Entry Level Traffic Engineering Jobs in California

Salary : $86,756.80 - $104,145.60 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number: JH-T11117-202005
Business Area: 2116 - Transportation
Opening Date: 05/29/2020
Closing Date: Continuous
JOB INFORMATION
See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.
Traffic Signal Technician I positions install, modify, maintain, and repair wiring in conduits, signal heads, controllers, vehicle detectors, solid state components and digital signal equipment and special illuminations in connection with traffic signals; assist in the design, construction, and modification of special control and test equipment for traffic signal repair; train semiskilled workers and apprentices; drive and operate City vehicles needed to perform work; make daily work reports; keep accurate records; testify in court and give depositions; and perform other duties as assigned.
NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by AFSME Local 127 are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:

• 3.5% effective 7/1/27
• 2% effective 7/1/28
• 2% effective 7/1/29

• Eligible benefited employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Traffic Signal Technician I employees with valid International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA) Certification are eligible for 5% additional pay.
• Traffic Signal Technician I employees will be required to use and/or operate an aerial lift.
• Some Traffic Signal Technician I employees will be required to use and/or operate a Fixed Hydraulic/Electric Crane (under 15,000 lbs. lift capacity).
• Some Traffic Signal Technician I employees will be required to use and/or operate a Fixed Extended Boom Crane (over 15,000 lbs. lift capacity).

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: You must meet ONE of the following options:

1. Associate's Degree in Electronic Technology AND two years of full-time journey-level electrician experience as described in the notes below.
2. Successful completion of a state-accredited four or five-year Electrician Apprenticeship Program, which must include a minimum of four college-level courses in electronics AND one year full-time journey-level electrician experience as described in the notes below.
3. Four years of full-time experience in all phases of work as a journey-level electrician as described in the notes below.

NOTES:

• Qualifying experience MUST include installing, repairing and troubleshooting in an industrial environment (e.g., factory, manufacturing company or shipyard) in at least ONE of the following areas:
  1. Industrial machinery digital controls such as numerical or programmable computer digital control components.
  2. Commercial, industrial or underground electrical conduit wiring such as conduit wiring for industrial machinery and equipment, street lighting or traffic signal systems.
  3. Commercial-type electrical control systems such as assembly line speed controls or manufacturing process line sequence control.
• Qualifying experience MUST also include using blueprints, schematics and electrical/electronic test equipment.
• Experience in residential electrical work only is NOT qualifying.
• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.
NOTE:

• Some positions will require a valid California Class B Driver License AND a valid California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) medical certificate within six months from the date of hire which must be maintained throughout an individual's employment as a Traffic Signal Technician with the City of San Diego.

CERTIFICATION: Some positions will require a Crane Operator Certification issued by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) or equivalent organization recognized by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), prior to the completion of the probationary period and must be maintained throughout an individual's employment as a Traffic Signal Technician with the City of San Diego.
HIGHLY DESIRABLE:

• Experience working with fiber optics.
• Entry-level programming skills in Basic, Pascal or C+.
• Experience in logic circuit design and implementation.
• Experience in repairing or modifying Intel-based PC-related platforms.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of degree/transcripts, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• Proof of apprenticeship completion, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.
SCREENING PROCESS
Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
Rev. 33 - July 9, 2026 (Pay Notes Added)
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.
Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).
Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.
or review the
01
I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Resumes are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02
Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03
If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04
The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05
Specify which ONE of the following options you are using to meet the education requirement. NOTE: Attach proof of degree/transcripts to your application.

• Associate's Degree in Electronic Technology.
• Successful completion of a state-accredited four or five-year Electrician Apprenticeship Program, which must include a minimum of four college-level courses in electronics.
• None of the above.

06
How many years of full-time journey-level electrician experience do you have installing, repairing and troubleshooting in an industrial environment (e.g., factory, manufacturing company or shipyard) and using blueprints, schematics and electrical/electronic test equipment?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

07
Describe your full-time journey-level electrician experience installing, repairing and troubleshooting in an industrial environment (e.g., factory, manufacturing company or shipyard) and using blueprints, schematics and electrical/electronic test equipment. Specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent performing the duties and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in this area, write "None."
08
In which of the following areas do you have journey-level electrician experience installing, repairing and troubleshooting in an industrial environment?

• Industrial machinery digital controls such as numerical or programmable computer digital control components.
• Commercial, industrial or underground electrical conduit wiring such as conduit wiring for industrial machinery and equipment, street lighting or traffic signal systems.
• Commercial-type electrical control systems such as assembly line speed controls or manufacturing process line sequence controls.
• None of the above.

09
Describe your full-time journey-level electrician experience installing, repairing and troubleshooting in an industrial environment in the following areas: a. Industrial machinery digital controls such as numerical or programmable computer digital control components; b. commercial, industrial or underground electrical conduit wiring such as conduit wiring for industrial machinery and equipment, street lighting or traffic signal systems; c. commercial-type electrical control systems such as assembly line speed controls or manufacturing process line sequence controls. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None."
10
Which of the following have you used as part of your journey-level electrician experience?

• Blueprints.
• Schematics.
• Electrical/electronic test equipment.
• None of the above.

11
Describe your full-time journey-level electrician experience using the following: a. Blueprints; b. schematics; c. electrical/electronic test equipment. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None."
Required Question