Job Responsibilities

This position is accountable for supervising and monitoring the construction, design, and maintenance of all traffic signals and highway lighting in the district.

This position reports to the Design and Planning Engineer. There are no subordinates reporting to this position.

This position operates in an environment where the primary emphasis is on ensuring a safe, smooth traffic flow through the use of electronic lighting mechanisms, such as traffic signals, flashing beacons, and highway lighting.
The incumbent is responsible for the proper location, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of traffic signals and traffic signal systems within the boundaries of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
District 3. The incumbent should keep up to date on the latest developments in traffic engineering practices and equipment.

Typical problems in this position include confirming that traffic signal equipment remains in accordance with changing standard specifications and special provisions. Other problems include ensuring that a proper lighting system exists on all applicable intersections and the traffic signal system is properly timed. The greatest challenge is keeping abreast of the latest developments in traffic engineering practices and traffic control equipment and judiciously applying these new technologies to existing and future installations.

The incumbent reviews and provides technical guidance for the preparation of in-house intersection and system signal and flashing beacon plans and contracts. The incumbent reviews preliminary and final design of traffic signals, highway lighting, and flashing beacons prepared by consultants. The incumbent provides expertise at pre-construction conferences relative to traffic signals, flashing beacons, and highway lighting projects and provides technical expertise to cities for their traffic control installations and systems. The incumbent inspects and approves traffic signal equipment used in construction projects, provides input for traffic flow analysis on existing and proposed signal systems in order to ascertain what timing sequence is required and evaluates experimental signal equipment and recommends if the equipment could be implemented within the district. The incumbent applies expertise on complex signal systems repairs, implements updates in timing programs, and develops maintenance procedures for electrical maintainers of state-owned devices. The incumbent provides hands-on correction of malfunctioning devices, and reviews intersection design studies and construction plans for compliance with policies and procedures. Daily and long-term tasks may include optimization of signal timings, signal coordination and timing (SCAT) location identification, and coordination of plans.

Job Responsibilities Continued

The incumbent reviews traffic signal studies, reviews Intersection Design Studies (IDS) and intersection improvement plans, and
reviews and performs intersection and system traffic signal capacity analysis. The incumbent provides input and knowledge to further expand the district’s Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology. The incumbent develops, manages, and supervises the signal maintenance and equipment service contracts. The incumbent develops responses to public complaints regarding traffic signals and highway lighting. The incumbent prioritizes inspections, designs, and plans. The incumbent, along with other staff, reviews the execution of city-state agreements for traffic signal installations. The incumbent ensures that the level of maintenance being performed by the municipality is as prescribed by the agreement. The incumbent evaluates, approves, and recommends for payment, all invoices submitted by local agencies.

The incumbent, along with other staff, inspects and approves traffic signal equipment used in construction projects. Decisions made by the incumbent are based on the Standard Specifications for Traffic Signals and Highway Lighting, Uniform Manual of Traffic Control Devices, and central and district’s Bureau of Traffic Policies
and Procedures.

The incumbent has internal contact with personnel in the district bureaus of Administrative Services, Project Implementation, Local Roads and Streets, Program Development, and central Bureau of Operations. External contacts include maintenance personnel, city engineers, city police department personnel, consulting engineers, electrical contractors, utility companies' staff, and the general public. Districtwide travel which may include overnight stays and overtime are required.

The effectiveness of this position is evaluated on the effectiveness that signal systems have on traffic flow, evaluation, and application of new signal equipment, and competence of the inspection and approval of signal
equipment used on construction projects.

Principal Accountabilities

1. Oversees personnel in the inspecting and approval of traffic signal equipment used in highway construction projects.
2. Stays up to date, along with other personnel, on new technologies in traffic signals and lighting equipment to provide the highest level of service possible in the safest and most cost-effective manner.
3. Reviews all traffic signal highway lighting and flashing beacon design and systems.
4. Maintains a good working relationship with the other district bureaus, contractors, and consultants to ensure that all work is completed in a timely manner.
5. Oversees the expedient maintenance of all state-owned electrical traffic signal and lighting devices.
6. Supervises and recommends maintenance programs and procedures of municipally owned signals and approves expenditure of state funds for maintenance of municipally owned signals.
7. Performs duties in accordance with departmental safety policies, personnel policies, and departmental orders and is responsible for the safety of subordinate personnel.
8. Performs duties in compliance with departmental safety rules. Performs all duties in a manner conducive to the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.
9. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Completion of a bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET accredited college OR master's degree in engineering OR Engineer Intern License in the state of Illinois.

2. 43 months of civil engineering experience.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Efficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite applications.

2. Strong oral and written communication skills.

Conditions of Employment

1. Valid driver's license.

2. Districtwide travel which may include overnight stays and overtime.

3. Successful completion of a background screening.