Structural Project Engineer Jobs in California
Structural Project Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with strong demand driven by the state's seismic retrofit mandates, large-scale infrastructure programs, and commercial development concentrated in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. Major employers with lasting California footprints include Jacobs Engineering, AECOM, and Thornton Tomasetti, all of which regularly hire across seniority levels from early-career associates through principal engineers. The most in-demand specialties are seismic design, bridge and transportation structures, and high-rise commercial framing. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 56+ Structural Project Engineer jobs
What You Will Do:
GFT is seeking a Engineer to join our Geotechnical, Dams, and Hydraulics Team in Northern California! This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance to the Roseville or Oakland Offices.
Joining the water resources team at GFT means contributing to innovative solutions for sustainable water management and infrastructure. Our team excels in dams and levees, advanced water and wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and conveyance, collection, and transmission. With a focus on integrating technology, sustainability, and compliance, we consider each civil/structural design project a chance to innovate and evolve to protect public health and enhance quality of life.
What you’ll be challenged to do:
As a Geotechnical, Dams, and Hydraulics Project Engineer, you will be responsible for design preparation, supporting integrated teams to satisfy client requirements, including preparation of civil and site improvement designs, calculations packages, construction drawings, and quantity and cost estimates. Our engineering team excels in tackling the most challenging civil/structural assignments to provide innovative solutions for dams, foundations, underground construction, earth structures, and water conveyance structures.
Clients and projects may be in any location in the Northern California region. Candidate must have the flexibility to travel within the region periodically to help serve GFT’s client base.
In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:
- Support design of civil infrastructure improvement projects including design of concrete and steel structures, foundation support, earth retaining structures, and infrastructure asset repairs.
- Assist with the preparation of technical reports/memoranda, specifications, quantities of materials, and cost estimates to meet scope, schedule, cost, and regulatory requirements.
- Perform preparation of calculations, , drawings, engineering reports, and submission packages.
- Coordinate with project managers, consultants, and owners in the design and development of public and private projects.
- Review shop drawings to determine conformance with the contract documents.
- Communicate with clients and construction personnel to implement appropriate designs and project solutions under supervision of project manager.
- Use of AutoCAD Civil 3D and civil engineering modeling programs.
- Follow company standards and templates for preparation of drawings, calculations, and reports.
- Actively engage multiple perspectives when solving problems, seek to learn from peers, and encourage reciprocal learning among team members.
- Field work including inspections of existing infrastructure and construction observation may comprise up to 30% of the position. This includes travel to client locations or project sites and may include overnight stays.
- Serve a project manager for small- to medium-sized projects or a task manager on larger, more complex projects.
Education | Experience:
What you will bring to our firm:
- Bachelor of Science degree in civil, geotechnical, engineering from an ABET accredited college or university.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license in California, or the ability to obtain PE license within 18 months.
- 8 + years' experience in civil, geotechnical, and/or structural design
- Willingness to tackle the unique engineering challenges related to aging infrastructure, with an understanding of civil/structural engineering principles, concepts, and practices applied to water conveyance and earth retention structures
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Proficiency in standard office software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Working knowledge of AutoCAD and Civil 3D.
- Experience with project proposals and presentations preferred
- Demonstrated task management experience including budget and schedule monitoring responsibilities is preferred.
Compensation:
The salary range for this role is $120,000 - $150,000. 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:
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 GFT.
GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.
Location: Roseville, CA; Oakland, CA
Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Employment Status: Full-Time
Applicants in the County of Los Angeles- Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
#LI-SS1
What You Will Do:
GFT is seeking a Engineer to join our Geotechnical, Dams, and Hydraulics Team in Northern California! This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance to the Roseville or Oakland Offices.
Joining the water resources team at GFT means contributing to innovative solutions for sustainable water management and infrastructure. Our team excels in dams and levees, advanced water and wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and conveyance, collection, and transmission. With a focus on integrating technology, sustainability, and compliance, we consider each civil/structural design project a chance to innovate and evolve to protect public health and enhance quality of life.
What you’ll be challenged to do:
As a Geotechnical, Dams, and Hydraulics Project Engineer, you will be responsible for design preparation, supporting integrated teams to satisfy client requirements, including preparation of civil and site improvement designs, calculations packages, construction drawings, and quantity and cost estimates. Our engineering team excels in tackling the most challenging civil/structural assignments to provide innovative solutions for dams, foundations, underground construction, earth structures, and water conveyance structures.
