Traffic Engineer – Synchro Specialist

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Job Description:

Parsons is looking for an amazingly talented Traffic Engineer – Synchro Specialist to join our team! In this role, you will develop, calibrate, and apply Synchro/SimTraffic traffic operations models to test, compare, and optimize intersection and corridor improvement strategies across Riyadh.

You will support the traffic engineering and corridor assessment teams by converting field data and existing signal information into reliable operational models, using those models to diagnose deficiencies and evaluate timing, phasing, lane-use, geometric, and coordination improvements before field implementation.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Develop Synchro models for signalized and unsignalized intersections and coordinated arterial corridors using approved traffic counts, roadway geometry, signal timing, and field-condition information.

• Review and code lane configurations, turn movements, saturation flows, heavy vehicles, grades, storage lengths, pedestrian phases, phasing sequences, timings, offsets, and other model parameters.

• Calibrate and validate models using observed queues, travel times, field saturation conditions, cycle observations, and other available operational evidence.

• Use Synchro and SimTraffic to identify operational deficiencies, bottlenecks, split failures, queue spillback, progression issues, capacity constraints, and potential network interactions.

• Develop and test alternative timing plans, phasing strategies, cycle lengths, splits, offsets, lane-use changes, turn restrictions, channelization, and minor geometric improvements.

• Optimize coordinated corridor timing plans to improve progression, reduce stops and delay, and manage queues across multiple intersections.

• Compare alternatives using appropriate measures of effectiveness such as delay, level of service, queues, stops, travel time, v/c ratio, throughput, and progression quality.

• Prepare clear before-and-after model summaries, exhibits, tables, timing sheets, and technical narratives supporting recommended improvements.

• Work with Traffic Signal Operations Engineers to convert approved model recommendations into implementable controller timing plans and field test strategies.

• Support development of quick-win and longer-term corridor improvement programs by quantifying expected operational benefits and identifying constraints requiring further design.

• Maintain organized model files, version history, assumptions, input data, calibration notes, and model-review records.

• Conduct sensitivity testing where traffic demand, detector operation, signal control, or field conditions create uncertainty in expected results.

• Support traffic impact assessments, corridor studies, construction traffic analyses, and special-event planning where Synchro modeling is appropriate.

• Participate in technical reviews with senior traffic engineers and revise models based on quality-review comments and field verification.

• Contribute to standardized Synchro modeling procedures, templates, quality checks, and documentation practices for the project.

What Required Skills You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Traffic Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

• 4+ years of traffic engineering experience with substantial hands-on use of Synchro and SimTraffic for intersection and corridor analysis.

• Demonstrated ability to build, calibrate, validate, and apply Synchro models using real field traffic data and existing signal timing information.

• Strong understanding of signalized intersection operations, phasing, timing, coordination, capacity analysis, saturation flow, queues, delay, and level-of-service concepts.

• Experience evaluating signal timing and geometric improvement alternatives and clearly explaining the operational effects of each option.

• Working knowledge of HCM principles and their application within Synchro analysis.

• Ability to review signal timing sheets, controller phasing, lane configurations, turning-movement counts, and field observations for accurate model coding.

• Strong analytical skills and disciplined approach to model assumptions, calibration, version control, and quality assurance.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint for technical analysis and reporting.

• Good written and verbal communication skills in English and ability to work closely with signal operations, roadway design, and field teams.

What Desired Skills You’ll Bring:

• Experience modeling congested urban arterial networks in Saudi Arabia, the GCC, or other large metropolitan areas.

• Experience using Vissim, HCS, SIDRA, ArcGIS, or other traffic-analysis and visualization tools in addition to Synchro.

• Hands-on experience implementing or field-validating signal timing plans developed through Synchro analysis.

• Familiarity with adaptive signal systems, ATSPM data, probe travel-time data, and central traffic signal systems.

• Professional certification such as PTOE, PTP, or equivalent is an advantage.

• Arabic language skills are desirable but not required.

Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels no matter the race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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