Project Engineer - Civil Land Development

BKF Engineers; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

End of year bonuses

Education reimbursement

Flexible schedules

Generous vacation and sick time packages

Job summary

A reputable engineering firm located in San Diego, CA is seeking a Project Engineer to contribute to land development projects. The ideal candidate should have at least 3 years of experience in site design, proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D, and a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. This position involves designing various development projects and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. The salary range for this position is $90,000.00 to $130,000.00, with excellent benefits and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in Land Development emphasizing site development.
• Must possess EIT certification or equivalent.
• Experience in utility systems, roadways, and public works projects.

Responsibilities

• Design site development projects for various types of developments.
• Prepare grading, drainage plans, and utility systems design.
• Collaborate across departments and lead project lifecycle.

Skills

Land Development design

AutoCAD Civil 3D

Geometric calculations

Written communication

Verbal communication

Collaboration

Education

B.S. in Civil Engineering or a related field

Job description

BKF is a multi‑service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering and surveying services across California, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. With offices throughout California and the Portland area, BKF has served transportation, water resources, land development, government, and federal clients for over 110 years.

At BKF, you'll find a unique opportunity to grow your career with intention. Our culture values professional autonomy, innovation, and meaningful collaboration across offices. We are proud to be recognized with the Great Place to Work certification for the second year in a row.

We're seeking a Project Engineer for our San Diego, CA office. The ideal candidate will have a few years of experience and a strong technical foundation in Land Development design and civil engineering. This role involves independently applying standard engineering principles to a variety of projects, from small‑scale developments to major infrastructure efforts. Candidates should be confident performing geometric calculations and design tasks with minimal supervision. This position also offers opportunities to professionally develop, mentor junior staff, and provide technical support throughout all project phases.

Responsibilities

• Design and coordination of site development projects for residential, commercial, mixed‑use, and public works developments
• Preparation of grading and drainage plans in compliance with local and regional standards
• Design of utility systems including water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure
• Preparation of technical reports, master planning studies, and entitlement support documents
• Development of construction specifications, quantity takeoffs, and cost estimates
• Site layout planning including parking, access, and circulation design
• Integration of sustainable design elements such as low‑impact development (LID) and green infrastructure
• Application of Federal, State, City, and County codes and permitting requirements
• Preparation of conceptual design studies and feasibility analyses
• Collaboration across departments and external stakeholders, including other consultants throughout the project lifecycle

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in Land Development working on site development and design of residential and/or commercial subdivisions, utility systems, roadways, and public works projects
• B.S. in Civil Engineering or a related field from an ABET‑accredited program is required
• Must be proficient in AutoCAD Civil 3D
• EIT certification highly preferred (candidates with EIT will be prioritized)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners, including public agencies, consultants, and community stakeholders

Physical Demands: Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations.

Work Conditions: Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high‑stress, fast‑paced, deadline‑oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required.

Compensation & Benefits

• The typical base salary range for this position is $90,000.00 - $130,000.00, annualized depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is a salaried position, paid bi‑weekly.
• Competitive salaries, end of year bonuses, profit sharing, and 401k.
• BKF pays multiple of the premiums for medical, dental, and vision coverage and 50% for your dependents.
• Generous vacation and sick time packages.
• 8 Paid Holidays.
• Flexible schedules.
• Education reimbursement, Paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations.
• BKF offers competitive and award‑winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here.

BKF Engineers provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

BKF Engineers does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF Engineers, BKF Engineers reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.