Bridge Engineer Jobs in California
Bridge engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in transportation infrastructure, public works, and seismic retrofit programs across entry-level design roles through senior project management. Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco are the largest hiring markets, anchored by firms like AECOM, WSP, and Caltrans, which maintain a sustained California presence across both public and private work. Seismic assessment, prestressed concrete design, and complex interchange work are the most in-demand specialties in the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 19+ Bridge Engineer jobs
- Provide engineering support for the construction, inspection, and acceptance of railroad bridges, guideways, retaining structures, culverts, and related structural components
- Review bridge design plans, calculations, shop drawings, working drawings, Requests for Information (RFIs), submittals, and construction work plans for technical accuracy and compliance with contract requirements
- Evaluate contractor proposals, design modifications, value engineering proposals, and field design changes while ensuring compliance with project specifications and applicable engineering standards
- Coordinate with Resident Engineers, Construction Managers, Design Engineers of Record, specialty consultants, and contractors to resolve structural engineering issues encountered during construction
- Review structural concrete placement plans, reinforcing steel details, post-tensioning operations, structural steel fabrication and erection procedures, bearings, expansion joints, falsework, shoring, and temporary works
- Perform engineering analyses and technical evaluations to support field decisions involving bridge construction sequencing, structural integrity, constructability, and design deviations
- Verify that bridge construction activities comply with approved plans, specifications, quality assurance requirements, and applicable railroad and transportation design standards
- Support construction claims evaluations by providing technical documentation, engineering analyses, and review of contractor change requests
- Participate in design review meetings, constructability reviews, risk assessments, value engineering workshops, and interdisciplinary coordination meetings
- Review inspection reports, material testing results, non-conformance reports (NCRs), and corrective action plans to ensure timely resolution of quality issues
- Assist in preparing technical memoranda, engineering reports, field recommendations, and final acceptance documentation
- Perform other bridge engineering duties as assigned in support of the the client's construction program
- Supports the compliance with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire), environmental regulations, and Authority safety requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering
- Minimum of five (5) years of relevant bridge design, bridge construction engineering, or structural engineering experience; or in lieu of a degree, nine (9) years of progressively responsible bridge engineering or structural engineering experience
- Knowledge of reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, structural steel, foundation systems, seismic design principles, and railroad bridge construction methods.
- Experience interpreting engineering plans, structural calculations, contract specifications, and construction documents
- Strong analytical, technical writing, and problem-solving skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and engineering software used for structural analysis and design
- Ability to communicate effectively with multidisciplinary engineering and construction teams
- Current California Professional Engineer (PE) license in Civil Engineering, or the ability to obtain California registration through reciprocity within six (6) months of hire
- Seven (7) or more years of experience supporting railroad, bridge, highway, transit, or other major transportation infrastructure projects
- Experience with California High-Speed Rail, commuter rail, freight rail, or other largescale rail infrastructure construction programs
- Knowledge of AREMA, AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, Caltrans Bridge Design and Construction Manuals, and applicable California building codes
- Experience reviewing falsework, shoring, erection engineering, temporary works, and construction staging plans
- Familiarity with finite element analysis software, bridge design software, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) coordination tools
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety certification
- Experience using construction management and document control platforms such as Primavera Unifier, Procore, Bluebeam Revu, or similar systems
- Provide engineering support for the construction, inspection, and acceptance of railroad bridges, guideways, retaining structures, culverts, and related structural components
- Review bridge design plans, calculations, shop drawings, working drawings, Requests for Information (RFIs), submittals, and construction work plans for technical accuracy and compliance with contract requirements
- Evaluate contractor proposals, design modifications, value engineering proposals, and field design changes while ensuring compliance with project specifications and applicable engineering standards
- Coordinate with Resident Engineers, Construction Managers, Design Engineers of Record, specialty consultants, and contractors to resolve structural engineering issues encountered during construction
- Review structural concrete placement plans, reinforcing steel details, post-tensioning operations, structural steel fabrication and erection procedures, bearings, expansion joints, falsework, shoring, and temporary works
- Perform engineering analyses and technical evaluations to support field decisions involving bridge construction sequencing, structural integrity, constructability, and design deviations
- Verify that bridge construction activities comply with approved plans, specifications, quality assurance requirements, and applicable railroad and transportation design standards
- Support construction claims evaluations by providing technical documentation, engineering analyses, and review of contractor change requests
- Participate in design review meetings, constructability reviews, risk assessments, value engineering workshops, and interdisciplinary coordination meetings
- Review inspection reports, material testing results, non-conformance reports (NCRs), and corrective action plans to ensure timely resolution of quality issues
- Assist in preparing technical memoranda, engineering reports, field recommendations, and final acceptance documentation
- Perform other bridge engineering duties as assigned in support of the the client's construction program
- Supports the compliance with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire), environmental regulations, and Authority safety requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering
- Minimum of five (5) years of relevant bridge design, bridge construction engineering, or structural engineering experience; or in lieu of a degree, nine (9) years of progressively responsible bridge engineering or structural engineering experience
- Knowledge of reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, structural steel, foundation systems, seismic design principles, and railroad bridge construction methods.
