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Transportation Engineers

SOC 17-2051.01Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers the full scope of Transportation Engineer practice — from entry-level design drafting and data collection through senior autonomous project delivery to executive-level program leadership, standards development, and public-sector stakeholder engagement.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Transportation system design plans — assist in drafting initial layouts for roads, bridges, or drainage structures under direct supervision using CAD software.
  2. Construction plan review — check assigned sections of design drawings for completeness and conformity to standard engineering practices with guidance from a senior engineer.
  3. Traffic operation reports — compile and format statistical data on accidents, pedestrian volume, or safety measures under direction for supervisor review.
  4. Engineering calculations — perform basic stress and load calculations for roadway elements using standard formulas under close technical oversight.
  5. Engineering standards and codes — read and interpret relevant transportation design standards, specifications, and government regulations with supervisor guidance.
  6. Geographic information systems — enter, retrieve, and display spatial transportation data in GIS software to support project mapping tasks.
  7. Stakeholder communication — attend meetings with contractors or utility companies and document discussion points under the direction of a project engineer.
  8. Traffic flow investigation — collect field data on traffic volume and patterns at assigned locations using established counting and observation protocols.
  9. Spreadsheet and office software — organize project data, prepare tables, and draft routine correspondence using standard office suite and spreadsheet applications.
  10. Public meeting support — assist in preparing maps, exhibits, and handouts for use at transportation-related public hearings under senior engineer direction.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Transportation infrastructure design — prepare detailed plans for streets, highway segments, or drainage structures with reduced oversight, applying applicable design standards.
  2. Design review and quality control — independently check construction plans, design calculations, and cost estimates for accuracy and conformity to engineering standards on routine projects.
  3. Traffic safety reporting — compile and analyze accident and pedestrian data to produce complete administrative and technical reports on traffic operations for agency use.
  4. Structural modification planning — develop alteration plans for existing transportation structures to improve safety or function, applying engineering judgment on familiar project types.
  5. Interagency coordination — confer directly with contractors, utility companies, and government agencies to clarify plans, resolve specification conflicts, and confirm work schedules.
  6. Final layout drawings — prepare complete project layout drawings incorporating stress calculations and construction details with limited senior review.
  7. Traffic problem analysis — investigate identified traffic flow or safety deficiencies and recommend practical improvement measures using analytical and systems evaluation skills.
  8. CAD and analytical software — produce engineering-grade design drawings and run analytical models using CAD and specialized transportation engineering software with proficiency.
  9. Project scheduling — apply time management practices to track task milestones, coordinate deliverables, and flag schedule risks on assigned project segments.
  10. Public presentation delivery — present transportation data, maps, and project information at public meetings, responding to routine audience questions clearly and accurately.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex transportation system design — autonomously design integrated systems including airports, commuter rail alignments, and major highway interchanges, resolving non-routine engineering challenges.
  2. Multi-discipline plan review — lead thorough review of full construction plan sets, design calculations, and cost estimates across disciplines to ensure accuracy, safety, and code compliance.
  3. Advanced traffic analysis — investigate complex traffic problems involving multiple modes and competing demands, producing technically rigorous reports with actionable safety and flow recommendations.
  4. Structural retrofit engineering — develop and validate modification strategies for aging or underperforming transportation structures, incorporating risk assessment and life-cycle cost considerations.
  5. Cross-sector stakeholder negotiation — lead technical negotiations with contractors, utility providers, and regulatory agencies to resolve design conflicts and align specifications with project goals.
  6. High-stakes public presentations — represent the organization at contentious public hearings, presenting complex engineering data, absorbing community concerns, and articulating technical trade-offs accessibly.
  7. Final engineering deliverables — produce complete, signed final project layout packages including detailed stress calculations, specifications, and construction notes ready for contractor bid.
  8. Systems analysis and optimization — apply systems analysis and operations analysis methods to evaluate transportation network performance and model the effects of proposed design changes.
