Job Title: Principal Civil Engineer – Traffic (Public Works)

SUMMARY:

Under general direction, the Principal Civil Engineer – Traffic serves as the City’s designated City Traffic Engineer, carrying licensing and statutory authority for all municipal traffic engineering functions as established in the San Rafael Municipal Code Section 5.08.050. This position oversees the Traffic Engineering Division and is responsible for the development, implementation, and administration of the City’s traffic programs, standards, and policies; facilitates advisory committees; represents the City in regional and state transportation efforts; and provides expert guidance on multimodal transportation planning, traffic operations, safety, and regulatory compliance.

This classification manages complex and sensitive traffic engineering projects, supervises professional and technical staff, and serves as the City’s primary authority on traffic engineering decisions, policies, standards, and interpretations.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the highest-level engineering classification within the Traffic Engineering Division. The Principal Civil Engineer – Traffic is distinguished from the Senior Civil Engineer by the former’s statutory role as the City Traffic Engineer, elevated authority for citywide traffic engineering decisions, responsibility for developing and enforcing traffic-related policy, and its leadership in regional transportation coordination.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serves as the City Traffic Engineer, exercising all powers and duties as defined by San Rafael Municipal Code §5.08.050.
• Establishes traffic engineering policies, guidelines, and practices in compliance with State and Federal law.
• Leads the Traffic Engineering Division and establishes work plans, priorities, and goals.
• Facilitates and provides support to advisory committees and commissions.
• Represents the City with regional and state transportation agencies.
• Oversees multimodal transportation projects including traffic signal upgrades, safety improvements, ITS deployments, and active transportation projects.
• Directs staff in preparing engineering plans, specifications, studies, and traffic impact analyses.
• Ensures compliance with CEQA/NEPA, Public Contract Code, and funding requirements.
• Responds to public, business, and elected official inquiries regarding traffic and safety.