NDOT Transportation Assistant Director - Chief Traffic Engineer

Full Job Description

This position serves as the NDOT Transportation Assistant Director - Chief Traffic Engineer for the Nashville Department of Transportation & Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT).

The role provides executive leadership and professional engineering oversight for NDOT’s Transportation Systems Management team, which includes traffic signal systems, the Traffic Management Center (TMC), Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS), street lighting, traffic engineering studies, traffic calming, speed management, and traffic safety programs in support of Vision Zero.

The position oversees a growing multidisciplinary engineering and operations team and serves as the City’s designated Chief Traffic Engineer, responsible for traffic engineering policies, operational standards, and technical determinations affecting traffic operations and multimodal safety.

The incumbent leads major initiatives including adaptive signal systems, transit signal priority, connected vehicle/C-V2X systems, fiber network modernization, LiDAR near-miss analytics, smart signal deployments, and continued modernization of the TMC.

The Chief Traffic Engineer will also play a key role in the upgrades and operations of 592 smart signals under the Choose How You Move transit referendum that will invest approximately $250 million in smart signal and fiber communication upgrades over the next decade to ensure a world class transportation network.

The Chief Traffic Engineer / Assistant Director directs planning, design, operations, budgeting, and interagency coordination for citywide traffic operations, including traffic management for major events such as: CMA Fest, Titans games, Predators games, and others.

The position reports directly to the Deputy Director and performs related duties as required.

Requirements

• Provides executive leadership for traffic operations, signal systems, ITS, TMC operations, traffic engineering, street lighting, and multimodal operations.
• Serves as the Chief Traffic Engineer, establishing engineering standards, approving traffic engineering decisions, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Oversees traffic signal operations, system optimization, adaptive systems, TSP, connected vehicle deployments, and fiber communication systems.
• Leads traffic engineering studies, safety analyses, speed management, traffic calming evaluations, and Vision Zero–related engineering work.
• Directs modernization and daily operations of the Traffic Management Center, including coordination with emergency services and partner agencies.
• Oversees traffic operations planning for major events and incident management.
• Oversees the street lighting program, including system upgrades and operational oversight.
• Provides leadership for smart signal deployments and emerging technology integration in coordination with NDOT IT.
• Oversees division budgets, capital project development, procurement, contracts, and consultant management.
• Represents NDOT to the Metro Traffic & Parking Commission, providing technical guidance and recommendations.
• Supervises engineering and operations staff; oversees hiring, training, assignments, and evaluations.
• Represents the department with internal and external stakeholders, including TDOT, FHWA, MNPD, NFD, NES, utilities, community groups, and elected officials.
• Prepares reports, engineering determinations, and technical presentations.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited college or university and eight (8) years of progressively responsible post degree engineering experience, including at least five (5) years as a licensed Professional Engineer and five (5) years management experience.

"Additional education may be considered In lieu of some experience (1:1 Ratio)"
*No Substitution for management experience will be accepted*

Licenses Required: A Professional Engineering License from any state is required to apply for this position; however, the Tennessee Professional Engineering License must be obtained prior to completion of the probationary period.

Failure to obtain the Tennessee Professional Engineering License will terminate employment.

Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078.

All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.

Additional Information

• Master’s degree in engineering or a related field preferred.
• Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) certification preferred.

• Experience with traffic operations and management in a large metropolitan city.
• Experience with adaptive signals, TSP, connected vehicle systems, fiber networks, smart signal deployments, and TMC operations.
• Strong understanding of Vision Zero, multimodal safety strategies, and traffic engineering best practices.
• Experience managing budgets, capital programs, consultant contracts, and technical staff.
• Knowledge of the current practices used in the areas of multimodal system planning, municipal street and bridge construction, and related systems.
• Thorough knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations affecting municipal projects.
• Thorough knowledge of engineering terminology, principles, and theories.
• Ability to analyze difficult engineering data.

We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.

Metro Nashville Government respects the religious beliefs and practices of all employees and will make, on request, an accommodation for such observances when a reasonable accommodation is available that does not create an undue hardship on business operations.


Requests for ADA or other protected accommodations for the recruitment process should be directed to Human Resources at 615-862-6640.