Traffic Project Engineer

As GFT continues to grow and expand, we are seeking an emerging Traffic Project Engineer to support our Transportation Group in Metro Atlanta, Georgia . This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring a minimum of 3 days of onsite office attendance.

Leading on the traffic team at GFT offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Whether working on highways and bridges or traffic engineering, our team excels in resilient, sustainable design and construction, delivering innovative solutions that address the complexities of modern, multimodal roadway systems and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable travel for all​. Explore some of our signature traffic projects here.

What you’ll be challenged to do:

As a Traffic Project Engineer , you will play a key role in the design and development of roadway and highway projects across Georgia and the Southeast. You’ll support project delivery for state, municipal, and private clients while working under the guidance of senior engineers and project managers. In this role, you’ll take ownership of design tasks, prepare plans and technical documentation, and support project management activities to meet our high standards for delivering projects on time, within scope, and in alignment with established quality expectations. You’ll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, mentor junior staff, and continue developing your technical expertise and client-facing skills within the transportation infrastructure sector.

In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

Technical Leadership & Engineering Excellence

Lead the planning, design, and delivery of complex traffic signal and ITS projects across urban streets, arterials, freeways, and citywide deployments.

Provide subject matter expertise in intelligent transportation systems, including detection, communications, system integration, and operational strategies.

Design and review traffic signals, interconnects, railroad preemption, signing, pavement markings, roadway lighting, ramp management systems, and maintenance of traffic (MOT) plans.

Develop and oversee innovative ITS applications such as freeway off-ramp queue detection warning systems and queue-based preemption and timing adjustments integrated with adjacent arterial networks.

Plan and direct traffic analyses and studies, including traffic impact studies, traffic operations and safety studies, roadway safety audits, and interchange justification reports.

Project Delivery & Lifecycle Management

Plan, conduct, and coordinate traffic engineering work through all phases of the project lifecycle, including project inception, alternatives analysis, final design, construction phase services, equipment integration, and post-deployment evaluation.

Prepare reports, plans, specifications, and technical drawings in compliance with engineering standards, client requirements, and MUTCD guidance.

Monitor and manage multiple project schedules and budgets, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Assure all projects meet quality control and quality assurance standards.

Team Leadership & Management

Manage, mentor, and develop engineers and designers across a remotely distributed regional traffic group.

Provide technical guidance, performance feedback, and career development support to team members.

Plan and lead project meetings, coordinating responsibilities across multidisciplinary teams.

Coordinate technical development, scheduling, and staffing needs while resolving engineering and design challenges.

Strategy, Innovation & Problem Solving

Plan and develop engineering solutions for unique or controversial traffic and ITS challenges.

Define project scopes, explore alternatives, and develop novel concepts and approaches to complex transportation problems.

Review and approve design changes, specifications, and drawing releases.

Interpret contract changes and advise management on scope, schedule, or budget impacts .

Business Development & Client Engagement

Assist in the preparation of business proposals and support marketing and client development efforts.

Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients, agencies, and stakeholders, responding to inquiries and presenting findings to public groups, boards, and senior leadership.

Collaborate closely with highway, bridge, stormwater, and utility design teams to deliver integrated transportation solutions.

Professional Development

Maintain professional and technical expertise through continuing education, professional publications, and participation in professional organizations and societies.

What you will bring to our firm:

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from an ABET-accredited university.

Active Professional Engineer (PE) license in Georgia, or the ability to obtain a license within 3 months; additional state licensure is a plus.

8-15 years of progressive engineering experience with broad knowledge of transportation design and strong technical skills in highway design.

Prior experience with Georgia Department of Transportation projects preferred, including well versed in client design policies, standards, and specifications.

Proficient in MicroStation, VISSIM, Synchro, HCS, Sidra and Microsoft Office products.

Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.

Experience with design of traffic control elements such as plans, specifications and estimates for traffic signals, roadway signing, pavement markings, and work-zone maintenance of traffic plans, preferred.

Ability to work in a team environment, self-starter, demonstrated organization skills, team player, and willingness to learn.

Featured Benefits:

Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.

Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.

Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.

Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.

Tuition reimbursement for continued education.

Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.

Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives. GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.

Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property GFT.

GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.

Location: Nashville, TN Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Employment Status: Full-Time

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $100,000-$150,000 . Salary is dependent upon experience.

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Applicants in the County of Los Angeles- Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Applicants in the City of San Francisco- Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Applicants in the State of California -Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.