Manager of Transportation Systems and Engineering

ABOUT THE POSITION

Manager of Transportation Systems and Engineering | Charlotte, NC

VHB's Charlotte office is seeking a strategic, experienced, and dynamic Manager of Transportation Systems and Engineering to lead and grow our transportation engineering practice across the region. This is a high-impact leadership role focused on business development, project delivery, and technical excellence in the areas of traffic operations, safety, and traffic design.

The ideal candidate will be an established leader with deep relationships within the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), local municipalities, and private development communities. You will serve as both a technical expert and business strategist-overseeing high-profile projects, developing new client opportunities, mentoring staff, and driving innovation across our transportation and traffic engineering service lines.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of mobility in Charlotte and beyond, within a collaborative and entrepreneurial team environment committed to improving communities through smart, sustainable, and people-centered transportation solutions.

Learn more about Life at VHB Charlotte!

Responsibilities

Serve as the strategic leader for the Transportation Systems group in Charlotte, with responsibility for business development, client management, and project execution.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing team of engineers and planners, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Cultivate and grow relationships with NCDOT, SCDOT, regional/local governments (e.g., CDOT, CRTPO), and private developers, aligning service offerings with client needs.
• Lead complex traffic engineering and transportation planning projects, including corridor studies, safety analysis, traffic impact analyses, and traffic signal designs.
• Manage multimodal traffic and safety projects involving the design of traffic control devices, ITS elements, and operational improvements that prioritize safety, equity, and mobility for all users.
• Guide technical teams in delivering high-quality work on-time and within budget, providing expert-level QA/QC across a broad portfolio of traffic engineering work.
• Support and lead field operations including signal inspections, crash data analysis, operational reviews, and implementation of countermeasure strategies.
• Lead proposal development, pricing strategies, and pursuit activities to secure new work and maintain a robust pipeline of opportunities.

Skills & Knowledge

• Deep knowledge of Charlotte region transportation operations, planning, and policy, including CDOT, NCDOT, SCDOT, and other municipal processes.
• Advanced proficiency in traffic signal design, safety and operations analysis, traffic impact studies, and multimodal planning.
• Strong experience in traffic engineering tools and software, including Synchro, VISSIM, AutoCAD/MicroStation, and traffic modeling applications.
• Proven leadership in developing and executing business development strategies within the transportation engineering market.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage clients, stakeholders, and the public.
• Ability to oversee multidisciplinary teams and manage complex project portfolios.
• Up-to-date understanding of federal, state, and local design standards, MUTCD, and transportation safety guidelines.
• Thought leadership in evolving areas of transportation technology, connected vehicles, and data-driven safety improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field; Master's degree preferred.
• 11-15+ years of progressive experience in traffic engineering, transportation planning, or related field
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in North Carolina (or ability to obtain within 3 months).
• Demonstrated success in business development, including winning work with DOTs, municipalities, and private-sector clients.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel regionally as needed.
• Strong portfolio of projects in traffic signal systems, corridor studies, safety, and transportation technology.

We are VHB! We're an inspired and innovative team of engineers, scientists, planners, and designers who partner with clients in the transportation, real estate, institutional, and energy industries, as well as federal, state, and local governments. Our work helps improve mobility, enhance communities, and contribute to economic vitality. We do this while balancing development and infrastructure needs with stewardship of our environment.

Our people make us great! VHB provides a differentiating employee experience, which includes:

• Diverse and inclusive culture of collaboration and innovation
• Opportunity to work on complex, transformational projects
• Community and social responsibility as sustainable stewards
• Focus on learning, development, and career growth
• Best-in-class benefits, including flexible, hybrid workplace

We are consistently rated one of the top AEC firms to work for across our 30+ offices on the East Coast. We're growing, and we hope you'll join us!

VHB is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported by deep-rooted core values, one of which is diversity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

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