Principal Engineer - Traffic Operations

Principal Engineer - Traffic Operations

Closing: 12/15/2019 

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.  For more information about MTC, visit www.mtc.ca.gov.

MTC's Design and Project Delivery (DPD) Section is responsible for the development and delivery of innovative transportation strategies that improves the performance of the region's freeway, bridge, arterial, and transit systems, with an emphasis on operational efficiencies and demand management/high vehicle occupancy strategies.

Under the general direction of the Assistant Director, the Principal Engineer will lead and support a wide range of operational improvement projects in all phases, including traffic operation analyses, engineering studies, design alternative assessments, project development and implementation. This position will lead and work collaboratively with a team of planners and engineers within and external to MTC in accomplishing these goals. The individual will lead and manage projects/tasks that is generally traffic operations and technical in nature. 

The individual will perform a wide range of tasks requiring diligent attention to detail, advanced analytical skills, project management skills, and strong technical writing and speaking abilities, including:

• Managing large, complex and multidisciplinary projects assessments and/or initiatives, including a lead role in developing complex work scopes, budgets, overseeing consultants and managing both internal and external stakeholders to build consensus, and implement effective strategies aimed at improving freeway and arterial performance.
• Effectively lead and supervise staff including recognizing and developing the abilities of direct reports, establishment of goals and providing constructive and timely feedback.
• Performing traffic analyses and leading technical reviews of traffic operations analyses performed by others, based on a variety of manual methods and analysis software packages.
• Identifying and analyzing practical and innovative concepts to improve traffic performance.
• Working collaboratively in in a team environment.
• Preparing staff memos, reports and presentation materials as assigned.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

In addition to the knowledge, skills and abilities listed above, the ideal candidate will also have the following:

• Strong knowledge of the fundamentals of traffic and transportation engineering at planning and project levels.
• Ability to identify, assess and develop solutions for transportation problems, including, but not limited to, active traffic and demand management strategies and other relevant operational and policy strategies.
• Analytical skills and the ability to collect, organize and analyze large amounts of data and information. Distill complex data and analysis results into meaningful presentations and clearly articulate findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong knowledge of manual and deterministic traffic analysis methods and analysis modeling tools including FREQ, FREVAL, VISSIM, and Synchro.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage, oversee and assess the quality of consultant deliverables in traffic analyses, engineering design alternative assessments, and other relevant reports.
• Prepare and manage procurements, vendor selection processes, task orders and contracts.
• Work independently with minimal supervision and in a team environment, either in a lead or support role.
• Adapt to changing priorities and schedules.
• Coordination with Caltrans, county transportation authorities, and other project stakeholders.
• Familiarity with Caltrans processes and project development and delivery procedures.
• Knowledge of Bay Area freeway operations.
• Strong oral and written communication skills. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

An appropriate combination of education and experience that has provided the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way of obtaining the required qualifications is:

Education:  A Master's degree from an accredited college or university, in an appropriate field related to the area of assignment, such as transportation planning, project management, public finance, transportation engineering, economics, business or public administration.  (Applicants with a degree issued from an institution outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by an academic accrediting service and provide proof of equivalency along with the application.)

Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible experience in an appropriate field related to the area of assignment.  Preference will be given to applicants with more professional relevant work experience.

A Bachelor's degree in an appropriate discipline and four years of relevant experience is an alternative qualification.  

License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License and a safe driving record, or the ability to provide alternate transportation which is approved by the appointing authority.

A professional civil or traffic engineer license is highly desired.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the general direction of the Assistant Director, specific assignments and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Project Management and Staff Oversight

• Ensure the delivery of assigned projects, including managing and overseeing internal staff, consultants and collaborating with external partner agencies.
• Perform quality control and quality assurance on project/task deliverables and reports.
• Develop and as appropriate deliver presentations and briefings to Executive Office, Commission, partner agencies and public meetings.
• Provide directions to staff at the project level, and mentor staff on their professional career development.

Strategic Development

• Work closely with other Principals, Assistant Director and Director in the development and update of a strategic vision for the section.
• Work with staff on the development of their work plans and identify opportunities to advance their career growth.
• Develop strong working relationships internally at MTC, and externally with partner agencies to expedite the development and delivery of projects.

Traffic Operations Analysis

• Lead and perform technical analysis related to traffic operations on freeways, toll bridges, and major arterials, using a wide range of field collected (???) and/or big data sources on traffic counts, speeds and travel times.
• Lead and perform technical analysis as needed related to managed lanes policies (HOV and express lanes), such as vehicle occupancy requirements, hours of operations, and access.
• Lead and perform technical analysis in the development of the region's annual congested segments list.

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The Principal Engineer will perform other job related duties as assigned.

All employees at MTC are classified as Disaster Services Workers.