  9. GIS-integrated design — integrate GIS data with CAD and analytical software to produce spatially accurate transportation designs that account for environmental, land-use, and demand factors.
  10. Regulatory and legal compliance — interpret and apply transportation law, government regulations, and public safety codes autonomously to ensure project designs meet all legal requirements.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Organizational design strategy — set the technical direction and design philosophy for major transportation programs, aligning engineering standards and innovation goals with agency or firm objectives.
  2. Enterprise quality assurance — establish and oversee organization-wide plan review, calculation verification, and cost-estimation protocols to ensure consistent engineering excellence across all projects.
  3. Policy and safety leadership — direct the development of traffic safety policies and reporting frameworks, influencing regional or statewide transportation safety outcomes through data-driven decision making.
  4. Capital program planning — lead multi-year infrastructure modification and replacement programs, prioritizing investments to maximize system safety, capacity, and equity across the transportation network.
  5. Executive-level stakeholder relations — represent the organization in high-level negotiations with government agencies, contractors, and elected officials, shaping project scope, funding, and regulatory outcomes.
  6. Public and legislative advocacy — testify before legislative bodies and lead complex community engagement processes, translating technical engineering positions into accessible policy arguments.
  7. Technical standards development — author or substantially revise organizational, state, or industry design standards and specifications that govern how transportation projects are engineered and delivered.
  8. Workforce development and mentorship — design and implement technical training curricula, mentorship structures, and performance frameworks that build engineering capability across project teams.
  9. Cross-functional program management — direct large, multi-disciplinary project teams using project management software and resource planning tools, ensuring cost, schedule, and quality targets are met.
  10. Innovation and technology adoption — evaluate emerging transportation technologies, analytical tools, and engineering methodologies, leading their adoption to improve design quality and organizational competitiveness.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors69 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Airport Engineer · Civil Transportation Engineer · Engineer · Highway Civil Engineer · Highway Engineer · Highway Project Engineer · Project Engineer · Rail Engineer · Road Engineer · Roadway Designer · Roadway Engineer · Roadway Project Engineer
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Reading ComprehensionWritingSpeakingCritical ThinkingMathematicsComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingTime ManagementSystems AnalysisSystems EvaluationActive ListeningCoordinationOperations AnalysisActive LearningMonitoringManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesNegotiationPersuasionInstructingService OrientationScience
Knowledge domains
Engineering and TechnologyDesignTransportationBuilding and ConstructionMathematicsEnglish LanguagePhysicsAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServiceComputers and ElectronicsLaw and GovernmentPublic Safety and SecurityEducation and Training
Abilities
Oral ComprehensionCategory FlexibilityDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningWritten ComprehensionWritten ExpressionProblem SensitivityOral ExpressionMathematical ReasoningNumber Facility
Work styles
Attention to DetailDependabilityCautiousnessIntegrityIntellectual CuriosityAchievement Orientation
Technology
Computer aided design CAD softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareGeographic information systemSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation softwareProject management softwareWord processing softwareObject or component oriented development software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Design or prepare plans for new transportation systems or parts of systems, such as airports, commuter trains, highways, streets, bridges, drainage structures, or roadway lighting.
  2. Check construction plans, design calculations, or cost estimations to ensure completeness, accuracy, or conformity to engineering standards or practices.
  3. Prepare administrative, technical, or statistical reports on traffic-operation matters, such as accidents, safety measures, or pedestrian volume or practices.
  4. Plan alteration or modification of existing transportation structures to improve safety or function.
  5. Confer with contractors, utility companies, or government agencies to discuss plans, specifications, or work schedules.
  6. Present data, maps, or other information at construction-related public hearings or meetings.
  7. Prepare final project layout drawings that include details such as stress calculations.
  8. Investigate traffic problems and recommend methods to improve traffic flow or safety.
CIP education codes
14.080114.080214.080314.080414.080514.089914.3301

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.