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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Showing 5 of 13+ Civil Designer jobs
Civil Engineer Designer | Transportation
Own Your Future! Psomas is 100% employee-owned, creating a culture of shared accountability, stewardship, and long-term thinking. With no outside shareholders, decisions are guided by what's best for our people, our clients, and the communities we serve. As a Civil Engineer Designer, you won't just help design projects-you'll be an owner contributing to the firm's sustained success and legacy.
As our Civil Engineer Designer- (Engineer in Training) for our Transportation team in Roseville, CA, you won't just contribute to projects - you'll be an owner helping shape the firm's continued success and legacy.
The Psomas Advantage:
- Shared Success: 100% company-paid ESOP plus a 401(k) with immediate company match.
- Retirement Benefits: Company-funded ESOP + 401(k) with immediate match
- People First Culture: We value diverse perspectives, collaborative leadership, and a shared commitment to technical excellence and people development.
- Hybrid Flexibility: A consistent 3/2 hybrid schedule that supports both collaboration and focused work (minimum 3 days in office per week)
- Career Growth: Structured career pathing, leadership development, and internal coaching designed to support long-term growth into senior leadership.
- Meaningful Work: Community-impact projects plus opportunities to grow your technical expertise.
What You'll Do
As our Civil Engineer Designer, you will support the design and delivery of a variety of transportation projects including active transportation, transit, and roadway/highway improvements for public and private clients. You will contribute to technical design, analysis, and coordination efforts while working closely with a dynamic team of experienced and emerging professionals.
- Transportation Design Development: Develop and prepare detailed transportation design plans, including roadway geometry, intersections, grading, and alignments using CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, Civil 3D).
- Engineering Analysis & Calculations: Perform engineering calculations and analyses related to transportation systems, including traffic flow, pavement design, drainage impacts, and safety standards.
- Standards & Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all designs comply with local, state, and federal transportation standards, codes, and specifications (e.g., AASHTO, Caltrans where applicable).
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with project managers, senior engineers, survey teams, and government agencies to support project development from concept through construction.
- Plan Review & Documentation Updates: Review and revise engineering drawings, technical reports, and construction documents based on feedback, site conditions, and regulatory requirements
Required Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or related field
- Experience: Minimum 2 years of experience in civil engineering design with a focus on transportation projects.
- Experience with roadway/highway design, roadway widenings, interchange modifications, and/or bicycle and pedestrian facilities
- Familiarity with AASHTO, Caltrans, and local agency standards, procedures, and regulatory requirements
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite
- Working knowledge of AutoCAD
- Strong organizational, communication, and teamwork skills
Preferred:
- NCEES FE (E.I.T.) Certification
- Experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation, and OpenRoads
- Exposure to drainage, water quality design, and utility coordination
- Experience supporting public agency clients such as cities, counties, Caltrans, or transit agencies
Compensation & Benefits:
- Salary: $36.00- 50.00/hourly (commensurate with experience)
- Incentives: Discretionary bonus and recognition programs
- Time Off: 3 weeks PTO plus 8 paid holidays
- Total Rewards: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family, along with employee ownership and retirement benefits
Our Hiring Approach: Our recruiting team reviews every application personally and will keep you informed throughout the process. If your background aligns with what we need, we'll reach out to discuss next steps.
Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Civil Engineer Designer | Transportation
Own Your Future! Psomas is 100% employee-owned, creating a culture of shared accountability, stewardship, and long-term thinking. With no outside shareholders, decisions are guided by what's best for our people, our clients, and the communities we serve. As a Civil Engineer Designer, you won't just help design projects-you'll be an owner contributing to the firm's sustained success and legacy.
As our Civil Engineer Designer- (Engineer in Training) for our Transportation team in Roseville, CA, you won't just contribute to projects - you'll be an owner helping shape the firm's continued success and legacy.
The Psomas Advantage:
- Shared Success: 100% company-paid ESOP plus a 401(k) with immediate company match.
- Retirement Benefits: Company-funded ESOP + 401(k) with immediate match
- People First Culture: We value diverse perspectives, collaborative leadership, and a shared commitment to technical excellence and people development.
- Hybrid Flexibility: A consistent 3/2 hybrid schedule that supports both collaboration and focused work (minimum 3 days in office per week)
- Career Growth: Structured career pathing, leadership development, and internal coaching designed to support long-term growth into senior leadership.
- Meaningful Work: Community-impact projects plus opportunities to grow your technical expertise.
What You'll Do
As our Civil Engineer Designer, you will support the design and delivery of a variety of transportation projects including active transportation, transit, and roadway/highway improvements for public and private clients. You will contribute to technical design, analysis, and coordination efforts while working closely with a dynamic team of experienced and emerging professionals.
- Transportation Design Development: Develop and prepare detailed transportation design plans, including roadway geometry, intersections, grading, and alignments using CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, Civil 3D).
- Engineering Analysis & Calculations: Perform engineering calculations and analyses related to transportation systems, including traffic flow, pavement design, drainage impacts, and safety standards.
- Standards & Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all designs comply with local, state, and federal transportation standards, codes, and specifications (e.g., AASHTO, Caltrans where applicable).
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with project managers, senior engineers, survey teams, and government agencies to support project development from concept through construction.
- Plan Review & Documentation Updates: Review and revise engineering drawings, technical reports, and construction documents based on feedback, site conditions, and regulatory requirements
Required Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or related field
- Experience: Minimum 2 years of experience in civil engineering design with a focus on transportation projects.
- Experience with roadway/highway design, roadway widenings, interchange modifications, and/or bicycle and pedestrian facilities
- Familiarity with AASHTO, Caltrans, and local agency standards, procedures, and regulatory requirements
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite
- Working knowledge of AutoCAD
- Strong organizational, communication, and teamwork skills
Preferred:
- NCEES FE (E.I.T.) Certification
- Experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation, and OpenRoads
- Exposure to drainage, water quality design, and utility coordination
- Experience supporting public agency clients such as cities, counties, Caltrans, or transit agencies
Compensation & Benefits:
- Salary: $36.00- 50.00/hourly (commensurate with experience)
- Incentives: Discretionary bonus and recognition programs
- Time Off: 3 weeks PTO plus 8 paid holidays
- Total Rewards: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family, along with employee ownership and retirement benefits
Our Hiring Approach: Our recruiting team reviews every application personally and will keep you informed throughout the process. If your background aligns with what we need, we'll reach out to discuss next steps.
Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.
See All 13 Civil Designer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Civil Designer JobsCivil Designer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Civil Designer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
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, Core States, and KPFF Consulting Engineers, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 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?
Roseville, San Diego, and Los Angeles 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 60% of civil designer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 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 13 Civil Designer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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