Engineering Designer- Water & Wastewater

Commonwealth Architects; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 43,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

HSA

FSA

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

PTO & Holidays

Retirement Plan

Licensure Assistance

Internal Mobility

Job summary

Commonwealth Architects is seeking an Engineering Designer I in Buffalo, NY to support municipal water and utility infrastructure projects. You’ll gain hands‑on experience from field investigations through design and construction under licensed engineers and project managers.

You will help collect field data, draft layouts for water mains and sewers, and use AutoCAD/Civil 3D, MicroStation, OpenRoads, or Revit to produce plans and models, while ensuring accuracy and adherence to standards.

Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 0–2 years civil engineering or design experience (internships or co-ops accepted).
• Interest in municipal water, wastewater, utilities, and public infrastructure projects.
• Strong attention to detail and dependable work ethic.
• Ability to collect, organize, interpret, and evaluate field and technical data.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Civil 3D, MicroStation, OpenRoads, Revit or similar design software.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to municipal water, wastewater, drainage, utility, and public infrastructure projects.
• Perform field investigations and collect information about existing utilities and site conditions.
• Document and verify field measurements, observations, photos, and other project data.
• Interpret survey information, record drawings, utility data, and technical documents.
• Assist with layout and design of water mains, sanitary sewers, and related utilities.
• Use AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and other software to prepare plans, profiles, details, drawings, and models.
• Review work for accuracy and compliance with project standards.
• Assist with engineering calculations, quantity estimates, and technical documentation.

Skills

Attention to detail

Data collection & interpretation

Engineering calculations

Microsoft Office

Education

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

MicroStation

OpenRoads

Revit

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full Time Buffalo, NY, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1663

Salary Range: $31.00 To $39.00 Hourly

ENGINEERING DESIGNER

Why This Role Matters

As an Engineering Designer I, you will be a key member of our civil engineering team, helping plan and design municipal water, wastewater, drainage, utility, and public infrastructure projects throughout the region.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate or early-career designer seeking hands-on experience and the opportunity to see projects progress from field investigation through design and construction. You will work closely with experienced engineers, project managers, and technical professionals who will support your growth and encourage you to contribute your ideas. Your work will include collecting and interpreting field data and assisting with the layout and design of water mains, sanitary sewers, storm drainage systems, and related municipal utilities. You will help turn existing field conditions and project requirements into accurate, practical, and constructible designs.

Working under the guidance of a licensed Professional Engineer or Project Manager, you will contribute to projects of varying size and complexity. As your experience grows, you will have opportunities to take on greater design responsibility and advance within the firm.

What You'll Do

• Contribute to municipal water, wastewater, drainage, utility, and public infrastructure projects
• Perform field investigations and collect information about existing utilities, structures, and site conditions
• Document and verify field measurements, observations, photographs, and other project information
• Interpret survey information, record drawings, utility data, and technical documents
• Assist with the layout and design of water mains, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, and related utilities
• Use AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and other software to prepare engineering plans, profiles, details, drawings, and models
• Review work for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and compliance with project standards
• Assist with engineering calculations, quantity estimates, reports, permits, and technical documentation
• Research applicable municipal and regulatory requirements, codes, and design standards
• Coordinate with engineers, surveyors, architects, and other project team members
• Help identify utility conflicts, missing information, and constructability concerns
• Participate in site visits and observe construction activities
• Maintain organized project files and complete assignments within established schedules and budgets

What You Bring

• An Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, or a related field—or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 0 to 2 years of civil engineering or design experience, including internships or co-op experience
• An interest in municipal water, wastewater, utility, and public infrastructure projects
• A hardworking, focused, and dependable approach to completing assignments
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate work
• The ability to collect, organize, interpret, and evaluate field and technical data
• The ability to perform basic to moderately complex engineering calculations
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD, Civil 3D, MicroStation, OpenRoads, Revit, or similar design software
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
• An understanding of construction drawings and specifications is a plus
• EIT or NICET certification is a plus but is not required

Why You'll Enjoy Working Here

• Be part of a collaborative team where innovation, quality, and client service are valued.

What We Offer:

Benefits for Regular Full-Time & Part-Time Employees Working 30+ Hours/Week

• Healthcare for you and your family: Medical, Dental & Vision insurance
  • Single HDHP Medical plan with 100% paid premium
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer match
• Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• FREE Life Insurance and AD&D Insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance for you and your family
• FREE Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• PTO + Sick Time + 8 Holidays per year
• Retirement Savings Plan with contribution from CPL to grow your retirement funds
• Internal Mobility & Career Advancement
• Licensure Assistance

Additional benefits available to FT Employees Working 40+ Hours/Week

• Tuition Assistance: You may be eligible for continuing education assistance
• Student Loan Assistance Program: CPL will contribute up to $100/month for 5 years ($6,000 total) toward student loan debt

What Does It Look Like Working Here?

We believe that building a strong community is about establishing a prevailing sense of fellowship among our team members, friends, and neighbors.

• Collaboration– working with others towards the best solution, placing great emphasis on the collective wisdom of our internal teams.
• Family–celebrating others’ successes, genuinely caring about the happiness and well-being of our team members and recognizing their own families as extensions of the CPL family.
• Fun– not taking oneself too seriously, fully understanding that fun at work is conducive to productivity.
• Inspiration– contributing to an uplifting workplace that facilitates growth a positive, upbeatattitude.
• Integrity– doing what is ethically right and providing reliable follow-through oncommitments.
• Ingenuity– seeking new opportunities and consistently identifying unexpected and practical ways to solveproblems.

The rate for this position generally ranges between $31.00-39.00 hourly. This range is a good faith estimate provided pursuant to the New York Pay Transparency Law. It is based on what a successful New York applicant might be paid and assumes that the successful candidate will be in New York or perform the position from New York. Similar positions located outside of New York will not necessarily receive the same compensation. Actual pay rates may vary from the range, as permitted by New York Equal Pay Transparency Law. Compensation offers will be based on various factors, including operational needs, individual education, qualifications and experience, work location and comparison to employees already in the role, as well as other considerations permitted by law. A potential new employee's pay history will not be used in compensation decisions.

CPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such affirms the right of every person to participate in all aspects of employment without regard to gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, citizenship, military or veteran status, gender expression and/or identity, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.