Civil Designer Jobs in California

Civil Designer jobs in California are highly active, with strong demand across transportation infrastructure, water resources, land development, and public works projects at every level from entry-level drafter to senior project designer. The largest hiring concentrations are in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Sacramento region, where firms like AECOM, WSP, and Kimley-Horn maintain significant California operations. The most sought-after specialties include roadway and highway design, grading and drainage, and utility corridor planning. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles14
Top employerMcCarthy Building
Top cityLos Angeles, CA
Cities hiring12
Work type67% Hybrid
Top industryConsulting

Showing 5 of 14+ Civil Designer jobs

Koch
Civil Designer - Earthwork Focused
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Koch
Added 3d ago
Civil Designer - Earthwork Focused
Koch
Pleasanton, California
Business Operations
Customer Service
Customer Support
Sales
$45 - $55/hr
Hybrid
10,000+

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Kimley-Horn
Civil Designer
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Kimley-Horn
Added 6d ago
Civil Designer
Kimley-Horn
Palm Desert, California
Civil & Structural Engineering
Drafting & CAD
Engineering (Non-Software)
$85k - $105k/yr
High school diploma or GED
5,001-10,000

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KPFF Consulting Engineers
Civil Designer (1–3 Years Experience)
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KPFF Consulting Engineers
Added 2w ago
Civil Designer (1–3 Years Experience)
KPFF Consulting Engineers
Newport Beach, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$80k - $88k/yr
Bachelor's degree
1,001-5,000

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Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Civil Engineering Designer II
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Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Added 2w ago
Civil Engineering Designer II
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Sacramento, California
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
$48.65 - $59.27/hr
High school diploma or GED
1,001-5,000

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R
Civil Designer
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R
Added 2w ago
Civil Designer
RIMEPRO INC
Santa Clarita, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
Specialized Engineering
$100k - $125k/yr
Bachelor's degree

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See All 14 Civil Designer Jobs in California

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Civil Designer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Los Angeles
2 jobs
Newport Beach
2 jobs
Orange
1 job
Anaheim
1 job
Carlsbad
1 job
Escondido
1 job
San Diego
1 job
Long Beach
1 job
Pleasanton
1 job

Civil Designer Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

McCarthy Building
McCarthy Building3 open roles
Kimley-Horn
Kimley-Horn2 open roles
KPFF Consulting Engineers
KPFF Consulting Engineers2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Consulting & Professional Services

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in civil designer jobs across California.

  • Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification from the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists preferred or required
  • Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D or Bentley MicroStation for design and drafting work
  • Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, civil engineering technology, or a closely related field
  • Experience producing construction documents including grading plans, utility layouts, and roadway alignments
  • Familiarity with California Department of Transportation Caltrans standards, manuals, and design guidelines
  • Strong collaboration skills for coordinating with project engineers, surveyors, and local California agency reviewers

Civil Designer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a civil designer in California?

Most civil designers in California hold a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or civil engineering technology and pursue Engineer-in-Training certification through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Employers across the state prioritize candidates familiar with Caltrans standards and local agency requirements. Building proficiency in Civil 3D and assembling a portfolio of design work, even from academic projects, strengthens a candidate's position considerably.

How much do civil designers make in California?

Civil designers in California earn a median of about $83,490 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $54,690 for the lowest 10% to over $111,150 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire civil designers in California?

Employers hiring civil designers in California right now include McCarthy Building, Kimley-Horn, and KPFF Consulting Engineers, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's large public infrastructure programs and active land development market keep demand from both engineering consulting firms and public agencies consistently strong throughout the state.

Which California cities have the most civil designer jobs?

Los Angeles, Newport Beach, and Orange have the most civil designer openings in California. Los Angeles draws volume from major transportation and utility corridor projects, San Diego from defense-adjacent infrastructure and coastal development, and Sacramento from proximity to Caltrans headquarters and state agency capital improvement programs, which funnel work to firms throughout the region.

Are there remote civil designer jobs in California?

Yes, but they're relatively limited. About 67% of civil designer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, since much of the work involves site-specific design requiring coordination with field crews and local agencies. The tasks most suited to remote arrangements are production drafting, plan checking, and design calculations that don't require daily on-site presence.

How can I get hired as a civil designer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying to engineering consulting firms that hire designer-in-training or CAD technician roles, which serve as the standard on-ramp at firms like AECOM, Kimley-Horn, and regional California civil engineering practices. Completing an EIT designation, even before graduating, signals seriousness to California hiring managers. Lateral moves from survey technician or construction inspector roles are also common. A portfolio showing Civil 3D grading plans or roadway alignments, even from coursework, gives candidates without professional experience a concrete advantage.

Where can I find and apply to civil designer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to civil designer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 14 Civil Designer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Civil Designer Jobs