Civil CAD Designer

Freese and Nichols; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Annual bonus

Paid overtime

Job summary

Freese and Nichols in Houston, TX seeks an experienced Civil CAD Designer skilled in Autodesk Civil 3D to join the Dams and Levees Team. You will develop 3D models and drawings for water resource projects and coordinate with engineers across disciplines.

The role involves translating sketches into precise CAD deliverables, applying CAD standards, and mentoring other staff. Hybrid schedule with remote work options.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience using Autodesk Civil 3D in engineering design and technical support.
• Advanced operation of CAD software and general computer skills.
• Ability to learn, adapt, and solve problems across disciplines.
• Experience collaborating with engineers, designers, and project managers.

Responsibilities

• Develop 3D models, drawings, and details for dam, levee, and water resource projects.
• Interpret survey data to build accurate 3D surfaces, alignments, and profiles.
• Translate sketches and redlines into precise CAD deliverables.
• Collaborate with engineers to produce construction plans and technical drawings.
• Apply CAD standards and update templates and processes.
• Perform quality control on models, drawings, and survey data.
• Train and mentor CAD staff and engineers in drawing production and best practices.
• Lead CAD activities on assigned projects and coordinate workflow.

Skills

CAD software

Engineering design support

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Associate degree in CAD

Drafting/design certificate or Autodesk professional

Tools

Autodesk Civil 3D

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 support of engineering.
• Advanced expertise in computer operation and CAD software.
• Proven ability to learn, adapt, and problem solve to produce accurate and 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 (Learn continuously, Engage as family, Act with integrity, Deliver quality, and Serve 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.