Career Center

Distinguishing Features of the Class

Position Overview: This position develops traffic control recommendations and engineering designs, conducts engineering design review, performs project management activities, and provides technical assistance to other departments. The principal duties of this position are performed in a general office environment with some field visits to project sites.

City Initiatives and Projects:

• Vision Zero - In July 2023, the City of Des Moines adopted its first Vision Zero Safety Action Plan.  This position will work with private development and City design engineers to help eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Des Moines.
• ITS Master Plan – Implementation of the plan is underway and includes updating controllers to 2070s, new traffic signal system management software and fiber interconnection over the next several years.
• MoveDSM – The City’s first transportation master plan focuses on providing a transportation system that has safe options for all modes of travel.  Providing multi-modal transportation options is a key element in everything we do from accommodations during construction of both public and private projects to reconstructing roadways.
• Roundabouts – The City currently has two roundabouts under construction as a joint project with Polk County, one under design, and several others in the planning stages.  These will be the first roundabouts in the City of Des Moines as the City continues to work toward creating a safer transportation system for all users.
• Grand Avenue & Locust Street One-Way to Two-Way Conversion Study – This study which evaluates the impact of converting the two major east/west street downtown to two-way traffic is underway.  The decisions and projects that come out of this study will change the transportation landscape downtown.  
• Southeast Connector –This project will fulfill significant and far-reaching goals for the City of Des Moines and the greater metropolitan area. Development of the SE Connector provides both local and overall benefits to the City's greater transportation system including significant improvements to safety by providing a controlled-access, urbanized roadway with a multi-use trail; diverting traffic from existing streets with a history of crashes; eliminating the need for motorists and trucks to traverse three active railroad crossings; and reducing response times for emergency services.
• Ingersoll Streetscape – In addition to the beautification efforts along the corridor, this project includes transportation elements such as a consistent roadway cross-section, on-street parking, pedestrian refuge medians, and the City’s first raised, protected bike facility.

The City of Des Moines promotes a healthy work life balance and offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Residency Incentive Program
• Alternative Work Schedule Options
• Paid Volunteer Time-Off
• Parental Leave
• Vacation and Sick Leave
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Health/Dental/Life/LTD Insurance
• Wellness Programs and Activities
• Tuition Reimbursement and Continuing Education Programs
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Benefit
• Defined Benefit Pension Plan through IPERS
• Deferred Compensation Plan with City Match up to 2.5%
• Voluntary Insurance Benefit Options
• Employee Discount Program

Examples of Essential Work (Illustrative Only)

• Works on assigned phases of traffic engineering projects, including the design and preparation of plans, specifications and cost estimates for traffic engineering projects to control all modes of transportation;
• Designs and redesigns intersections;
• Calculates costs and determines project feasibility based upon analysis;
• Performs all phases of planning and design for traffic related projects such as traffic signs, pavement markings, and traffic signals;
• Performs phases of complex projects such as traffic signal system interconnections or major street configuration layouts;
• Conducts traffic safety and operations studies and recommends countermeasures to address safety and traffic operations;
• Reviews requests from citizens, neighborhoods and schools and works with the requesting parties and others to develop appropriate traffic control measures, including traffic calming measures;
• Conducts analyses to determine traffic signal timings for individual intersections and assists in such analyses to determine timings for complex signal systems;
• Drafts and recommends traffic ordinances; prepares reports and correspondence;
• Inspects and completes necessary documents for the installation of traffic signals and other traffic control devices; reviews street lighting layouts and photometrics to determine whether adequate lighting levels are provided;
• Reviews site plans for proposed developments to determine the traffic impacts of the development and the conformity of the proposed traffic circulation and access with existing City requirements and standards;
• Reviews utility and contractor work sites to determine compliance with requirements for traffic control devices;
• Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others fully and accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems;
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops and training sessions and reviews publications and audio-visual materials to become and remain current on the principles, practices and new developments in assigned work areas;
• Responds to citizens’ questions and comments in a courteous and timely manner;
• Communicates and coordinates regularly with internal and external personnel to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations and activities;
• Performs other directly related duties consistent with the role and function of the classification.

Acceptable Experience and Training

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Transportation Engineering, or a closely-related engineering field; AND
• At least one year of experience in traffic engineering projects.

OR

• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Employees in this classification who obtain a Professional Engineering License in Iowa and exhibit exemplary service may be considered for promotion to a Traffic Engineer II classification.

NOTE: Educational Transcripts must be attached to your online application or submitted separately to and received by the City of Des Moines Human Resources Department by the application deadline date to receive credit.  Transcripts may be submitted electronically to humanresources@dmgov.org, by fax to 515-237-1680, or by mail to 1551 E MLK Jr Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50317.    

Required Special Qualifications

• Candidates for positions in this class must pass a post-employment offer physical examination and drug screen;
• Possession of a valid Iowa driver’s license;
• Certification in the State of Iowa as an Engineer in Training; with License in the State of Iowa, as a Professional Engineer preferred.