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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LOCATION
San Francisco, California, United States
Los Angeles, California, United States
INTRODUCTION
Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world. At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective where we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas. You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve. Arup is proud to have been named ENR California’s 2024 Design Firm of the Year.
Our culture is energetic, collaborative, and open. We value self-motivated and driven people who have a positive impact on those around them. Share your passion and experience in a global culture that believes your potential to achieve is endless.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Our West geography is looking for an experienced Senior Civil Engineer who is skilled in developing hydrology & hydraulic (H&H) models to play a vital role on a variety of exciting site development and coastal resiliency projects. This position is based in San Francisco or Los Angeles.
You’ll love this position if:
- You want the freedom to push boundaries and the space to explore your career as you take responsibility for helping us shape a better world. Arup still follows the business principles our founder, Ove Arup, set out in his Key Speech.
- You desire a high degree of autonomy and responsibility.
- You enjoy working directly with clients and project teams across the Americas and beyond.
- You thrive in a truly multi-disciplinary environment, with an awareness of the interconnectedness of your decisions on other disciplines.
- You see yourself as an emerging leader in this field.
The Opportunity:
- Lead development of H&H models to inform a variety of project types including coastal resilience planning and design, drainage infrastructure for site development projects, and flood risk assessments.
- Lead the design of utilities, roadways, drainage, green infrastructure and other key civil elements for a variety of site development projects throughout the country.
- Serve as civil technical lead on site due diligence and master planning projects for regional and global hyperscale clients, including test fit design, grading analysis, and drainage.
- Work with the local agencies to understand their land use and permit processes.
- Coordinate with associated disciplines including SMEP, architecture and landscape architecture, geotechnical engineering, transportation planning, urban planning, environmental engineering, and cost engineering.
- Perform construction phase engineering support and site supervision.
- Develop and deepen relationships with existing and potential clients and project collaborators.
- Mentor team members and nurture their professional development.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Is this role right for you?
- Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering; Master’s degree preferred.
- Professional Engineering license preferred.
- 6+ years of experience in civil engineering/site development.
- Strong knowledge of core civil engineering fundamentals such as hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, low impact development, 3-D utility design, grading and earthwork, roadway and geometric alignments, and accessibility standards.
- Highly proficient with H&H modeling software such as InfoWorks-ICM, HEC-HMS and other analysis software.
- Highly proficient with AutoCAD Civil 3D and other civil engineering design and analysis software.
- Experience coordinating project delivery and interfacing with project owners, contractors, and outside consultants.
- A commitment to sustainable design practices.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with proven ability to build consensus among clients and teammates alike.
NOTABLE CURRENT CLIENTS
- Caltrans Climate Resilient Corridor Study
- City of South San Francisco Shoreline Protection Plan
- Major (confidential) hyperscale data center projects across North America
- California High Speed Rail Stations
Please note that all applicants must apply directly via the job portal. If this role is not quite what you are looking for, but you are interested in other opportunities for a future with purpose, please sign up to our Talent Community where you will be kept up to date with roles suitable for you to shape a better world.
THE BENEFITS – WHAT WE OFFER YOU
At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognizes the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.
We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.
Benefits that Work - At Arup, we have a comprehensive and valuable benefits program that works for our employees and their families while keeping costs low. These benefits provide health and welfare security for you as well as paid time off for rest and renewal. As a member of Arup, everyone shares in our success through a global profit share scheme (payments are dependent on the firm’s financial performance). Our Global Profit Share Plan (paid bi-annually) provides an opportunity for you to share in the success of the Firm. As a valued employee of Arup, you can also choose to participate in our 401(k) plan with up to 10% company match to help you save for your future.
Flexible Working - We believe that flexible arrangements create a more inclusive way of working that supports our diversity and the wellbeing of our people. Options for alternative schedules and the ability to work outside of the office for a portion of your workweek are available.
HIRING RANGE
The good faith base salary hiring range for this job if performed in San Francisco is $120,400 to $145,000 per year. This range is commensurate with experience, educational background, and skill level. Benefits are not included in the base salary. Please note hiring ranges for candidates performing work outside of San Francisco will differ.
LIFE AT ARUP – DIFFERENT PEOPLE, SHARED VALUES
Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.
Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference.
OUR APPLICATION PROCESS
We will be reviewing our candidates for this position on a rolling basis. Once you have applied you will be evaluated and potentially moved on to the next round, at which point a member of the talent resourcing team will reach out to you directly.
Arup is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, spouse of protected veteran, or disability.
Stay safe online. Recruitment fraud is on the rise, and Arup’s name, logo, and branding have been used in fraudulent job advertisements. Arup will never ask for bank information as part of our recruitment process.
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.