Civil Engineering Designer II

Progressive Companies; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Progressive Companies in Grand Rapids seeks a Civil Engineering Designer I to help design and produce documents for public and private civil projects—site plans, utility plans and profiles, road designs, traffic signal plans, grading plans, and right-of-way plans—using AutoCAD Civil 3D, with mentorship from project managers, engineers, and P.E.s.

You will gain hands-on exposure to plan design, cross-discipline coordination, and quality review, rotate through deliverables, and build fluency in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited program or equivalent for licensure.
• Knowledge of AutoCAD Civil 3D.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Valid driver's license with clean driving record.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and drive vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Build core design and documentation skills across civil project types.
• Learn full project lifecycle under senior staff mentorship.
• Coordinate across disciplines to align deliverables with standards.
• Develop quality-control habits and review work for accuracy.
• Perform calculations for drainage, grading, and foundations; build CAD/BIM models.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering (ABET-accredited)

Tools

AutoCAD Civil 3D

Microsoft Office

Job description

As a Civil Engineering Designer I, you will help design and develop documents for a range of public and private civil projects — site plans, utility plans and profiles, road design, traffic signal plans, grading plans, and right-of-way plans — using AutoCAD Civil 3D, while working alongside project managers, engineers, and P.E.s who will actively mentor you along the way. You'll get hands-on exposure to plan design and production, cross-discipline coordination, and quality review across the full project lifecycle, so you can discover which parts of civil engineering you want to grow into. This role offers the chance to rotate through deliverables, collaboration, and compliance work under close mentorship from senior staff, build fluency across AutoCAD Civil 3D and related tools, and grow toward a Civil Engineering Designer II role and, eventually, PE licensure.

• Build core design and documentation skills across a range of civil project types. Support the incorporation of design intent into contract documents and prepare detailed plan sets – site plans, utility plans and profiles, road designs, traffic signal plans, and right-of-way plans – gaining exposure to different delivery methods and building proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D.
• Learn the full project lifecycle under senior engineer and P.E. mentorship. Communicate regularly with senior staff and P.E.s on project scope, design changes, and budget adjustments, gradually taking on more responsibility as you learn how a project moves from concept through final construction documentation.
• Coordinate across disciplines to see how the pieces fit together. Assist in developing project specifications, coordinate technical aspects with internal team members and external consultants, and learn to align deliverables with company standards as you see how civil, utility, and roadway work integrate.
• Build sound quality-control habits from day one. Review your own work for accuracy, alert senior team members to inconsistencies before they reach a client, and develop the judgment to proactively resolve issues as your quality-control skills mature.
• Explore multiple facets of civil design through hands-on technical work. Perform calculations for drainage, grading, and foundation designs, and develop and refine CAD and BIM models for roads, utilities, and site plans – building a working view of the specialties you may want to grow into, while helping ensure designs align with applicable codes, zoning, and environmental regulations.
• Ramp up on the firm's tools and licensure path within your first year. Within the first year, reach comfort with AutoCAD Civil 3D for daily production, begin pursuing the Fundamentals of Engineering (F.E.) exam (an extra plus if you already passed this) and actively participate in team meetings and "Lessons Learned" sessions to keep learning from more experienced staff.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from an EAC/ABET-accredited program or equivalent in education and experience required for professional licensure.
• Knowledge of AutoCAD Civil 3D.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Valid driver's license and good driving record required, with no driving or other infractions that would preclude insurability.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, load and unload vehicle, and drive personal or company vehicle.

Preferred Qualifications

• Post-graduation professional engineering experience.
• Engineer In Training (passed Fundamentals of Engineering Exam).
• Civil engineering internships or work experience.
• CSI-CDT certification.
• Experience in HEC RAS or EPANET (water distribution).

People Matter

Each individual's background, knowledge, ability, and experience contributes to strengthening our organization and projects. Our dedication to diversity includes company provided training and education, equitable recruitment, a grassroots employee DEI committee, and robust community partnerships.

Progressive Companies is comprised of people with a variety of abilities, races, colors, religions, genders, sexual orientations, national origins, ages, veteran statuses, and more. As an equal opportunity employer, we believe diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential elements of innovative design. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Transforming Spaces. Empowering People.

The talented professionals of Progressive Companies are designers of a bold new future, creating high-performance structures and pathways, delivering on today's needs and preparing for what's to come. We live by the idea that design isn't simply about beauty, it's about improving strategic outcomes—what we call Performance Based Design. Our work spans across the nation, allowing team members to work on a variety of exciting projects and maximize impact as trusted partners to our clients and communities.

Sustainable and Inclusive

We are dedicated to human-centered, sustainable, and inclusive design practices. We believe diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to building trust, respect, and truly innovative design making spaces welcoming and accessible to all. Our sustainability approach embraces the AIA 2030 Commitment, together with a range of high performance, restorative, and regenerative strategies with a focus on climate responsive results to maximize positive impact in our industry.

Employee Owned

We act like owners—because we are. From modest beginnings of four original engineering partners in 1962, to almost 300 architects, engineers, designers, and consultants across multiple regional offices today, the energy, resourcefulness, and entrepreneurial mindset you expect from a CEO come standard with every team member.

Culture of Excellence

The firm is continually ranked as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation®, with comprehensive benefits including an award-winning wellness program, hybrid work schedule, summer hours, profit-sharing, and employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). We take our work serious, but have fun along the way, which fuels the creative spirit and supports a focus on work and life integration.

Progressive Companies is committed to development and growth of team members through continuing education, mentorship, growth opportunities, and more. We are dedicated to giving back to our communities, with paid service-learning hours available to every employee and corporate sponsorship for a wide range of community organizations and activities.