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 roles32+
Top employerKPFF Consulting Engineers
Top cityLos Angeles, CA
Cities hiring15
Work type63% On-site
Top industryConsulting

Showing 5 of 32+ Civil Designer jobs

Kleinfelder
Senior Mechanical / Civil Designer
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Kleinfelder
Added 1w ago
Senior Mechanical / Civil Designer
Kleinfelder
San Diego, California
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Civil & Structural Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Civil Engineering
$63k - $105k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Stantec
Civil Designer
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Stantec
Added 2mo ago
Civil Designer
Stantec
San Diego, California
Civil & Structural Engineering
Specialized Engineering
Civil Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$85k - $132k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Stantec
Civil Designer
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Stantec
Added 6mo ago
Civil Designer
Stantec
Sacramento, California
Civil & Structural Engineering
Specialized Engineering
Civil Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
On-Site
Bachelor's

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E2 Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Civil/Structural Designer
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E2 Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Added 1w ago
Civil/Structural Designer
E2 Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Pasadena, California
Specialized Engineering
Civil & Structural Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Civil Engineering
Structural Engineering
$35 - $50/hr
On-Site
High School
501-1,000

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Pse Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Modeling/Drafting - Civil CAD Designer (Civil 3D)
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Pse Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Added 3w ago
Modeling/Drafting - Civil CAD Designer (Civil 3D)
Pse Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Sacramento, California
Specialized Engineering
Civil & Structural Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Civil Engineering
Drafting & CAD
On-Site
Associate's

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See All 32 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
8 jobs
San Diego
5 jobs
Irvine
3 jobs
San Francisco
3 jobs
Rancho Cordova
2 jobs
Sacramento
2 jobs
Concord
1 jobs
Emeryville
1 jobs
Long Beach
1 jobs

Civil Designer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • KPFF Consulting Engineers
    KPFF Consulting Engineers8
  • HAZEN AND SAWYER
    HAZEN AND SAWYER5
  • Pse Consulting Engineers
    Pse Consulting Engineers4
  • Stantec
    Stantec3
  • GEI Consultants
    GEI Consultants2

Top Industries Hiring

  • Consulting & Professional Services27
  • Construction & Real Estate2
  • Electronics & Hardware1

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 KPFF Consulting Engineers, HAZEN AND SAWYER, and Pse Consulting Engineers, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 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, San Diego, and Irvine 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 38% of civil designer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 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 32 Civil Designer Jobs in California

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

Find Civil Designer Jobs