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Salary: $8,387.00 - $11,239.00 Monthly Location : Tumwater, WA Job Type: Full-time Job Number: 2026-01 Department: Transportation and Engineering Division: Transportation Opening Date: 01/01/2026 Closing Date: Continuous General Statement of Duties/Supervision Why Tumwater? Tumwater is more than just a city, it's a vibrant community rooted in history and filled with opportunity. Located at the southern gateway to the Seattle-Tacoma metro area, Tumwater offers the perfect blend of small-town charm and big picture vision. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Puget Sound, prairie landscapes, rivers, and evergreen forests, we're just over an hour from ocean beaches, the Olympic Peninsula, and Mount Rainier. Whether you're into hiking, kayaking, brewery hopping, or live music, you'll find easy access to it all. Here in Tumwater, we're building a future that's highly livable, connected, and inclusive. With safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, and a deep sense of civic pride, it's not just a great place to live, it's a great place to grow your career. The Opportunity Join the City of Tumwater's Transportation & Engineering Department to help deliver safe, efficient travel for people walking, rolling, biking, and driving. As the Assistant Traffic Engineer, you'll blend technical traffic expertise with community engagement. You will respond to public inquiries on speeding, safety, signage, traffic volumes, signals, illumination, crosswalks, bike lanes, parking, and right-of-way use. You'll analyze data and field observations, translate findings into clear next steps, and help identify and prioritize pavement, sidewalk, and other transportation improvements. You will participate in procurement of grant funding and assist other staff in the reporting and maintaining compliance with funding requirements. This role is ideal for a creative, people-focused problem solver who's comfortable on the phone and in writing, and who can track multiple issues from intake to resolution. Your work will shape everyday trips and enhance quality of life across Tumwater. Essential Job DutiesServes as the lead for the City's Pavement Management Program including conducting or managing consulted pavement ratings, maintaining and updating data in pavement management software, and planning pavement maintenance projects. Tracks and responds to citizen inquiries and coordinates Traffic Team agendas to address inquiries regarding transportation and roadway issues such as speeding, safety, signs, traffic volumes, signals, illumination, roadway geometry, crosswalks, bike lanes, parking and use of right-of-way. Reviews signage and/or roadway geometry for compliance with the MUTCD and other applicable standards and makes recommendations for modification. Serves as the lead for the City's Sidewalk Program including planning sidewalk program projects utilizing the City's ADA Transition Plan. Supports grant applications through the preparation of materials for submission. This may include writing narrative form answers as well as detailed cost information. Prepares planning level project construction estimates. May complete design, and/or construction management for pavement management projects depending on capacity and skillset. Performs related duties and responsibilities as required. Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function related to their assignment satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of traffic engineering principles as applicable to a municipal setting. Knowledge of transportation modeling methods and techniques; familiarity with pavement management theory and application. Ability to work collaboratively with technical and clerical personnel. Ability to communicate effectively with the public; including conflict and issue resolution. Ability to interpret, apply, and communicate complex rules, regulations, laws and ordinances. Knowledge of the modern methods and techniques used in the design, construction, and inspection of public works projects. Knowledge of engineering and land surveying methods and techniques. Basic knowledge of state and federal regulations governing public works projects. Ability to organize work priorities. Selection Criteria Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Civil/Transportation Engineering, Urban/Transportation Planning, or a closely related field; OR Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or planning credential (AICP/CTP) and 2 years of traffic/transportation experience; OR Associate degree in engineering technology, planning, surveying, or GIS and 4 years of traffic/transportation experience Preferred Qualifications: Possession of an Engineer in Training Certificate with ability to obtain Professional Engineer License within two years, or the ability to obtain Professional Transportation Planner Certification within two years. Training/Licenses/Certifications: Possession of a valid Washington State Driver's License and a driving record acceptable to the City's insurance carrier may be required to successfully carry out the responsibilities of the position. Working knowledge of APWA and WSDOT design standards and specifications is desirable. Other information (if any) specific to this position Supplemental Information: None. Contacts: The Assistant Traffic Engineer has a wide variety of contacts depending on specific assignments. Contacts with contractors, City and County Departments, City advisory board or committees, or state regulatory authorities are for the purpose of information sharing and work coordination. Contacts with other Transportation and Engineering Department staff are for the purpose of coordination of effort and the sharing of technical information. Contacts are occasionally adversarial in nature, and the employee must resolve both technical and interpersonal issues while completing assignments. Skill in gaining the necessary compliance while maintaining a cooperative working environment is required. Field work may require the employee to respond to citizen questions. Supervision: Supervision is through review, discussion, and inspection by an engineer of higher classification. May supervise lower-level civil engineers and/or technicians. Accountability: The Assistant Traffic Engineer is accountable for completing all assigned tasks in an efficient, accurate, and timely manner. Working Conditions: Positions in this class require regular attendance and frequently work in the field in various weather conditions. Normal working conditions include repeated long periods of driving between work sites, mobility at work sites to include using ladders, working above ground, below ground and in enclosed spaces, occasional lifting of objects up to 20 lbs. being subject to frequent distractions, noises, odors and interruptions. Physical Requirements: Work is often performed in an office setting. Specific physical requirements and typical working conditions for this position are on file in the Administrative Services Department. The City of Tumwater is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. The City of Tumwater is committed to wellness, safety, the environment and racial equity. The City of Tumwater offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support yourhealth, financial security, and work-life balance. (Benefits for part-time employees are pro-rated.) Paid Time Off Vacation: Start with 96 hours of paid annual leave your first year - increasing with service up to 184 hours per year. Sick Leave: Earn 8 hours per month to care for your health or for immediate family illness or loss. Holidays: Enjoy 12 paid holidays per year, including one floating holiday for flexibility. Retirement & Savings State Retirement Plans: Membership in Washington State's Public Employees Retirement System (PERS/LEOFF) with contributions from both you and the City. Deferred Compensation (457b) & Roth IRA: Save for the future and reduce taxable income; contribute up to IRS limits with catch-up options if over 50. 401(a) Match: The City will match up to 5% of employee contributions. Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA): City contributes $225/month for current and future healthcare expenses. Insurance & Wellness Medical, Dental, Vision: The City contributes $2,420/month toward coverage (pro-rated for part-time). That's about 85% of family coverage! If your premiums cost less, you can take 60% of the unused contribution as cash in your paycheck. Flexible Spending Accounts (medical and dependent care) available. Life Insurance: $50,000 group term policy fully paid by the City. Wellness Commitment: Programs and resources to support your physical and mental health. Discounts: City employees qualify for Liberty Mutual auto and home insurance discounts. Work-Life & Career Hours of Work: Standard schedule is 40 hours/week, Monday-Friday. Alternative schedules may be available depending on the position. Some roles may require occasional evenings, weekends, or overtime. Career Opportunities: We believe in growing our talent - the City actively promotes from within and supports career development. The City of Tumwater is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or other non-merit factors. We are committed to wellness, safety, environmental stewardship, and racial equity in our workplace and community. 01 Explain your experience using pavement management, traffic analysis, or transportation planning software (such as GIS, AutoCAD, or similar tools). 02 Provide an example of a time you analyzed traffic or transportation data and turned your findings into recommendations or improvements. What was the outcome? 03 This position involves frequent interaction with community members about traffic safety and right-of-way concerns. Describe your approach to communicating technical information to the public in a clear and professional manner. 04 Describe your familiarity with engineering standards such as the MUTCD, WSDOT, or APWA design guidelines. Include examples of how you've applied these standards in your work. Required Question