Traffic Signal Operations Engineer

Overview

Join Parsons Corporation as a Traffic Signal Operations Engineer based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Parsons offers a dynamic work environment focused on innovation, growth, and collaboration. This role is centered on managing and enhancing the day-to-day operational performance of traffic signalized intersections and corridors within Riyadh.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor traffic signalized intersections and corridors using control systems, CCTV, performance dashboards, detectors, and direct field observations.
• Analyze signal phasing, sequences, splits, cycle lengths, offsets, clearance intervals, recalls, detector settings, and controller parameters to find and solve operational problems.
• Design and implement approved signal timing changes at intersections and coordinated corridors following defined change-control processes.
• Conduct pre- and post-implementation evaluations to ensure timing adjustments improve traffic flow metrics such as queue lengths, delay, vehicle progression, throughput without causing adverse secondary effects.
• Support optimization of green wave progression on corridors by analyzing offset timings, travel times, and vehicle platooning.
• Identify issues like split failures, long queues, inefficient green times, detector malfunctions, coordination failures, and traffic congestion.
• Utilize advanced tools like ATSPM and high-resolution controller data to assess phase utilization, detector activity, arrival patterns, and overall operational effectiveness.
• Coordinate with field maintenance teams to resolve hardware, communication, or controller faults impacting traffic operations.
• Assist adaptive signal operations by monitoring system behavior, verifying controller inputs, and reporting anomalies to specialists.
• Facilitate deployment and monitoring of traffic strategies such as special event plans, incident response timings, emergency vehicle preemption, and transit signal priority.
• Keep detailed logs of timing changes, operational insights, approval statuses, and results for shift handovers and record-keeping.
• Perform onsite field visits during peak times to validate system data and detect issues not visible through central monitoring.
• Contribute to developing standardized timing procedures, corridor playbooks, performance benchmarks, and traffic control center documentation.
• Provide technical guidance and knowledge sharing to operators and junior engineers concerning signal operations and controller performance.
• Participate in routine signal performance evaluations and recommend sites for further engineering study or infrastructure enhancements.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• A bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Traffic Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Over three years of practical experience in traffic signal timing, signal operations, traffic engineering, or Traffic Control Center support roles.
• Well-versed in signal phasing, timing plans, cycle lengths, splits, offsets, recalls, detector function, and basic traffic controller logic.
• Documented experience in live traffic signal timing monitoring and improvements.
• Understanding of coordinated arterial operations linking intersection timing with broader corridor progression.
• Strong analytical capabilities to interpret traffic counts, queues, travel times, CCTV footage, detector data, and controller status information.
• Experience with traffic signal central systems, adaptive traffic management platforms, or relevant controller software for signal timing tuning.
• Exceptional troubleshooting skills to identify timing versus hardware, communications, controller, or traffic demand issues.
• Ability to operate effectively within a Traffic Control Center environment and conduct field assessments during busy or special operational periods.
• Proficient English communication skills with disciplined documentation practices.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Familiarity with major signal control platforms such as TransSuite, McCain controllers, Econolite, Siemens/Yunex, SCATS, or SCOOT.
• Experience with Synchro/SimTraffic software, ATSPM analytical tools, high-resolution signal data, or adaptive signal control systems.
• Previous exposure to traffic signal operations in Saudi Arabia, the GCC, or other large metropolitan regions.
• Knowledge of emergency vehicle preemption, transit priority, event-specific signal timing, incident response, and queue management techniques.
• Professional certifications like PTOE or PTP considered advantageous.
• Arabic language proficiency is a plus but not mandatory.

Additional Information

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer valuing diversity across all levels without discrimination including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. We prioritize employee well-being and offer boundless growth opportunities. Potential candidates should be vigilant of recruitment fraud.