JOB The Position

Job Appointment: This is a temporary, casual position with a maximum of 1,400 hours in a calendar year. The expectation is for the Engineering Trainee to work 30-40 hours per week during the summer and 10-20 hours per week during the school year.
Work Location: Hybrid-The Portland Building 1120 SW 5th Avenue, Portland OR 97204. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington. For more information, click here.
Benefits: This position is not eligible for benefits.
Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.
Language Pay Differential: City of Portland employees who speak one or more languages in addition to English, may be eligible to receive a “language pay differential.” This is compensation for qualifying multilingual City employees who use their language skills to assist the community. More about the language pay differential can be found here.

Position Summary:

Engineering Trainees assist others within PBOT in designing and operating streets within Portland. This is a great opportunity for students of a Civil/Transportation Engineering or Planning program to learn how to apply transportation engineering principles to improve the safety of City of Portland’s transportation system. Trainees will apply technical engineering knowledge to the solution of design, maintenance, improvement, and construction problems pertaining to the City’s infrastructure and private development. They will work under the supervision of professional engineers and engineering technicians who serve as resource experts and routinely review work in progress or upon completion for accuracy and quality. The Engineering Trainees work with a broad range of customers and is expected to deliver a high level of customer service and to carry out their individual responsibilities with initiative, independence and creativity while exercising sound professional problem-solving skills. This position will actively participate in supporting PBOT’s Strategic Plan goals.

There are five (5) positions available:

• Three (3) in the Traffic Safety Projects Section (TSP) section.
• One (1) within the Signals, Street Lighting, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (SSL&ITS) Division.

The Traffic Safety Projects team resides within the Traffic Operations group and includes 9 staff dedicated to improving traffic safety in the city. The Traffic Safety Project team is responsible for 823-SAFE program and traffic safety investigations. The team also plans, designs, and helps with construction of Quick Build capital improvement projects.

The Signals, Street Lighting, and Intelligent Transportation Systems team resides with the Traffic Systems and Operations group and includes 62 staff dedicated to the planning, design, construction and maintenance of the City of Portland’s traffic signal, streetlight, and intelligent transportation systems infrastructure.

What you'll get to do:

Traffic Safety Projects

• Conduct field and office review of traffic safety concerns and crashes and make recommendations for potential improvements. Some examples of the work include the evaluation of the need for stop signs, compliance with signing standards, or the need for parking removal for visibility at intersections and developing the work orders necessary for implementation.
• Learn and apply federal and local codes and standards for use in evaluating traffic safety requests.
• Review and make traffic safety recommendations as part of Safe Routes to School projects.
• Participate in the evaluation and design of Vision Zero projects.
• Develop plans/work orders for implementation of signs, pavement marking, and traffic calming features.
• Represent PBOT in interactions with the community.

Signals and Street Lights

• Assist with upgrade of PBOT’s traffic signal controllers by converting signal timing, testing, and field deployment.
• Create traffic signal intersection diagrams for intersections configured in PBOT’S new central traffic signal system.
• Update traffic signals and ITS roadside devices on GIS Map and Microsoft Visio Diagram.
• Help evaluate accuracy of various bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicle detection system.
• Assist with evaluation of new emerging traffic sensor technologies.
• Assist with evaluation of street lighting needs with night drives.
• Use Bluebeam and MicroStation Computer Aided Design (CAD) and other Softwares for design, edits, and measurement calculations.
• Assist with review of construction submittals.
• Assist with field evaluation of pole conditions on aerial fiber optic communication projects.

An Ideal Candidate will have at least one (1) year of experience specializing in traffic operations, traffic safety, public works or a related field.

Who you are:

• Current student: You are in a Civil/Transportation Engineering or Planning program (proof of student status required.
• Excellent Communicator: You are a strong communicator to both technical and non-technical individuals, and proficient verbally and in writing.

• Problem Solver: You enjoy developing solutions to complex problems.
• Professional: Effective in a professional, diverse, multi-cultural environment. You treat customers, co-workers and employees with respect and are accountable.
• Results Driven: You ask good questions and finish tasks in a timely, accurate and professional manner.
• Dedicated and customer service focused: Have a passion for public service and hold a high level of pride in making sure that projects and tasks are effectively and efficiently completed.

Compensation:

$25-$26/hr 0-1 years of engineering work experience

$27-$28/hr 1-2 years of experience or in graduate education program.

About the Bureau:
The Portland Bureau of Transportation is a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage, and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides people and businesses access and mobility. We keep Portland moving. For more information about the Portland Bureau of Transportation, please visit Transportation | Portland.gov. The Portland Bureau of Transportation embraces diversity, models inclusivity, and promotes equity through its service delivery, internal operations, organizational culture, and in its work with partners and the community.

Have a question?
Contact Information:
Cierra Maceo
Recruiter
Cierra.Maceo@portlandoregon.gov EXAMPLE OF DUTIES The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:

• Knowledge of engineering/public works terminology, practices, procedures or basic principles.
• Experience with computers and software.
• Ability to interpret and apply information from regulations and/or codes.
• Ability to interact effectively, problem solve, and partner with team members in a diverse workforce.
• Current student in a Civil/Transportation Engineering or Planning program (proof of student status required.)
• Ability to drive on City business on a project-by-project basis. Incumbents must possess a valid driver’s license.

Additional desired qualifications (not required)

• Taken coursework in engineering, engineering technology or related field.
• At least one year of traffic engineering work experience or in public works engineering/civil engineering.
• An interest in traffic engineering and multi-modal transportation safety.
• Experience working with Computer-Aided Design software such as: AutoCAD, MicroStation, InRoads/OpenRoads, and/or ArcMap.
• Strong analytical skillset using excel and other geo-spatial tools.
• General productivity suite (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace)
• Ability to work fulltime during the summer and part time during the school year.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer