ASST CHIEF ENGINEER

Starting salary: $137,856–$155,292/year (X43). Position is not career service. Location: 2 N LaSalle St. Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM.

About the role

The Assistant Chief Engineer is a critical dual-role position responsible for the citywide implementation and technical oversight of traffic safety requirements mandated under Chicago Municipal Code Title 9. This role provides expert engineering leadership and cross-departmental coordination to ensure transportation projects, traffic operations, and technology initiatives meet established safety standards and align with the Department’s mission.

Essential Duties

As the Department’s senior technical authority in traffic operations and safety, this position leads the traffic engineering section, manages major infrastructure projects, handles project and staffing contracts, prepares project and section budgets, and supervises traffic engineering staff and consultants. Serving as a senior representative of the department, the role includes involvement in citywide mega development projects, the planning and design of multimodal transportation facilities, the execution of major pilot initiatives, and the development of design policies and guidelines. This position requires exercising professional engineering judgement, independence in decision-making process, and the ability to multitask. Additional duties may be required for this position.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a directly related field of engineering, PLUS at least six (6) years of work experience in the planning, design, and construction management of engineering projects of which four (4) years are in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position, OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree or higher in Civil Engineering or a directly related field of engineering, PLUS at least five (5) years of work experience in the planning, design, and construction management of engineering projects of which four (4) years are in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position

Licensure, Certification, and Other Qualifications

• Registration as a Professional Engineer (R.P.E.) is required.
• At the time of employment, positions must have obtained Registration as a Professional Engineer (R.P.E.) in the State of Illinois.
• This position requires a State of Illinois driver’s license.

Selection Requirements

This position requires the successful completion of an online application and an initial screening process. Applicants who meet the established screening criteria may be invited to participate in one or more assessments designed to evaluate the knowledge, skills, or competencies relevant to the role. Candidates who successfully complete all required assessment components may be invited to take part in a structured interview using a standardized set of questions, when applicable. In addition to the interview, applicants may also be evaluated through job-related exercises such as work samples, skill demonstrations, presentations, or other performance-based activities aligned with the requirements of the position.