Clients and projects may be in any location in the Northern California region. Candidate must have the flexibility to travel within the region periodically to help serve GFT’s client base.
In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:
- Support design of civil infrastructure improvement projects including design of concrete and steel structures, foundation support, earth retaining structures, and infrastructure asset repairs.
- Assist with the preparation of technical reports/memoranda, specifications, quantities of materials, and cost estimates to meet scope, schedule, cost, and regulatory requirements.
- Perform preparation of calculations, , drawings, engineering reports, and submission packages.
- Coordinate with project managers, consultants, and owners in the design and development of public and private projects.
- Review shop drawings to determine conformance with the contract documents.
- Communicate with clients and construction personnel to implement appropriate designs and project solutions under supervision of project manager.
- Use of AutoCAD Civil 3D and civil engineering modeling programs.
- Follow company standards and templates for preparation of drawings, calculations, and reports.
- Actively engage multiple perspectives when solving problems, seek to learn from peers, and encourage reciprocal learning among team members.
- Field work including inspections of existing infrastructure and construction observation may comprise up to 30% of the position. This includes travel to client locations or project sites and may include overnight stays.
- Serve a project manager for small- to medium-sized projects or a task manager on larger, more complex projects.
Education | Experience:
What you will bring to our firm:
- Bachelor of Science degree in civil, geotechnical, engineering from an ABET accredited college or university.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license in California, or the ability to obtain PE license within 18 months.
- 8 + years' experience in civil, geotechnical, and/or structural design
- Willingness to tackle the unique engineering challenges related to aging infrastructure, with an understanding of civil/structural engineering principles, concepts, and practices applied to water conveyance and earth retention structures
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Proficiency in standard office software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Working knowledge of AutoCAD and Civil 3D.
- Experience with project proposals and presentations preferred
- Demonstrated task management experience including budget and schedule monitoring responsibilities is preferred.
Compensation:
The salary range for this role is $120,000 - $150,000. 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:
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 GFT.
GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.
Location: Roseville, CA; Oakland, CA
Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Employment Status: Full-Time
Applicants in the County of Los Angeles- Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
#LI-SS1
See All 56 Structural Project Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsStructural Project Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Structural Project Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services18
- Construction & Real Estate5
- Healthcare & Medical Services1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in structural project engineer jobs across California.
- Active California Professional Engineer license in civil or structural engineering required
- Bachelor's degree in civil or structural engineering from an accredited program
- Proficiency in structural analysis and design software such as ETABS, SAP2000, or RISA
- Experience with California Building Code and local seismic design requirements
- Ability to manage project deliverables, coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, and meet deadlines
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for client presentations and agency submittals
Structural Project Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a structural project engineer in California?
The concrete path in California runs through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists, which issues the Professional Engineer license required for independent structural practice. You begin by earning a bachelor's degree in civil or structural engineering from an ABET-accredited program, passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, accumulating qualifying experience under a licensed PE, and then passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam in the structural or civil discipline.
How much do structural project engineers make in California?
Structural project 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 structural project engineers in California?
Employers hiring structural project engineers in California right now include DCI Engineers, KPFF Consulting Engineers, and Holmes US, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's active seismic retrofit programs, infrastructure investment, and commercial development pipeline keep a broad mix of large national engineering firms and regional structural consultancies hiring consistently across the state.
Which California cities have the most structural project engineer jobs?
Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego have the most structural project engineer openings in California. Los Angeles and San Francisco anchor the market because of their volume of high-rise construction, seismic upgrade projects, and large regional offices of national engineering firms, while San Diego's defense infrastructure and life sciences campus development sustain its own consistent demand.
Are there remote structural project engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Structural project engineering is heavily field-dependent, requiring site visits, coordination with contractors, and hands-on plan review, which limits full remote arrangements. About 55% of structural project engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those postings tend to cover the design and analysis phases of a project rather than construction administration or site observation.
How can I get hired as a structural project engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an associate or junior structural engineer role at a California-based consulting firm while working toward your Professional Engineer license. Large firms like AECOM, Jacobs, and Thornton Tomasetti run new-graduate programs that pair early-career engineers with licensed mentors. A completed Fundamentals of Engineering certificate, a strong portfolio of university design projects emphasizing seismic analysis, and internship experience with a California structural consultancy give candidates a concrete edge in a competitive field.
Where can I find and apply to structural project engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to structural project engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across consulting firms, infrastructure agencies, and commercial developers. Search the listings for roles that match your experience level and specialty, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 56 Structural Project Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Jobs