Transportation Safety Principal Engineer (Principal Engineer/Architect)-Department of Transportation

The Department of Transportation (DOT) plans, develops, operates, and maintains transportation facilities, services, and related systems which contribute to the livability and economic health of the City. We comprise a team of more than 500 people ready to serve the needs of our residents to improve the efficiency and safety of San José streets. We are an energetic and innovative team that is improving transportation in one of the nation’s largest cities, while focusing on safety, sustainability, and active public life! For more information about DOT, visit www.sanjoseca.gov/transportation.

The Department of Transportation is currently seeking to fill 1 Transportation Safety Principal Engineer (Principal Engineer/Architect) position in the Transportation Safety, Operations & Parking division to lead several of the City's traffic safety projects and neighborhood traffic management programs. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

This is a limit-dated position that is anticipated to be funded through June 30, 2031, subject to further extension as appropriate. However, should this position be discontinued through the budget process, the City may seek to place you in other internal job opportunities based on your previous work experience.

This position will be responsible for high-level reporting and briefings to the City leadership, City Council, and the Transportation and Environment Committee, ensuring transparency, accountability, and alignment with policy objectives. Reporting to the Deputy Director of the Transportation, Safety & Operations Division, the Transportation Safety Principal Engineer (Principal Engineer/Architect) will provide strategic direction, technical oversight, and operational leadership for the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program, Vision Zero Quick Build Program, Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Program, and Safe Routes to School Program. The successful candidate will have 3 direct reports and will oversee a multidisciplinary team of approximately 30 technical staff ensuring projects are delivered efficiently while advancing the City's Vision Zero goals to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. 

Key duties include:

• Provide leadership, supervision, and performance management for 3 Senior Transportation Engineers and an organization of approximately 30 engineering and technical staff.
• Establish program priorities, allocate resources, and provide strategic direction across multiple traffic safety and neighborhood transportation programs. 
• Direct the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of traffic calming, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, school safety, and quick-build transportation improvement projects. 
• Lead the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program, overseeing neighborhood traffic studies, community engagement, and implementation of traffic calming measures. 
• Oversee the Vision Zero Quick Build Program, ensuring rapid delivery of safety improvements using data-driven and innovative transportation solutions. 
• Manage the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Program, prioritizing and implementing infrastructure improvements that improve pedestrian accessibility and reduce severe injury collisions. 
• Direct the Safe Routes to School Program, partnering with schools, community organizations, and City departments to improve safety for students walking and bicycling to school. 
• Provide executive-level oversight of program budgets, schedules, consultant contracts, grant-funded projects, and capital improvement initiatives. 
• Develop long-range work plans and ensure programs align with City priorities, Council direction, and departmental strategic objectives. 
• Foster collaboration across City departments, Council Offices, external agencies, school districts, and community organizations.
• Present recommendations, program updates, and technical information to executive leadership, elected officials, commissions, and community stakeholders. 
• Monitor program performance using data and performance metrics to continuously improve project delivery and operational effectiveness. 
• Mentor and develop management staff while promoting a collaborative, innovative, and customer-focused work environment. 

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong leadership experience managing managers and leading large, multidisciplinary engineering organizations. 
• Experience delivering transportation safety, traffic engineering, capital improvement, or neighborhood management programs. 
• Knowledge of traffic engineering principles, Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), Vision Zero strategies, Complete Streets, traffic calming, and multimodal transportation design.
• Experience managing consultant contracts, public outreach, budgets, and complex transportation projects. 
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build consensus among diverse audiences. 
• A proven ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives while fostering accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the required professional discipline. 

Experience: Eight (8) years of progressively responsible, directly related professional experience, including at least three (3) years of experience at a level equivalent to Senior Engineer or Senior Architect. 

Certifications/Licenses: Certificate of Registration in a relevant professional engineering discipline. 

Form 700 Requirement: This position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an “Assuming Office Form 700” with the City Clerk’s Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office. 

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

• Job Expertise: Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.
• Communication Skills: Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
• Constructive Energies: A demonstration of energy and drive that comes from within, and a willingness to approach all aspects of work with a generally positive attitude; possessing the inclination to take appropriate action rather than waiting to be told what to do; examples of Constructive Energies include but are not limited to: enthusiasm, honesty, integrity, empathy, dedication, reliable, proactive, respectful, confidence, ethical, and a willingness to help others
• Collaboration: Develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities.
• Customer Service: Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.
• Decision Making: Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.
• Initiative: Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.
• Leadership: Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction.
• Management: Evaluates priorities to ensure the 'true' top priorities are handled satisfactorily; sets clear goals for the employees and the work unit.
• Political Skills: Intaking action, demonstrates an understanding and consideration of how it will impact stakeholders and affected areas in the organization.
• Problem Solving: Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.
• Vision/Strategic Thinking: Supports, promotes, and ensures alignment with the organization’s vision and values; understands how an organization must change in light of internal and external trends and influences; builds a shared vision with others and influences others to translate vision to action.

Selection Process: 

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Jasmine Medrano at [email protected].