Traffic Principal/Project Manager | Seattle

About the role

We are seeking a Principal Traffic Engineer / Project Manager to help lead and grow our traffic engineering practice. This is a strategic, seller-doer opportunity for an experienced transportation professional with a strong reputation in the market, established client relationships, and a proven ability to win and deliver traffic engineering projects. The ideal candidate brings direct consulting experience, existing relationships with public agencies and municipalities, and a demonstrated track record of generating new business while leading complex traffic and transportation projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead traffic engineering projects from pursuit through delivery, ensuring technical excellence and client satisfaction.
• Maintain and expand relationships with DOTs, cities, counties, MPOs, and other public-sector transportation clients.
• Drive business development efforts through existing client relationships, industry contacts, and strategic networking.
• Identify and capture new opportunities in traffic operations, transportation planning, safety, ITS, signals, and corridor improvement projects.
• Serve as Project Manager and Principal-in-Charge on key transportation assignments.
• Oversee project scopes, schedules, budgets, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Lead proposal development, interviews, fee negotiations, and contract execution.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers and project managers.
• Collaborate with leadership on market strategy, staffing, and long-term growth initiatives.
• Represent the firm at industry events, professional organizations, and client meetings.

Technical focus areas

Experience in several of the following is highly desired:

• Traffic Impact Studies (TIS)
• Traffic Operations Analysis
• Intersection and Corridor Studies
• Signal Design and Timing
• Transportation Safety Studies
• Highway and Arterial Operations
• Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
• Multimodal Transportation Planning
• Active Transportation Improvements
• Capacity Analysis
• Microsimulation Modeling
• Traffic Forecasting
• Access Management
• Roundabout Analysis and Design

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field.
• PE license required.
• 12+ years of traffic engineering or transportation consulting experience.
• Demonstrated success managing and delivering traffic engineering projects.
• Established client relationships within the transportation market.
• Proven history of business development and project capture.
• Strong understanding of municipal, county, and DOT transportation programs.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and client management skills.

Preferred experience

• PTOE certification preferred.
• Existing transportation agency relationships that can contribute to immediate growth opportunities.
• Experience leading a traffic engineering practice or business unit.
• Track record of winning work and growing client accounts.
• Recognized presence within local and regional transportation organizations.