- Experience interpreting engineering plans, structural calculations, contract specifications, and construction documents
- Strong analytical, technical writing, and problem-solving skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and engineering software used for structural analysis and design
- Ability to communicate effectively with multidisciplinary engineering and construction teams
- Current California Professional Engineer (PE) license in Civil Engineering, or the ability to obtain California registration through reciprocity within six (6) months of hire
- Seven (7) or more years of experience supporting railroad, bridge, highway, transit, or other major transportation infrastructure projects
- Experience with California High-Speed Rail, commuter rail, freight rail, or other largescale rail infrastructure construction programs
- Knowledge of AREMA, AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, Caltrans Bridge Design and Construction Manuals, and applicable California building codes
- Experience reviewing falsework, shoring, erection engineering, temporary works, and construction staging plans
- Familiarity with finite element analysis software, bridge design software, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) coordination tools
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety certification
- Experience using construction management and document control platforms such as Primavera Unifier, Procore, Bluebeam Revu, or similar systems
See All 19 Bridge Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Bridge Engineer JobsBridge Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Bridge Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Construction & Real Estate
- Banking & Financial Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in bridge engineer jobs across California.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license issued or recognized by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
- Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a closely related structural engineering discipline
- Proficiency in bridge design software such as CSiBridge, LEAP Bridge, or similar structural analysis tools
- Familiarity with Caltrans standards, Bridge Design Specifications, and California project delivery processes
- Experience with seismic design principles and AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for coordinating with public agencies and project stakeholders
Bridge Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a bridge engineer in California?
Becoming a bridge engineer in California requires a bachelor's degree in civil or structural engineering, followed by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and accumulating qualifying experience before sitting for the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam administered through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Most California employers, including Caltrans and large consulting firms, expect candidates to be working toward or already holding a PE license, and familiarity with California-specific seismic and structural design standards gives applicants a strong edge.
How much do bridge engineers make in California?
Bridge engineers in California earn a median of about $122,500 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,980 for the lowest 10% to over $175,940 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire bridge engineers in California?
Employers hiring bridge engineers in California right now include Consor, GFT, and AECOM, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's large public infrastructure budget and active seismic retrofit program mean both state agencies and major engineering consultancies maintain consistent hiring pipelines throughout the year.
Which California cities have the most bridge engineer jobs?
Fresno, Rancho Cordova, and Orange have the most bridge engineer openings in California. Los Angeles and Sacramento dominate because of Caltrans district offices, major freeway and interchange projects, and large consulting firms based in those metros, while San Francisco's dense transit and seismic retrofit work draws additional demand for structural bridge specialists.
Are there remote bridge engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. About 67% of bridge engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the hands-on and site-coordination nature of most bridge work. The portions of the role most suited to remote arrangements are preliminary design, load analysis, and plan review tasks that don't require direct field or agency presence.
How can I get hired as a bridge engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to Caltrans's new graduate engineer program, which recruits civil engineering graduates into structured rotations across bridge design and project delivery. Large California-based consulting firms like AECOM and WSP also hire associate bridge engineers for plan production and design-support roles that don't require a PE license on day one. A completed Engineer-in-Training certification and a portfolio of relevant senior coursework or capstone projects in structural or seismic design strengthens any application considerably.
Where can I find and apply to bridge engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to bridge engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers actively hiring in the state. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly from the listing.
See All 19 Bridge Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Bridge Engineer Jobs