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Transportation Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

PTR Global

Transportation Engineer I

San Luis Obispo, CA · On-site

$89K - $102K/yr

Transportation Engineer I Location: San Luis Obispo, California Duration: Contract Pay Range: $89K ... This role involves preparing design concepts, reports, plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E ...

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Transportation Design information

See California salary details

$59.7K

$86.2K

$111.5K

How much do transportation design jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for transportation design in California is $86,163.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $76,500.00 and $94,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a transportation designer do?

A Transportation Design job focuses on creating the look, functionality, and user experience of various transportation modes, such as cars, bikes, trains, and aircraft. Designers blend aesthetics, engineering, and ergonomics to develop innovative concepts that enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability. They use digital tools, modeling techniques, and collaboration with engineers to bring designs from concept to production.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a transportation designer?

To thrive in Transportation Design, a blend of strong visual creativity, proficiency in industrial or automotive design principles, and a relevant degree (such as in transportation, industrial or product design) is essential. Mastery of computer-aided design (CAD) software like Autodesk Alias, CATIA, and Adobe Creative Suite, as well as familiarity with prototyping tools, is typically required. Exceptional collaboration, adaptability, and problem-solving skills set standout designers apart in multidisciplinary teams. These abilities ensure innovative, functional, and aesthetically compelling transportation solutions that meet user needs and industry standards.

How to get into transportation design?

To pursue a career in transportation design, typically a bachelor's degree in transportation, industrial, or automotive design is required. Building a strong portfolio, gaining experience through internships, and developing skills in CAD software and 3D modeling are essential steps. Professional certifications and knowledge of vehicle engineering can also enhance job prospects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Transportation Design jobs in California?

The most popular types of Transportation Design jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Transportation Design jobs in California?

For Transportation Design jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Transportation Design jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Transportation Design jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Transportation Design jobs?

Cities in California with the most Transportation Design job openings:

Transportation Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Transportation Design job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 58% Full Time, 38% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,163 per year, or $41.4 per hour.

Practice Lead - Transportation Engineering & Planning

Toole Design Group LLC

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

PTO

Re-posted 22 days ago

Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Design streets that move people-not just cars.
At Toole Design , we're leading the way in creating safer, more connected communities through sustainable multimodal transportation design. We're looking for an experienced transportation professional to lead Toole Design's integrated transportation engineering and multimodal planning practice to join us in Los Angeles, CA. This firmwide leadership role combines practice leadership with active project delivery. This position can be located in any of our offices, including: Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Boston, MA; Los Angeles, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Oakland, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Portland, OR; Raleigh, NC; Seattle, WA; Silver Spring, MD. We are making one hire.
Why You'll Love Working Here
We're not just another firm, we're a purpose-driven team of engineers, planners, landscape architects, and urban designers who believe streets should work for everyone . At Toole Design, you'll work alongside thought leaders and industry experts who are committed to mentoring and helping you grow your expertise. We offer:
  • A collaborative, inclusive culture that supports your growth and advancement
  • Hybrid schedule with in-office team days (Tuesday-Thursday)
  • 8 paid holidays; and 24 days of PTO accrued annually
  • Competitive salary, excellent benefits, and transportation perks: Benefits and Support
  • Projects that truly improve lives through safe, inclusive design rooted in ethics, empathy, and equity

What You'll Do
We design streets as public places, with engineers, planners, landscape architects, and urban designers working side by side. Your leadership style should support and encourage that collaboration.
Leading the Practice
As our Practice Lead, you'll mentor a talented team of engineers and planners, guide business development, help shape the firm's technical direction, and stay active on major projects that strengthen client relationships and grow the practice. You will report to our Engineering Director while collaborating closely with our Design and Planning Directors.
  • Lead business development and practice business planning in support of annual growth targets, in partnership with regional leadership
  • Support the practice's financial health through effective project delivery, workload management, staff development, and quality control
  • Collaborate with local, regional, and corporate leadership to advance practice priorities
  • Help recruit and advise on hiring decisions to support local and firmwide growth goals
  • Advance training, innovation, and quality control to keep our technical work at the forefront of the industry mentoring staff through project work
  • Support marketing and raise the practice's local and national visibility
  • Guide subject matter resource groups that support practice delivery, including traffic engineering, multimodal planning, transportation design and related specialties

Leading Projects
Serve as Principal-in-Charge, Project Director, Senior Technical Advisor, or Project Manager on major transportation planning and engineering efforts. You will provide leadership on transportation planning projects including:
  • Comprehensive plans, long range transportation plans, city or area-wide mobility plans and corridor studies
  • Multimodal traffic impact analysis, traffic operations analysis, and safety analysis
  • Parking, curbside management, and transportation demand management strategies
  • Public engagement, policy development, and implementation strategies

You will provide leadership on transportation engineering and design projects including:
  • Multimodal street design that balances safety, mobility, access, and placemaking objectives applying safe systems principles
  • Conceptual geometric design for corridor and intersection reconfigurations, with hand-off to civil engineering for final design
  • Traffic signal design, retiming, and timing optimization
  • Signing, pavement marking, maintenance of traffic, and rapid-implementation design projects
  • Road safety audits, crash analysis, and countermeasure selection

Join Us. Make an Impact.
We're proud to be an ENR Top 500 design firm with one of the lowest turnover rates in the industry. If you're ready to do meaningful work with a supportive, talented team-apply today. Please note: this is one open role. We've posted it in multiple offices so you can apply from whichever location works best for you.
We're targeting a range of $173,000-$231,500 for individuals with a PE and $153,000-$210,500 without.
Questions, assistance or accommodations? Contact HR@tooledesign.com or call 301-927-1900, press 5.
At Toole Design, we foster a collaborative culture and welcome people of all backgrounds to help build more inclusive communities. We strongly encourage women and applicants from underrepresented communities - people of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, first-generation college students/graduates, those with disabilities and people at all the intersections in between - to apply. We're proud that about half our managers are women and we are committed to diverse leadership that reflects the communities we serve. Toole Design is a woman-owned, equal opportunity employer (EO/AA/VEV/Disabled employer).
For more information about Toole Design, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn , Instagram , or Facebook .
Requirements
  • Desire to lead a practice - not just a project. You're energized by developing the next generation of engineers and planners to see your impact through what they deliver
  • Strategic thinking for where the practice should go, what work to pursue, and how to position the firm for what's next
  • Commitment to technical excellence as a personal standard and to remain a trusted senior voice on signature, complex projects
  • Excitement to craft and communicate a vision that bridges planning and engineering
  • 15+ years of success on the types of transportation engineering and multimodal planning projects described above
  • Demonstrated success building and leading teams, programs, practices and projects
  • Experience in business development, proposal strategy, client development
  • A belief that strong engineering makes great planning real - and that streets are public places where engineering rigor and urban design strengthen one another
  • A commitment to creating safer, more equitable, and more sustainable transportation systems for the communities we serve
  • A PE is preferred. PTOE and/or AICP credentials are a plus. We welcome candidates whose careers have been rooted in either transportation engineering or multimodal transportation planning, provided they have demonstrated success leading integrated teams, delivering complex projects, and growing a transportation practice

Apply