Civil CAD Designer

Freese and Nichols, Inc.; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule (up to 40% remote)

Annual bonus

Company cabins in NM and NC

Paid overtime for salaried employees

Flexible work environment

Job summary

Freese and Nichols, Inc. seeks an experienced Civil CAD Designer in Houston, TX to join the Dams and Levees Team. You will develop 3D models and drawings for dam and levee projects, using Civil 3D and related CAD tools.

You will translate engineer markups into precise CAD deliverables, ensure design standards, and mentor junior CAD staff. The role offers hybrid work and collaboration across disciplines in a nationwide practice.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience using Autodesk Civil 3D and broad base in engineering design and technical support.
• Advanced expertise in CAD software and computer operation.
• Proven ability to learn, adapt, and solve problems to produce accurate deliverables.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience with Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Word.

Responsibilities

• Develop 3D models, drawings, and details for dam, levee, and water resource projects.
• Use survey data to build accurate 3D surfaces, cross-sections, and profiles.
• Translate sketches and redlines into precise CAD deliverables.
• Collaborate with engineers to produce construction plans and drawings.
• Apply CAD standards and update templates, styles, blocks, and processes.
• Conduct QC reviews of models, drawings, and survey data.

Skills

Autodesk Civil 3D

CAD software

3D modeling

engineering design support

Education

Associate degree in CAD

Drafting and design certificate

Autodesk professional

Tools

Revit

MicroStation

Job description

Freese and Nichols is seeking an experienced Civil CAD Designer experienced in AutoCAD Civil 3D to join our Dams and Levees Team in our Houston, Texas office. As Civil CAD Designer, you will contribute to the planning and design of complex civil infrastructure projects including dams, spillways, outlet works, levees, floodwalls, gates, and related water resource structures.

This position offers the opportunity to work collaboratively with engineers, designers, and project managers across disciplines while taking an active role in producing high-quality design drawings and 3D models.

What You’ll Do

• Develop 3D models, drawings, and details for dam, levee, and related water resource projects
• Use and interpret survey data to build accurate 3D surfaces, cross-sections, grading, alignments, and profiles for existing and proposed conditions
• Translate sketches, markups, and redlines from design engineers into precise CAD deliverables
• Collaborate with engineers to produce construction plans, conceptual figures, and technical drawings
• Apply company CAD standards and help update templates, styles, blocks, and processes to support team needs
• Conduct quality control reviews on models, drawings, and survey data to support accuracy and compliance with project requirements
• Train and mentor CAD staff and engineers in drawing production and CAD best practices
• Lead CAD activities on assigned projects and support CAD workload coordination across the Dams and Levees team and related water resources projects

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience using Autodesk Civil 3D, with a broad base in engineering design and technical supportofengineering.
• Advancedexpertisein computer operationandCAD software.
• Proven ability to learn, adapt, and problem solve to produceaccurateand quality deliverables.
• Ability to work with all levels of personnel.
• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Software, especially Excel and Word

Preferred:

• Associate degree in CAD
• Drafting and design certificate or Autodesk professional
• Familiarity with Revit or MicroStation

About Freese and Nichols

At the heart of our culture is our LEADS values ( L earn continuously, E ngage as family, A ct with integrity, D eliver quality, and S erve always). Each year, our employee engagement survey confirms that our leaders and our employees live our values.

We strive to be the firm of choice for clients and employees through innovative approaches, practical results, and outstanding service. For more than 130 years, we have been planning and designing the infrastructure our communities need: developing water supplies, designing roadways and bridges, preparing for natural disasters, and much more.

Besides our comprehensive benefits package (see more at Benefits That Work for You), we offer paid overtime for salaried employees, an annual bonus, and access to company cabins in Red River, New Mexico and Banner Elk, North Carolina. We are proud of our flexible work environment which includes a hybrid schedule with up to 40% of remote work, and an alternative work schedule program which provides a day off every other Friday.

Join our team of 1,300+ employees as we grow from Virginia to Colorado. Learn more about working here at Working at Freese and Nichols.

Freese and Nichols is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

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