Traffic Engineer Jobs in California
Traffic Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in transportation planning agencies, large public works departments, and established civil engineering consultancies, with openings from entry-level analyst positions through senior project leads and principal engineers. The largest hiring activity is in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where firms like AECOM, WSP, and Caltrans maintain long-term staffing needs across major infrastructure programs. Demand is strongest in signal systems design, traffic impact analysis, and transportation demand management. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job Overview
The City is searching for a highly skilled, experienced, and efficient traffic engineering professional to lead the Traffic Engineering Division of the Development Services Department. The City Traffic Engineer oversees traffic engineering staff and activities involving traffic signals, signing and striping, roadway lighting, traffic operations, transportation planning and analysis, development review, traffic safety improvements, and capital projects. This position may plan, organize, supervise, and participate in the City’s traffic engineering and transportation activities and provides technical leadership for projects and programs that improve roadway safety, mobility, and traffic operations throughout El Cajon. The City Traffic Engineer also works closely with other City departments, consultants, contractors, regional agencies, developers, community members, and City leadership. Current and upcoming work includes the Neighborhood Street Lighting Project, the Adaptive Signal Timing Project on Chase Avenue and other major corridors, the Washington Avenue Safety Improvements Project, and the new Roundabout Project at El Cajon Boulevard and Main Street.
The ideal candidate is an experienced leader with strong technical traffic engineering knowledge, sound judgement, effective communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while developing staff and delivering transportation improvements for the community.
Why Join El Cajon?
The City Traffic Engineer has the opportunity to lead a broad municipal traffic engineering program and directly influence transportation safety and mobility throughout the City. The position combines technical engineering, project delivery, traffic operations, staff leadership, and community engagement, with the opportunity to take projects from concept and analysis through design and implementation.
The Community:
The City of El Cajon is a leader among San Diego County and a wonderful location to live, work, and play. Its workplace culture empowers employees to maintain a strong work-life balance and make a positive impact in the community. The City offers exceptional benefits and retirement plans, wellness programs, and opportunities for professional development.
To view the City's defined Benefits & Retirement, please visit the ECMMPEG-MOU (Article 6 - Health and Welfare).
The Recruitment Process:
The most highly qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the examination process which includes an in-person Qualifications Appraisal Interview. Qualifications Appraisal Interviews are tentatively scheduled for October 7, 2026. Successful candidates will be placed on an eligible list for employment consideration for at least six months.
Typical Duties
Please visit our website to view the full job description: City Traffic Engineer
Duties may include:
- Plans, organizes, and supervises the traffic engineering function of Development Services;
- Supervises the operation, maintenance and installation of traffic control equipment, traffic signs and street striping;
- Provides technical leadership for traffic engineering, transportation planning, traffic operations, and roadway safety programs;
- Oversees traffic signal design, timing, operations, and improvement projects;
- Reviews traffic studies, development proposals, transportation analyses, and engineering plans;
- Makes recommendations concerning traffic rules, regulations and ordinances relating to vehicular flow, truck routes and overload or oversize house moving;
- Confers with other City personnel, representatives of public and private agencies and the public regarding traffic problems, projects or complaints;
- Prepares agenda reports and represents the City in regional discussions on transportation planning and traffic engineering.
- Supervises professional and technical engineering staff.
Qualification Guidelines
Experience: Five years experience in civil engineering with a major area of specialization in traffic engineering and maintenance, including one year supervisory experience.
Job Overview
The City is searching for a highly skilled, experienced, and efficient traffic engineering professional to lead the Traffic Engineering Division of the Development Services Department. The City Traffic Engineer oversees traffic engineering staff and activities involving traffic signals, signing and striping, roadway lighting, traffic operations, transportation planning and analysis, development review, traffic safety improvements, and capital projects. This position may plan, organize, supervise, and participate in the City’s traffic engineering and transportation activities and provides technical leadership for projects and programs that improve roadway safety, mobility, and traffic operations throughout El Cajon. The City Traffic Engineer also works closely with other City departments, consultants, contractors, regional agencies, developers, community members, and City leadership. Current and upcoming work includes the Neighborhood Street Lighting Project, the Adaptive Signal Timing Project on Chase Avenue and other major corridors, the Washington Avenue Safety Improvements Project, and the new Roundabout Project at El Cajon Boulevard and Main Street.
The ideal candidate is an experienced leader with strong technical traffic engineering knowledge, sound judgement, effective communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while developing staff and delivering transportation improvements for the community.
Why Join El Cajon?
