Senior Civil Engineer [83761]

Onward Search; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee ownership

Hybrid schedule

Overtime pay

Bonus program

Career growth

Job summary

Onward Search in San Diego is seeking a licensed Senior Civil Engineer to lead land development projects from entitlement through construction, while working directly with clients and mentoring staff. You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams on healthcare, mixed-use, commercial, and infrastructure projects across Southern California.

The role emphasizes project ownership, budgeting, scheduling, and serving as primary client contact, with a hybrid schedule offering work-from-home flexibility

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering (required).
• PE license required; California PE strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead land development projects through all phases of planning, design, permitting, and construction support.
• Prepare and oversee grading, drainage, stormwater, hydrology, and hydraulic designs and calculations.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, deliverables, and multidisciplinary team coordination.
• Serve as a primary client contact while building and maintaining long-term relationships.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across project teams.

Skills

Project leadership

Client relationship management

Mentoring junior engineers

Budget management

Scheduling

Team coordination

CAD/Civil 3D

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD Civil 3D

Job description

A recognized employee-owned engineering firm with more than 900 professionals and 23 offices nationwide is seeking a Senior Civil Engineer to join its growing San Diego team. This role offers the stability, resources, and project diversity of a national organization while maintaining the culture, visibility, and collaboration of a local office.

The San Diego office supports a variety of healthcare, mixed-use, commercial, life science, higher education, municipal, and land development projects throughout Southern California. This is an opportunity for a licensed Civil Engineer who enjoys leading projects, working directly with clients, mentoring staff, and taking projects from entitlement through construction.

• Lead land development projects through all phases of planning, design, permitting, and construction support.
• Prepare and oversee grading, drainage, stormwater, hydrology, and hydraulic designs and calculations.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, deliverables, and multidisciplinary team coordination.
• Serve as a primary client contact while building and maintaining long-term relationships.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across project teams.

Senior Civil Engineer Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.
• PE license required; California PE strongly preferred.
• 8+ years of land development experience within an AEC consulting environment.
• Strong experience with grading, drainage, stormwater, hydrology, and hydraulic design.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D.
• Experience managing projects, budgets, schedules, and client relationships.
• Ability to lead design teams and mentor junior engineers.
• Healthcare, mixed-use, higher education, life sciences, municipal, or commercial project experience preferred.

Perks and Benefits:

• Recognized employee-owned engineering company with 900+ professionals and 23 offices nationwide.
• Opportunity to work on impactful healthcare, mixed-use, commercial, and infrastructure developments throughout Southern California.
• Hybrid schedule with work-from-home flexibility on Thursdays and Fridays.
• Paid overtime and discretionary annual bonus program.
• Direct access to office leadership and strong career growth opportunities.
• Collaborative multidisciplinary environment with civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and fire protection teams.
• Strong project backlog and long-term stability with the feel of a close-knit local office.

Not eligible for sponsorship.

If you're a licensed Civil Engineer looking for project ownership, leadership opportunities, and a strong land development portfolio, we'd welcome the opportunity to connect. Our team will guide you through the interview process, advocate for your success, and help you evaluate whether this opportunity aligns with your long-term career goals.