Assistant Engineer – Civil Land Development
Position Summary
We are seeking an Assistant Engineer to support our civil engineering and land development department with the preparation of construction documents, technical calculations, agency submittals, and project coordination for private development, municipal infrastructure, commercial site improvements, subdivisions, roadway improvements, grading and drainage, utility design, and stormwater-related projects.
This position is ideal for an entry-level to early-career civil engineer who wants hands-on experience in real-world site design, plan production, permitting, and construction support. The Assistant Engineer will work under the direction of a licensed Civil Engineer and Project Manager while developing technical design skills, Civil 3D proficiency, agency coordination experience, and a strong understanding of Central Valley land development practices.
Primary Responsibilities
The Assistant Engineer will assist with the preparation, design, and coordination of civil engineering plans and supporting documents, including:
- Site grading and drainage plans
- Storm drain, retention, detention, and stormwater conveyance design
- Sanitary sewer and domestic water improvement plans
- Parking lot, driveway, access, and circulation layout
- ADA path of travel, curb ramp, parking, and accessibility coordination
- Fire access lane, hammerhead, and emergency vehicle access coordination
- Roadway, frontage improvement, and encroachment permit plans
- Utility service plans and coordination with public agencies and utility providers
- Earthwork quantity calculations and surface comparisons
- Hydrology and hydraulic calculations for stormwater facilities, swales, inlets, pipes, and basins
- Stormwater quality and MS4/LID compliance support
- Construction cost estimates and quantity takeoffs
- Technical exhibits, feasibility studies, and due diligence exhibits
- Lot line adjustment, parcel map, certificate of compliance, and property exhibit support
- CLOMR/LOMR and floodplain-related support documents, as needed
- Construction phase support, including RFIs, submittal review assistance, field observation notes, and plan revisions
Civil 3D / Drafting Responsibilities
The Assistant Engineer will be expected to work directly in AutoCAD Civil 3D to support design and plan production, including:
- Creating and editing surfaces from survey data, points, breaklines, and field information
- Preparing alignments, profiles, pipe networks, grading objects, corridors, and plan sheets
- Drafting improvement plans, detail sheets, exhibits, and construction notes
- Reviewing survey base files, boundaries, easements, rights-of-way, and record information for design consistency
- Preparing clean, organized drawings that follow company CAD standards
- Coordinating with surveyors, drafters, engineers, and project managers to resolve design and plan production issues
Agency Coordination and Permitting Support
This position will assist with project submittals and responses to public agencies, including cities, counties, utility districts, fire departments, flood control agencies, and other reviewing authorities. Typical tasks may include:
- Preparing plan check response letters
- Tracking agency comments and required revisions
- Researching municipal standards, standard drawings, zoning requirements, development standards, and permit requirements
- Assisting with encroachment permits, grading permits, building permit support, utility applications, and stormwater compliance documents
- Coordinating with agency staff under the direction of the Project Manager
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or closely related field
- 0–4 years of civil engineering, land development, public works, or site design experience
- Basic understanding of grading, drainage, utilities, roadway design, and construction documents
- Ability to read and interpret civil plans, survey information, topographic maps, agency standards, and technical reports
- Proficiency or working knowledge of AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and follow direction from engineers and project managers
- Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn practical design standards
- EIT certification preferred, or ability to obtain EIT certification within 6 months
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Central Valley jurisdictions, including city and county improvement standards
- Experience preparing grading, drainage, utility, and site improvement plans
- Familiarity with hydrology and hydraulic design concepts
- Familiarity with ADA accessibility requirements, fire access requirements, stormwater design, and utility coordination
- Experience with Bluebeam, Microsoft Office, Excel, and project coordination tools
- Experience with HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, HydroCAD, StormCAD, SSA, ArcGIS, or similar software is a plus
- Construction field experience, inspection exposure, or survey coordination experience is a plus
Desired Characteristics
The ideal candidate is someone who:
- Wants to become a well-rounded civil engineer, not just a drafter
- Takes ownership of assignments and follows through on details
- Is comfortable asking questions and learning from corrections
- Can balance technical accuracy with project deadlines
- Understands that civil engineering design must work in the field, not just on paper
- Is interested in land development, stormwater, utilities, grading, construction, and agency permitting
- Has a strong work ethic and a practical problem-solving mindset
Typical Project Types
The Assistant Engineer may work on a variety of projects, including:
- Commercial and industrial site development
- Medical, office, and institutional site improvements
- Residential subdivisions and parcel development
- Parking lot reconstruction and accessibility upgrades
- Roadway and frontage improvements
- Utility extensions and service connections
- Stormwater basins, swales, inlets, and drainage systems
- Floodplain and stormwater compliance projects
- Encroachment permit and public improvement projects
- Property exhibits, lot line adjustments, and development feasibility studies
Position Growth
This role is intended to develop into a Project Engineer position over time. The Assistant Engineer will gain experience in civil design, plan production, agency coordination, technical calculations, client communication, and construction support while working under the supervision of a licensed Civil Engineer.
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation will be based on experience, technical ability, and qualifications.
Benefits may include:
- Competitive pay (Starting pay range: $28-$30/hour)
- Paid time off
- Health benefits
- Retirement plan
- Paid holidays
- Professional development support
- EIT/PE exam support
- Training in Civil 3D, design standards, and project management practices
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should submit a resume and a brief cover letter describing their civil engineering experience, Civil 3D experience, and interest in land development design.
Applicants with examples of civil design work, plan production experience, school projects, internships, or relevant technical experience are encouraged to include them with their application.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $28.00 - $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Compensation Package:
Work Location: In person
