Senior CAD Designer - Water / Wastewater

Brown and Caldwell, Inc.; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Brown and Caldwell is seeking a Senior CAD Designer to advance civil drawings for water and wastewater utility projects. You will develop and maintain complex civil models, coordinate with electrical teams, and ensure adherence to client standards and BIM plans.

Strong Civil 3D/AutoCAD skills and survey data verification are essential. Responsibilities include grading design, pipe layouts, surface analysis, vehicle tracking studies, and visual clash detection across disciplines.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in civil engineering technology, civil drafting, or related field required.
• Minimum 4 years of civil design experience.
• Proficiency in Civil 3D/AutoCAD required.
• Experience with plan and profile development.

Responsibilities

• Set up, create, and maintain complex civil models for multiple projects.
• Verify survey data and GIS information for design implementation.
• Coordinate pipe layouts and ensure compliance with standards; prepare structures/fittings tables.
• Coordinate electrical duct bank site layouts with the electrical engineer.
• Perform detailed grading using feature lines, grading objects, corridors.
• Conduct vehicle tracking analysis for clearance.
• Perform visual clash detection for ground cover of piping.
• Provide cut/fill calculations for different scenarios.
• Review BIM execution plan with client expectations.
• Adapt to additional assignments as needed.

Skills

Civil 3D

AutoCAD

Piping layout

Grading techniques

Survey verification

Surface analysis

Electrical coordination

Vehicle tracking

Communication

Team mentorship

Education

Associate degree

Tools

GIS software

Job description

The Senior CAD Designer role will be a major contributor in the development of civil drawings for water and wastewater utility infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with regulations and standards. This comprises the setup, creation, and maintenance of complex civil models, whether site or linear. This includes detailed grading design, complex piping design layouts, visual clash detections, surface analysis and electrical site layout coordination as well as vehicle tracking studies. The role will verify survey data and evaluate record drawings for accuracy, as well as implement designs. This role will provide cross discipline coordination and analysis. A proficiency in Civil 3D/AutoCAD is essential. This position has decision‑making authority with a licensed engineer.

Responsibilities

• Set up, create, and maintain complex civil models, whether piping or grading, with an understanding in the usage of data shortcuts as required, for numerous projects.
• Verify company electronic deliverable for survey, as well as GIS information, for the implementation into design.
• Handle pipe layouts, verifying compliance with client and company standards, creating tables for structures and fittings, denoting any specific client detail exceptions as needed or indicated by the engineer.
• Coordinate electrical duct bank site layouts, ensuring accurate duct bank sizing and constraints with the electrical engineer, as well as manhole/hand hole parameters.
• Execute detailed grading, applying various techniques (feature lines, grading objects, corridors) as the project requires.
• Conduct vehicle tracking analysis to ensure clearance and functionality.
• Perform visual clash detection, verifying ground cover of piping.
• Provide cut/fill calculations, for different scenarios if needed.
• Verify the client expectations prior to commencement in the BIM execution Plan (BxP), to ensure all appropriate standards are being followed and schedule understood.
• Flexibility to adapt and execute various additional assignments based on evolving needs.

Mentorship

• May provide mentorship, guidance, support, and knowledge-sharing to help less experienced team members develop their skills and grow within their roles.

Skills And Competencies

• Confidence in Civil 3D/AutoCAD to develop complex drawings.
• Pipe/pressure pipe capabilities to create complex site models.
• Ability to perform a survey check for proper company electronic deliverable verification.
• Strong grasp of surface creation and analysis.
• Understanding of various grading techniques for tailored site solutions.
• Excellent underground in piping design and electrical duct bank coordination.
• Strong understanding of the level of detail required at various project design gates/milestones.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Experience

• Typically, a minimum of 4 years of civil design or related experience is required.
• Experience in both plan and profile development.
• Prior experience with Civil 3D/AutoCAD software.

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Preferred skill

Education

• An Associate’s degree in civil engineering technology, civil drafting, or related field or equivalent experience is required.

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Salary Range

The anticipated starting pay range for this position is based on the employee’s primary work location and may be more or less depending upon skills, experience, and education. These ranges may be modified in the future.

• Location A: $30.70 - $41.90
• Location B: $34.10 - $46.20
• Location C: $37.00 - $50.50

Benefits and Other Compensation

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee health, performance, and success which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long‑term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off and parental leave, paid holidays, 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match, performance‑based bonus eligibility, employee referral bonuses, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance and long‑term care insurance.

About Brown And Caldwell

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Brown and Caldwell is a full‑service environmental engineering and construction services firm with 50 offices and over 2,100 professionals across North America and the Pacific. For more than 75 years, we have created leading‑edge environmental solutions for municipalities, private industry, and government agencies. We strive to be the company of choice—to our clients, who benefit from our passion for delivering exceptional quality, and to our employees, present and future, who share our commitment to client service, collaboration, and innovation. Join us, and you will find a home where you can do your best work, reach new levels of expertise, and enjoy exceptional development opportunities. For more information, visit www.brownandcaldwell.com

This position is subject to a pre‑employment background check and a pre‑employment drug test.

Brown and Caldwell is proud to be an EEO/AAP Employer. Brown and Caldwell encourages protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, and applicants from all backgrounds to apply. Brown and Caldwell ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.