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.
Find Bridge Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 14+ Bridge Engineer jobs
INTRODUCTION
GFT is seeking a Sr. Rail Bridge Engineer to join our Transportation Team in any of the following SoCAL offices: Santa Ana, Los Angeles, Irvine, or San Diego, CA! This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at one of these offices. Working on the Transportation team at GFT offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Bridge design has been a core strength of ours for over a century, ranging from concrete or steel freight and passenger rail bridges to complex highway and pedestrian bridges. Our staff's diversity enables us to deliver highly effective solutions across a broad spectrum of projects. You will have the opportunity to work on complex rail projects for Class I railroads, short lines, and transit agencies such as Merchant Bridge Replacement and Retrofit.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
You’ll join the 2023 AREMA Hay Award winning team! At GFT, we have established and continue to nurture a culture that is committed to providing quality services for our clients. In this capacity, you will be focused on structural design, rehabilitation, and inspection of bridges and other structures along with the preparation of load ratings, construction documents, specifications, and estimates. In addition, duties may include construction inspection services.
In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:
- Perform structural bridge designs utilizing current AREMA design standards.
- Document and organize design calculations following GFT’s Quality Management Plan.
- Perform detailed checking of calculations and design drawings produced by others.
- Responsible for accuracy of engineering design, reports, load ratings, and plans, quality presentation, thoroughness and follow-through, and efficient conformance to budgets, schedules, and company standards.
- Perform bridge inspections for railway bridges.
- Participate in non-design engineering activities such as construction inspection and field data collection.
- Lead design and project management efforts.
- Plan and lead project meetings.
- Update Senior Project Manager on changes in workload, project schedule, or scope.
- Ensure projects adhere to budgets and schedules.
- Perform QC or QA reviews.
- Mentor junior engineers and collaborate with other team members across varied disciplines to meet project deliverables.
- Develop and present proposals to clients in association with the Client Managers.
- Lead client relationship meetings as well as contribute to marketing and business development efforts.
- Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; developing professional networks; participating in professional societies.
- Willingness to travel the continental United States.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What You Will Bring To Our Firm
- Bachelor’s degree in civil/structural engineering with an emphasis in structures from an ABET-accredited university or college.
- A minimum of 10 years’ experience in design and/or management of rail or railroad focused projects.
- Registration as a licensed Professional Engineer.
- Structures design experience utilizing AREMA Manual for Railroad Engineering.
- Familiarity with Class I railroad bridge standards.
- Knowledge of Microstation and experience with structural engineering design drawings, specifications and cost estimates.
- Team oriented engineer with strong communication skills.
- Working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, etc.), and experience with engineering design packages such as MicroStation and other structural analysis software systems such as Bluebeam Revu, LEAP Bridge Concrete, LPILE, GROUP, RISA or CSiBridge.
- Able and willing to travel within the continental United States.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working directly with Class I railroads.
- Master’s degree in civil/structural engineering with an emphasis in structures from an ABET-accredited university or college.
- AREMA membership and active participation on Committees 7, 8, 9, 10 or 15.
COMPENSATION
The salary range for this role is $147,000 - $180,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.
FEATURED BENEFITS
- Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
- Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
- Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
- Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
- Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
- Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
- Incentive compensation for eligible positions.
Company Overview
At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more. Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.
GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law. Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property of GFT.
LOCATION
Location: Santa Ana, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Irvine, CA or San Diego, CA
CORE BUSINESS HOURS
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Full-Time
SALARY RANGE
$147,000 - $180,000 Salary dependent upon experience and geographic location
GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.
INTRODUCTION
GFT is seeking a Sr. Rail Bridge Engineer to join our Transportation Team in any of the following SoCAL offices: Santa Ana, Los Angeles, Irvine, or San Diego, CA! This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at one of these offices. Working on the Transportation team at GFT offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Bridge design has been a core strength of ours for over a century, ranging from concrete or steel freight and passenger rail bridges to complex highway and pedestrian bridges. Our staff's diversity enables us to deliver highly effective solutions across a broad spectrum of projects. You will have the opportunity to work on complex rail projects for Class I railroads, short lines, and transit agencies such as Merchant Bridge Replacement and Retrofit.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
You’ll join the 2023 AREMA Hay Award winning team! At GFT, we have established and continue to nurture a culture that is committed to providing quality services for our clients. In this capacity, you will be focused on structural design, rehabilitation, and inspection of bridges and other structures along with the preparation of load ratings, construction documents, specifications, and estimates. In addition, duties may include construction inspection services.
In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:
- Perform structural bridge designs utilizing current AREMA design standards.
- Document and organize design calculations following GFT’s Quality Management Plan.
- Perform detailed checking of calculations and design drawings produced by others.
- Responsible for accuracy of engineering design, reports, load ratings, and plans, quality presentation, thoroughness and follow-through, and efficient conformance to budgets, schedules, and company standards.
- Perform bridge inspections for railway bridges.
- Participate in non-design engineering activities such as construction inspection and field data collection.
- Lead design and project management efforts.
- Plan and lead project meetings.
- Update Senior Project Manager on changes in workload, project schedule, or scope.
- Ensure projects adhere to budgets and schedules.
- Perform QC or QA reviews.
- Mentor junior engineers and collaborate with other team members across varied disciplines to meet project deliverables.
- Develop and present proposals to clients in association with the Client Managers.
- Lead client relationship meetings as well as contribute to marketing and business development efforts.
- Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; developing professional networks; participating in professional societies.
- Willingness to travel the continental United States.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What You Will Bring To Our Firm
- Bachelor’s degree in civil/structural engineering with an emphasis in structures from an ABET-accredited university or college.
- A minimum of 10 years’ experience in design and/or management of rail or railroad focused projects.
- Registration as a licensed Professional Engineer.
- Structures design experience utilizing AREMA Manual for Railroad Engineering.
- Familiarity with Class I railroad bridge standards.
- Knowledge of Microstation and experience with structural engineering design drawings, specifications and cost estimates.
- Team oriented engineer with strong communication skills.
- Working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, etc.), and experience with engineering design packages such as MicroStation and other structural analysis software systems such as Bluebeam Revu, LEAP Bridge Concrete, LPILE, GROUP, RISA or CSiBridge.
- Able and willing to travel within the continental United States.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working directly with Class I railroads.
- Master’s degree in civil/structural engineering with an emphasis in structures from an ABET-accredited university or college.
- AREMA membership and active participation on Committees 7, 8, 9, 10 or 15.
COMPENSATION
The salary range for this role is $147,000 - $180,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.
FEATURED BENEFITS
- Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
- Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
- Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
- Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
- Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
- Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
- Incentive compensation for eligible positions.
Company Overview
At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more. Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.
GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law. Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property of GFT.
LOCATION
Location: Santa Ana, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Irvine, CA or San Diego, CA
CORE BUSINESS HOURS
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Full-Time
SALARY RANGE
$147,000 - $180,000 Salary dependent upon experience and geographic location
GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.
See All 14 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
- Gft4
- HDR4
- KPFF Consulting Engineers3
- Kleinfelder2
- Stripe1
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services13
- Healthcare & Medical Services3
- Banking & Financial Services1
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 Gft, HDR, and KPFF Consulting Engineers, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 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?
Los Angeles, San Diego, and Irvine 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 71% of bridge engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 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 14 Bridge Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Bridge Engineer Jobs