The City Traffic Engineer has the opportunity to lead a broad municipal traffic engineering program and directly influence transportation safety and mobility throughout the City. The position combines technical engineering, project delivery, traffic operations, staff leadership, and community engagement, with the opportunity to take projects from concept and analysis through design and implementation.
The Community:
The City of El Cajon is a leader among San Diego County and a wonderful location to live, work, and play. Its workplace culture empowers employees to maintain a strong work-life balance and make a positive impact in the community. The City offers exceptional benefits and retirement plans, wellness programs, and opportunities for professional development.
To view the City's defined Benefits & Retirement, please visit the ECMMPEG-MOU (Article 6 - Health and Welfare).
The Recruitment Process:
The most highly qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the examination process which includes an in-person Qualifications Appraisal Interview. Qualifications Appraisal Interviews are tentatively scheduled for October 7, 2026. Successful candidates will be placed on an eligible list for employment consideration for at least six months.
Typical Duties
Please visit our website to view the full job description: City Traffic Engineer
Duties may include:
- Plans, organizes, and supervises the traffic engineering function of Development Services;
- Supervises the operation, maintenance and installation of traffic control equipment, traffic signs and street striping;
- Provides technical leadership for traffic engineering, transportation planning, traffic operations, and roadway safety programs;
- Oversees traffic signal design, timing, operations, and improvement projects;
- Reviews traffic studies, development proposals, transportation analyses, and engineering plans;
- Makes recommendations concerning traffic rules, regulations and ordinances relating to vehicular flow, truck routes and overload or oversize house moving;
- Confers with other City personnel, representatives of public and private agencies and the public regarding traffic problems, projects or complaints;
- Prepares agenda reports and represents the City in regional discussions on transportation planning and traffic engineering.
- Supervises professional and technical engineering staff.
Qualification Guidelines
Experience: Five years experience in civil engineering with a major area of specialization in traffic engineering and maintenance, including one year supervisory experience.
See All 28 Traffic Engineer Jobs in California
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Find Traffic Engineer JobsTraffic Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Traffic Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Energy
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
- Government & Public Sector
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in traffic engineer jobs across California.
- Active California Professional Engineer license in Civil Engineering preferred or required
- Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or transportation engineering from an accredited program
- Experience with Synchro, HCS, or other traffic simulation and analysis software
- Familiarity with Caltrans standards, California MUTCD, and local agency design guidelines
- Ability to prepare traffic impact studies and environmental traffic assessments
- Strong written communication skills for technical reports and agency coordination
Traffic Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a traffic engineer in California?
The standard path in California starts with a bachelor's degree in civil or transportation engineering, followed by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam to become an Engineer in Training. After gaining qualifying experience under a licensed engineer, candidates apply to the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists for a Professional Engineer license in the Civil branch, which most California agencies and firms require for independent practice or project authority.
How much do traffic engineers make in California?
Traffic engineers in California earn a median of about $122,500 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,980 for the lowest 10% to over $175,940 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire traffic engineers in California?
Employers hiring traffic engineers in California right now include Willdan, Alta Planning + Design, and Typsa, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's scale of public infrastructure investment and the volume of development projects across the state keeps demand from both public agencies and private consultancies steady year-round.
Which California cities have the most traffic engineer jobs?
San Diego, Los Angeles, and Irvine have the most traffic engineer openings in California right now. Los Angeles dominates due to the sheer volume of regional transportation agency programs and development-driven traffic studies, while San Francisco and San Diego draw consistent demand from transit expansion projects, Caltrans district offices, and large infrastructure-focused engineering firms anchored in those metros.
Are there remote traffic engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're limited. About 67% of traffic engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting a role that still requires field observation, agency meetings, and site-specific data collection in many cases. The tasks most commonly done remotely are traffic modeling, report writing, and signal timing analysis, which lend themselves well to flexible arrangements even when the position is otherwise office-based.
How can I get hired as a traffic engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is a junior traffic engineer or transportation analyst role at a California-based civil engineering consultancy or a Caltrans district office, both of which regularly bring on candidates straight from accredited engineering programs. Completing your Engineer in Training certification before applying gives you a concrete edge, and internship experience with a county public works department or regional transportation planning agency strengthens your application further. Roles titled transportation planner or traffic counts technician are common lateral starting points that build directly toward a full traffic engineer career in California.
Where can I find and apply to traffic engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to traffic engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across California agencies, consultancies, and public works departments. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 28 Traffic Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Traffic Engineer Jobs