Professional Engineer I - Traffic Signals & Operations - Metro Denver

Professional Engineer I - Traffic Signals & Operations - Metro Denver

Salary: $92,508.00 - $101,748.00 Annually

Location: Denver, CO

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: HAA-50003768-11/25

Department: Department of Transportation

Opening Date: 11/10/2025

Closing Date: 11/24/2025 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Contact Information: alanna.zambetti@state.co.us

A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

The 2024 Step Pay Program may increase the salary range for employees with time in the class series.

How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

About CDOT: Do you want to make a difference in Coloradans' lives? Do you have a passion for helping people and keeping them safe? At the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), you will have the opportunity to do just that. The work our people do contributes to keeping Coloradans and visitors safe and provides freedom, connection, and experience through travel. Visit our careers page to learn about CDOT and how we are making Colorado a great place to live, work and play, now and for the future! Also, check out our excellent benefits package!

The range for this position is $92,508.00 - $101,748.00 with an expected starting salary of $101,748 annually CDOT for All CDOT's strength is our people, and our commitment to our people is to shape, support, and sustain the employee experience, and ultimately, create a supportive workplace where everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education, disability, socio-economic status, or any other identity, has the opportunity to thrive. Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Description of Job

About the Position: The Professional Engineer I is a licensed position located in the Traffic & Safety, Design and Operations Unit of Region 1 for the Colorado Department of Transportation. This position is responsible for providing guidance in the traffic signal timing engineering components of the Region and local agency projects, and engineering guidance in the operation of the Region's highway the developmental process of transportation projects. This position applies engineering theories, principles, and standards to the design and preparation of plans and specifications for transportation projects, and acts as the CDOT engineer of record and stamps plans in accordance with the regulations governing their engineering license. This position interacts with others within CDOT in the areas of traffic studies, safety investigations, corridor signal timing and optimization, ramp metering operation, travel time studies, signal warrant studies, incident management, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) applications. This includes oversight of lower-level engineering positions for conformance to agency policy and procedural directives.

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Design Engineering: Utilize professional engineering license to apply current engineering principles and theories, design specifications, and federal, state, and local design standards to develop plan sets and specifications for traffic engineering projects and traffic engineering portions of other Region projects. These projects may consist of traffic signal timing and operations, roundabout geometry, traffic control, signing, pavement, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), and detour routes.
• Request field survey, environmental study, traffic data, right-of-way information, hydrology/hydrology design, structural design, utility locations/relocations, and other information as required.
• Organize and participate in scoping meetings, Field Inspection Review (FIR), and Field Office Review (FOR) meetings; work with Environmental, Traffic, Bridge, Survey, Utility, Right Of Way (ROW), local stakeholders, and other specialty units to clear the project before advertisement.
• Assist the Region Traffic Operations unit in the development of ITS, Safety, and Operations Assessment reports and verify they are implemented in Region projects.
• Evaluate proposed designs and determine changes regarding a project to improve serviceability, safety, maintenance, and affordability.
• Prepare and review plans, making decisions regarding layouts, alignments, standard designs, tabulations, specifications, quantities, acquisitions, and clearances, etc., and prepare bid packages.
• Oversee the local agency projects and ensure engineering principles and standards are correctly applied, and follow all federal and state regulations and processes.
• Utilize the Professional Engineer's experience and judgment to approve designs for assigned projects and to stamp the engineering plans.
• Traffic Analysis, Safety Investigations, and Traffic Impact Report Review: Investigate roadway safety, conduct traffic accident analysis, analyze signal timing, and pedestrian/bicycle safety concerns.
• Utilize professional engineering knowledge to evaluate safety concerns and design alternatives.
• Work with the Traffic & Safety Resident Engineer to identify potential funding sources to cover the cost of implementing alternative solutions into design/construction projects with budgetary constraints.
• Coordinate with the Traffic & Safety Resident Engineer to incorporate alternative solutions into identified design/construction projects that would require traffic signal timing and Operations.
• Work with Access Manager, as needed, on review of traffic impact studies. Provide input on noted deficiencies and/or alternative solutions.
• Assist the Region Traffic Operations unit in reviewing traffic impact reports submitted by developers for the Access Unit.
• Provide guidance and expert advice to Region Design Resident Engineers regarding various traffic engineering design components. This includes offering insights on optimal signal timing strategies and addressing the requirements for comprehensive traffic modeling to enhance overall traffic flow and safety.
• Review traffic modeling submittals for accuracy and conformance with current guidance.
• Consultant & Project Management: Manage the work of consultants and local agencies to accomplish project completions.
• Inspect work performed by the contractor to ensure compliance with the standards and specifications for the particular project.
• Responsible for the work hour estimates for task order preparation, approval, and processing of consultant billings, and review of consultant deliverables.
• Rate and review consultant projects and review consultant and contractor compliance with federally mandated programs and state requirements (i.e. EEO, AA, Davis-Bacon, OSHA. ADA, local ordinances, etc.).
• Use guidelines as appropriate to provide correct pay items and other project budgetary information.
• Prepare, distribute, and organize all plan documents and bid packages so they are disseminated properly, filed appropriately, and completely as required.
• Serve as a CDOT representative and provide expertise in meetings with the public, local/state entities, businesses, railroads, special interest groups, and utilities.
• Communicate with personnel in HQ and other Region offices to exchange information, and to request information regarding project development and design (i.e. Survey, Bridge, Environmental, Right-of-Way, Hydraulic, Traffic, and Maintenance).
• Provide direction and resolve conflicting alternatives requested by specialty units.
• Perform project scheduling and coordinate multiple project efforts to meet advertisement dates, and direct personnel and residency efforts to make the various schedules and budgets work.
• Train and mentor less experienced project staff, as well as train consultants on-site as needed.
• Customer Service: Receive, investigate, and respond to citizen concerns regarding traffic operations and safety, signing, pavement markings, traffic signals, and ramp metering.
• Analyze the feasibility of citizens' complaints and/or suggestions to determine if they are valid and warrant further action.
• Support the R1 maintenance teams responsible for traffic signals, ramp meters, detection and electrical systems, and the installation of signage by providing detailed plans as needed.
• Coordination with our electricians, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and collaboration to ensure all tasks are completed efficiently and effectively.

Work Environment: Primarily 8:00 am – 5:00 pm work hours, Monday-Friday, with potential for flex time. Opportunity to work from home up to 2 days a week. Approximately 20% spent in the field, 80% spent in the office. Daytime travel during business hours to project sites, to attend meetings, and conduct preliminary engineering investigations. Occasional evening/night and weekend work depending on construction projects. May be required to work on call during road closures as needed. Overnight travel to projects throughout the