Assistant Civil Engineer

SAN DIEGUITO ENGINEERING INC; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with employer match

Health insurance

Paid time off

Employee discounts

Remote Work From Home Policy

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

San Dieguito Engineering (SDE) in Carlsbad, CA is seeking an Assistant Engineer with 3–5 years in land development and public works. You will prepare grading, drainage, water, and sewer designs, and translate analyses into construction documents.

You will collaborate with a senior engineer, surveyors, planners, and consultants, coordinating through entitlement to construction while pursuing PE licensure within two years.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from ABET-accredited program.
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification.
• 3–5 years of progressive civil engineering experience in land development or public works.
• Experience preparing grading plans, improvement plans, and land development design.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D; familiarity with San Diego region standards.
• Strong written communication and teamwork; drive to grow professionally.
• Ability to obtain California PE license within 2 years.

Responsibilities

• Prepare rough and precise grading plans and site plans per agency standards.
• Design storm drain, water, and sewer systems with profiles and connections.
• Prepare hydrology/hydraulics reports using Modified Rational Method.
• Develop SWQMPs and BMPs per applicable design manuals.
• Create cost estimates, quantity takeoffs, bonding estimates, and specs.
• Process plans through agency plan check and respond to comments.
• Coordinate with land surveyors and planners through entitlement to construction.
• Support construction-phase services including RFIs and site visits.
• Perform duties as assigned by Senior Project Engineer.

Skills

Strong written communication

Team collaboration

Motivated to grow professionally

Problem solving

Education

ABET-accredited B.S. in Civil Engineering

EIT certification

Tools

AutoCAD Civil 3D

MicroStation V8i

Microsoft Office

CivilD

HEC-RAS

StormCAD

SDHM/SWMM

Job description

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Employee discounts
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Join Our Award-Winning Team at San Dieguito Engineering!

Position: Assistant Engineer (Civil)

Location: Carlsbad, California

Company: San Dieguito Engineering (SDE)

Are you a civil engineer with land development experience, ready to take the next step toward your PE and project leadership? Do you enjoy the technical side of civil design, such as grading, storm drain, water, and sewer layout, and turning engineering analysis into high-quality construction documents? Do you want to be part of a collaborative, established, and respected firm where your contributions are valued and your professional growth is supported?

At SDE, we do more than design infrastructure — we build communities

Why Choose SDE?

Established in 1974, SDE is an award-winning civil engineering firm in beautiful Carlsbad, CA, known for excellence in civil engineering, land surveying, land planning, and subsurface utility engineering (SUE). We work on a variety of public and private land development and infrastructure projects throughout San Diego County.

We’re committed to being the #1 Small Business civil engineering and land surveying firm in the region — and we know that starts with our people.

What Sets Us Apart:

• Collaborative culture where your voice is heard
• A tight-knit, team-oriented environment
• Leadership that values innovation, communication, and integrity
• Real opportunities to grow professionally and advance in your career
• Repeat clients with a diverse range of projects

About the Role:

We are looking for an Assistant Engineer with 3–5 years of progressive experience in land development and public works design. Working under a Senior Project Engineer, the Assistant Engineer prepares construction documents and technical studies, handles agency plan check submittals, and coordinates with surveyors, planners, architects, and consultants from entitlement through construction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare rough and precise grading plans, public improvement plans, and site plans in conformance with City of San Diego, County of San Diego, and North County municipalities agency standards.
• Design storm drain, water, and sewer systems, including profiles, utility crossings, and connections to existing public facilities.
• Prepare hydrology and hydraulic reports using the San Diego County Hydrology Manual methods (Modified Rational Method), including pipe and inlet capacity, street flow, and energy dissipation analyses.
• Prepare Storm Water Quality Management Plans (SWQMPs) and design structural and site-design BMPs, including hydromodification management, under the applicable agency BMP Design Manual.
• Prepare engineer's cost estimates, quantity takeoffs, bonding estimates, and technical specifications for public works and private development projects.
• Process plans and reports through agency plan check, including preparing comment responses and resubmittals and coordinating with agency reviewers.
• Coordinate with land surveyors on topographic surveys, easements, and mapping, and with land planners on tentative maps and site plan layouts.
• Support construction-phase services, including RFIs, submittal review, as-built revisions, and site visits.
• Perform responsibilities as requested by the Senior Project Engineer

Preferred Tools & Software:

• AutoCAD Civil 3D
• MicroStation V8i, a plus
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Hydrology/Hydraulics software such as CivilD or AES, SDHM/SWMM, HEC-RAS, or StormCAD, a plus

Candidate Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification.
• 3–5 years of progressive civil engineering experience in land development and/or public works design.
• Demonstrated experience preparing grading plans, improvement plans, storm drain, water, and sewer designs, and water quality/BMP designs.
• Working knowledge of San Diego area jurisdictional codes, design standards, and plan processing procedures, such as San Diego Regional Standard Drawings, City of San Diego Storm Water Standards, North County municipality standards, and the County Grading Ordinance.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D, including surfaces, grading, corridors, and pipe networks.
• Strong written communication for technical reports and agency correspondence.
• Motivated to grow professionally and take on increasing responsibility
• Ability to obtain a California Professional Civil Engineer (PE) license within 2 years of hire.
• Experience with water and sewer district standards such as Vallecitos Water District, Carlsbad Municipal Water District, or City of San Diego Public Utilities.
• Familiarity with fire access requirements, dry utility coordination, and ADA/accessibility design for site and right-of-way improvements.
• Experience on public works Capital Improvement Projects (CIP), including bid documents and specifications.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K with employer match
• Flexible work schedule
• Remote Work From Home Policy
• Generous paid time off
• Strong Corporate Values:
• Integrity
• Commitment
• Creativity
• Team Work
• Work-Life Balance
• Team learning approach
• Exposure to a variety of projects at different phases
• A welcoming, supportive team environment

Ready to Make a Lasting Impact in San Diego?

Join a firm where you’re not just another number — you’re a valued contributor to our shared success.

(No resume links, please.)