The Department of Transportation Planning of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is seeking a Transportation Engineer III or IV (Depending on Qualifications) to assist in professional-level planning activities that support metropolitan transportation planning with a focus on congestion data analysis and integration.
Job ID/Number: DTP-042023
Posted Date: 3/15/2024
Job Location: Washington, DC
Position Type: Full-time
Division: Department of Transportation Planning
Description: The transportation engineer position, as part of the Systems Performance Planning Team, will play a lead role in aggregating traffic data in support of the Congestion Management Process (CMP) for vehicular traffic as well as address multimodal non-motorized travel. The successful candidate should be expert at using data from public and private transportation data providers (e.g., INRIX, StreetLight, Replica, State DOTs, US Census and other databases) to analyze regional transportation issues. The successful candidate will also have broader responsibilities including contributing to the federally required biennial CMP Technical Report and authoring technical reports on metropolitan transportation issues, the collection and analysis of data for transportation planning studies, presenting to the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) and COG committees and subcommittees, and assisting with federal performance planning requirements. The position requires expert data management and analysis skills, and the candidate should be familiar with general transportation planning and engineering issues, metropolitan transportation issues, and transportation performance measurement.
Duties will include:
- Processing, analyzing, and synthesizing large datasets (Big Data) and creating visualizations and other data summaries.
- Creating products for a variety of transportation planning programs updating standard datasets.
- Processing and analysis of transportation systems usage, travel, traffic, and transportation infrastructure data; developing visualizations of these data using Geographic Information System (GIS) software and other data visualization tools.
- Developing improved methods to more reliably measure and report on year-to-year changes in regional travel trends.
- Applying these skills to identify, analyze, and report on traffic congestion and multimodal transportation issues across the region.
- Supporting the preparation of the biennial CMP Technical Report.
- Applying assurance and quality control measures to data.
- Writing and presenting technical reports.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: No specific supervisory role has been determined to date, but the successful candidate will work closely with and may become the supervisor for one or more junior personnel within the SPP Team with responsibility for overseeing the quality and timeliness of their work as well as routine staff administration. In addition, the candidate may be involved in recruitment, supervising interns, and/or oversight of consultants to ensure the quality and timeliness of deliverables.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills and demonstrated skill in critical thinking, judgment, and data analysis, including demonstrated knowledge in the application of data analysis and visualization using geospatial technologies and database analysis. This candidate will also have a strong academic background in statistical analysis, transportation planning and engineering, data science, and research methods. Experience with computer software packages used for database development, statistical analysis, and reporting is required. A background in programming and/or quantitative analysis is highly desirable, and knowledge of the use of survey and other data in regional transportation planning activities is also desirable.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: To be considered for the Transportation Engineer III position, candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in Transportation Engineering, Civil Engineering, Statistics, or a related field, and three (3) or more years of directly applicable work experience; or a master’s degree in Transportation Engineering, Civil Engineering, Statistics, or a related field, and one (1) or more years of directly applicable work experience. To be considered for the Transportation Engineer IV position, candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in Transportation Engineering, Civil Engineering, Statistics, or a related field, and four (4) or more years of directly applicable work experience; or a master’s degree in Transportation Engineering, Civil Engineering, Statistics, or a related field, and two (2) or more years of directly applicable work experience. An equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, analytical and writing skills and abilities may be considered.
COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: Background and demonstrated experience using the following: using ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Server/Enterprise; scripting languages (e.g. Python, R); Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); statistical software, database software, and data visualization software (e.g. Tableau, Power BI).
COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from members, regulatory agencies, community leaders and citizens. Ability to articulate intended project workflows to direct supervisors. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute percentages, rates, and ratios and to draw and interpret numeric charts and graphs.
REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to evaluate technical options and implement solutions based on individual project needs. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form and deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization may exist.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: No Requirements
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; sit; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
WORK LOCATION: The candidate will be required to report to work at the COG offices in Washington, D.C. This is not a fully remote work position. COG policy currently requires all employees to work three (3) days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and an additional day as approved by supervisor) in COG offices, and allows up to two (2) days teleworking from a remote location.
- Transportation Engineer III $84,037 - $100,000 Grade 8 (Depending on Qualifications)
- Transportation Engineer IV $91,660 - $110,000 Grade 9 (Depending on Qualifications)