Civil Designer

About the position

The Civil Designer supports practical, constructible civil and environmental design solutions for infrastructure projects. Based in the Houston office, this role works with engineers, technical specialists, project managers, survey resources and construction teams to translate field information, engineering direction and project requirements into clear, accurate drawings and design documents.

The position supports energy infrastructure, erosion control and streambank stabilization, environmental permitting, municipal and public works, and transportation-related projects. Assignments may include site plans, grading concepts, profiles, cross sections, details, mapping and other civil design deliverables used for permitting, engineering review, estimating and construction.

This role is suited for a developing Civil Designer with strong Civil 3D fundamentals who can independently complete assigned design and drafting tasks while continuing to expand technical capability under experienced technical professionals. Success requires sound technical judgment, appropriate questions, ownership of assigned work and a commitment to continued growth.

Responsibilities

• Prepare civil design drawings, plans, profiles, cross sections, details and related deliverables using AutoCAD Civil 3D.
• Develop and revise drawings from field surveys, existing plans, sketches, engineering direction, client information and other project source data.
• Perform grading, drainage, topographic, alignment, erosion-control, streambank-stabilization, access and other site-civil design activities as assigned.
• Develop grading concepts, proposed surfaces, slopes, contours, profiles and cross sections under engineering direction.
• Create and maintain base drawings, surfaces, alignments, profiles, contours, exhibits and plan sheets appropriate to project requirements.
• Use and maintain Civil 3D project data, including Xrefs, Data Shortcuts, surfaces, alignments, profiles and other referenced design information in accordance with Company file-management standards.
• Prepare, organize, plot and issue professional engineering drawings and plan sets in accordance with Company and project standards.
• Translate survey and field information into usable design documents and identify gaps, conflicts or inconsistencies requiring clarification.
• Coordinate with engineers, EITs, designers, survey personnel, project managers and construction teams to support coordinated and constructible solutions.
• Incorporate review comments and design changes accurately and maintain drawing consistency across project deliverables.
• Support permitting exhibits, construction plans, quantity-related information and other technical documentation needed to advance projects.
• Perform basic earthwork, area, length and material quantity calculations from Civil 3D models and construction drawings to support design, estimating and construction.
• Follow drafting standards, file-management practices, quality-control procedures and project-specific requirements.
• Participate in design reviews and proactively communicate questions, constraints, schedule concerns or potential design conflicts.
• Assist with occasional field verification, site observations or survey-related activities when needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

• Associate degree in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design, Civil Engineering Technology or a related technical discipline, including AutoCAD Civil 3D training. Equivalent relevant technical training and experience may be considered.
• At least two years of professional civil drafting or design experience using AutoCAD Civil 3D. Equivalent demonstrated capability may be considered for exceptional candidates.
• Demonstrated proficiency in land-based civil CAD drafting and design using current AutoCAD Civil 3D software. Candidates advancing through the selection process should expect to complete a practical AutoCAD Civil 3D skills assessment.
• Working knowledge of civil drafting and design fundamentals, including plans, profiles, sections, contours, elevations and topographic information.
• Ability to apply standard drafting and design principles and use project specifications, work plans, drawings and established procedures to meet project requirements.
• Ability to read and interpret field surveys, sketches, engineering markups, specifications and construction-related drawings.
• Demonstrated ability to progress assigned civil design tasks from engineering direction, survey information and project requirements, not solely reproduce engineer markups.
• Dependable, organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to produce accurate and consistent technical work.
• Sound analytical, mathematical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage assigned work and competing priorities, perform effectively under pressure, respond constructively to review comments, and complete deliverables within established schedule and budget expectations.
• Effective written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively with technical and field-oriented teams.
• Proficiency with standard Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Engineer-in-Training certification, or progress toward EIT certification, for candidates pursuing an engineering career path.
• Experience supporting civil, environmental, energy-infrastructure, municipal, transportation, erosion-control or construction-related projects.
• Familiarity with field survey practices and Trimble, Leica or comparable survey equipment and software.
• Experience with GIS, Bluebeam or other tools used for civil design, mapping, document review or project coordination.
• Field or construction experience that strengthens understanding of constructability and how design decisions translate into field execution.

Physical demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to perform the essential functions of this job.

• Regularly talk or hear and frequently stand, walk, handle objects, and reach with hands and arms.
• Frequently lift and move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and move objects up to 25 pounds.
• Occasionally sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• Meet the close, distance, color, peripheral, depth-perception and focus requirements needed to perform the work safely and accurately.