Civil Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
California is one of the top states for civil engineer visa sponsorship, driven by major infrastructure investment, housing construction, and transportation projects across Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Sacramento. Large employers like AECOM, Jacobs, and Caltrans regularly hire internationally, making California a strong market for internationally trained civil engineers.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
BKF is a multi-service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering and surveying services across California, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. With offices throughout California and the Portland area, BKF has served transportation, water resources, land development, government, and federal clients for over 110 years. At BKF, you'll find a unique opportunity to grow your career with intention. Our culture values professional autonomy, innovation, and meaningful collaboration across offices. We are proud to be recognized with the Great Place to Work certification for the second year in a row. We're seeking Project Engineer for our Sacramento, CA office. The ideal candidate will have a few years of experience and a strong technical foundation in Land Development civil design. This role involves applying standard engineering principles to a variety of projects, from small-scale developments to major infrastructure efforts. Candidates should be confident performing geometric calculations and design tasks with minimal supervision. This position also offers opportunities to professionally develop, mentor junior staff, and provide technical support throughout all project phases.
Responsibilities
- Design and coordination of site development projects for residential, commercial, mixed-use, and public works developments
- Preparation of grading and drainage plans in compliance with local and regional standards
- Design of utility systems including water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure
- Preparation of technical reports, master planning studies, and entitlement support documents
- Development of construction specifications, quantity takeoffs, and cost estimates
- Site layout planning including parking, access, and circulation design
- Integration of sustainable design elements such as low-impact development (LID) and green infrastructure
- Application of Federal, State, City, and County codes and permitting requirements
- Preparation of conceptual design studies and feasibility analyses
- Collaboration across departments and external stakeholders, including other consultants throughout the project lifecycle
REQUIREMENTS
- 3+ years of experience in Land Development working on site development and design of residential and/or commercial subdivisions, utility systems, roadways, and public works projects
- B.S. in Civil Engineering or a related field from an ABET-accredited program is required
- Must be proficient in AutoCAD Civil 3D
- EIT certification highly preferred (candidates with EIT will be prioritized)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners, including public agencies, consultants, and community stakeholders
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations.
WORK CONDITIONS
Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high-stress, fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required.
BENEFITS
- The typical base salary range for this position is $90,000.00 - $122,000.00, annualized depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is a salaried position, paid bi-weekly
- Competitive salaries, profit sharing, and 401k
- Generous paid time off packages
- 9 Paid Holidays
- Flexible schedules
- Education reimbursement, Paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations
- BKF offers competitive and award-winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here.
BKF Engineers provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. BKF Engineers does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF Engineers, BKF Engineers reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.
INTRODUCTION
BKF is a multi-service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering and surveying services across California, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. With offices throughout California and the Portland area, BKF has served transportation, water resources, land development, government, and federal clients for over 110 years. At BKF, you'll find a unique opportunity to grow your career with intention. Our culture values professional autonomy, innovation, and meaningful collaboration across offices. We are proud to be recognized with the Great Place to Work certification for the second year in a row. We're seeking Project Engineer for our Sacramento, CA office. The ideal candidate will have a few years of experience and a strong technical foundation in Land Development civil design. This role involves applying standard engineering principles to a variety of projects, from small-scale developments to major infrastructure efforts. Candidates should be confident performing geometric calculations and design tasks with minimal supervision. This position also offers opportunities to professionally develop, mentor junior staff, and provide technical support throughout all project phases.
Responsibilities
- Design and coordination of site development projects for residential, commercial, mixed-use, and public works developments
- Preparation of grading and drainage plans in compliance with local and regional standards
- Design of utility systems including water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure
- Preparation of technical reports, master planning studies, and entitlement support documents
- Development of construction specifications, quantity takeoffs, and cost estimates
- Site layout planning including parking, access, and circulation design
- Integration of sustainable design elements such as low-impact development (LID) and green infrastructure
- Application of Federal, State, City, and County codes and permitting requirements
- Preparation of conceptual design studies and feasibility analyses
- Collaboration across departments and external stakeholders, including other consultants throughout the project lifecycle
REQUIREMENTS
- 3+ years of experience in Land Development working on site development and design of residential and/or commercial subdivisions, utility systems, roadways, and public works projects
- B.S. in Civil Engineering or a related field from an ABET-accredited program is required
- Must be proficient in AutoCAD Civil 3D
- EIT certification highly preferred (candidates with EIT will be prioritized)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners, including public agencies, consultants, and community stakeholders
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations.
WORK CONDITIONS
Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high-stress, fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required.
BENEFITS
- The typical base salary range for this position is $90,000.00 - $122,000.00, annualized depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is a salaried position, paid bi-weekly
- Competitive salaries, profit sharing, and 401k
- Generous paid time off packages
- 9 Paid Holidays
- Flexible schedules
- Education reimbursement, Paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations
- BKF offers competitive and award-winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here.
BKF Engineers provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. BKF Engineers does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF Engineers, BKF Engineers reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.
Civil Engineer Job Roles in California
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Search Civil Engineer Jobs in CaliforniaCivil Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for civil engineers in California?
Engineering and construction firms are the most active sponsors for civil engineers in California. Companies like AECOM, Jacobs, WSP, Parsons, and HDR have consistent histories of H-1B visa sponsorship, particularly for structural, transportation, and geotechnical roles. Public agencies such as Caltrans and large municipal utilities also hire internationally, though sponsorship practices vary by agency and position type.
Which visa types are most common for civil engineer roles in California?
The H-1B is the most common visa for civil engineers in California, as most roles in structural, geotechnical, transportation, and water resources engineering qualify as specialty occupations requiring a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific engineering field. The O-1A is an option for engineers with exceptional recognition. Canadians and Mexicans may also qualify under the TN visa category, which lists civil engineers explicitly as an eligible occupation.
Which cities in California have the most civil engineer sponsorship jobs?
Los Angeles and the broader Southern California region generate the highest volume of civil engineering roles, driven by transportation megaprojects, stormwater infrastructure, and ongoing housing development. San Francisco and the Bay Area are strong for environmental and water resources engineering. San Diego has active demand tied to military infrastructure and coastal projects. Sacramento sees consistent hiring from state agencies and regional transportation authorities.
How to find civil engineer visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it straightforward to browse civil engineer roles in California without sifting through positions that don't offer sponsorship. You can search by location and role to surface openings from infrastructure firms, government contractors, and engineering consultancies actively hiring international candidates across Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Sacramento.
Are there any California-specific considerations for civil engineers seeking visa sponsorship?
California requires civil engineers to hold a Professional Engineer (PE) license for certain project types, particularly those involving public infrastructure. While a PE license is not always required at the entry level, employers often prefer or require it for senior roles, which can affect sponsorship eligibility assessments. California's prevailing wage requirements under H-1B rules also apply, and the state's high cost of living means employers typically post compensation competitive with Department of Labor wage level expectations.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored civil engineer jobs in California?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.