seeking a Principal Traffic Engineer to lead complex transportation projects throughout Southern California. This is an opportunity to join a highly respected multidisciplinary organization known for delivering impactful infrastructure, transportation, and community development projects across the region.

You'll work alongside industry experts, mentor technical staff, expand client relationships, and play a key role in shaping both project delivery and the future growth of the practice.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and manage traffic engineering and transportation planning projects throughout Southern California
• Oversee traffic engineers, planners, CAD technicians, and design staff
• Manage project schedules, budgets, scopes, and client expectations
• Prepare contracts, fee proposals, and scopes of work
• Serve as a trusted advisor to public agencies, municipalities, and private-sector clients
• Direct the preparation of:
  • Traffic Signal Plans
  • Traffic Control Plans
  • Signing and Striping Plans
  • Traffic Impact Analyses
  • Transportation Studies and Technical Reports
• Provide municipal traffic engineering services and support ongoing agency relationships
• Mentor and develop junior engineering staff while fostering a collaborative team environment
• Support business development efforts and help drive long-term market growth

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering
• California Professional Engineer (PE) or Traffic Engineer (TE) registration
• Minimum 7 years of traffic engineering or transportation planning experience, or equivalent industry experience
• Minimum 5 years of leadership and staff management experience
• Strong background managing multidisciplinary traffic engineering projects
• Demonstrated success supervising engineering, planning, and CAD teams
• Experience managing project budgets, schedules, and client relationships
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Ability to work independently and make sound engineering decisions

Preferred Experience

• Recent Southern California traffic engineering experience, preferably within the San Diego market
• Municipal traffic engineering consulting experience
• Expertise in traffic operations, signal design, traffic control, and transportation studies
• Experience with:
  • Synchro
  • Vistro
  • HCS
  • Other traffic analysis and modeling software
• Strong understanding of:
  • California Vehicle Code (CVC)
  • MUTCD
  • Highway Capacity Manual (HCM)
• Transit planning and design experience is a plus

Why Join?

• Opportunity to work on high-profile transportation and infrastructure projects
• Collaborative, multidisciplinary environment
• Strong leadership team and technical mentorship
• Clear career advancement opportunities
• Potential pathway to ownership for high-performing professionals
• Long-term stability with a respected Southern California consulting practice

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive compensation package
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with company contributions
• Profit Sharing Program
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off and Personal Leave
• Professional development and career growth opportunities

If you're looking for a leadership role where you can make a lasting impact on Southern California's transportation network while building toward future ownership, we'd love to connect.

Desired Skills and Experience Principal Traffic Engineer

San Diego County, CA | Leadership Track | Ownership Potential

Are you a proven Traffic Engineering leader looking for more influence, greater autonomy, and a clear path toward ownership?

An established, employee-focused engineering consulting firm is seeking a Principal Traffic Engineer to lead complex transportation projects throughout Southern California. This is an opportunity to join a highly respected multidisciplinary organization known for delivering impactful infrastructure, transportation, and community development projects across the region.

You'll work alongside industry experts, mentor technical staff, expand client relationships, and play a key role in shaping both project delivery and the future growth of the practice.

What You'll Be Doing

Lead and manage traffic engineering and transportation planning projects throughout Southern California

Oversee traffic engineers, planners, CAD technicians, and design staff

Manage project schedules, budgets, scopes, and client expectations

Prepare contracts, fee proposals, and scopes of work

Serve as a trusted advisor to public agencies, municipalities, and private-sector clients

Direct the preparation of:

Traffic Signal Plans

Traffic Control Plans

Signing and Striping Plans

Traffic Impact Analyses

Transportation Studies and Technical Reports

Provide municipal traffic engineering services and support ongoing agency relationships

Mentor and develop junior engineering staff while fostering a collaborative team environment

Support business development efforts and help drive long-term market growth

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

California Professional Engineer (PE) or Traffic Engineer (TE) registration

Minimum 7 years of traffic engineering or transportation planning experience, or equivalent industry experience

Minimum 5 years of leadership and staff management experience

Strong background managing multidisciplinary traffic engineering projects

Demonstrated success supervising engineering, planning, and CAD teams

Experience managing project budgets, schedules, and client relationships

Excellent communication and leadership skills

Ability to work independently and make sound engineering decisions

Preferred Experience

Recent Southern California traffic engineering experience, preferably within the San Diego market

Municipal traffic engineering consulting experience

Expertise in traffic operations, signal design, traffic control, and transportation studies

Experience with:

Synchro

Vistro

HCS

Other traffic analysis and modeling software

Strong understanding of:

California Vehicle Code (CVC)

MUTCD

Highway Capacity Manual (HCM)

Transit planning and design experience is a plus

Why Join?

Opportunity to work on high-profile transportation and infrastructure projects

Collaborative, multidisciplinary environment

Strong leadership team and technical mentorship

Clear career advancement opportunities

Potential pathway to ownership for high-performing professionals

Long-term stability with a respected Southern California consulting practice

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive compensation package

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

401(k) with company contributions

Profit Sharing Program

Life and Disability Insurance

Generous Paid Time Off and Personal Leave

Professional development and career growth opportunities

If you're looking for a leadership role where you can make a lasting impact on Southern California's transportation network while building toward future ownership, we'd love to connect.