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Contractor Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

City of Norwalk, CA

Associate Engineer

Norwalk, CA · On-site

$109K - $142K/yr

... contractors, engineering professionals, and City staff regarding engineering and developmental ... projects; and performing related work as required. CLASS CHARACTERISTICS This class is ...

City of Norwalk (CA)

Associate Engineer

Norwalk, CA · On-site

$109K - $142K/yr

... contractors, engineering professionals, and City staff regarding engineering and developmental ... projects; and performing related work as required. CLASS CHARACTERISTICS This class is ...

City of Chico

Associate Engineer

Chico, CA · On-site

$102K - $137K/yr

Meets with contractors, engineers, developers, architects, a variety of outside agencies, and the general public in acquiring information and coordinating engineering matters; provides information ...

Dynalectric Company

Sales Engineer

El Cajon, CA · On-site

$105 - $140/hr

Regular visits to owner, contractor, engineering, and vendor offices, as well as active project and operating facilities, are expected. * Attendance at industry conferences, trade shows, networking ...

EMCOR Group, Inc.

Sales Engineer

El Cajon, CA · On-site

$105 - $140/hr

Regular visits to owner, contractor, engineering, and vendor offices, as well as active project and operating facilities, are expected. * Attendance at industry conferences, trade shows, networking ...

Dynalectric Company

Sales Engineer

El Cajon, CA · On-site

Regular visits to owner, contractor, engineering, and vendor offices, as well as active project and operating facilities, are expected. * Attendance at industry conferences, trade shows, networking ...

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Contractor Engineer information

See California salary details

$9

$46

$86

How much do contractor engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for contractor engineer in California is $46.47, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $35.34 and $60.00 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contractor engineer?

Contractor Engineers are professionals hired on a contract basis to provide engineering services for specific projects or timeframes, rather than as permanent employees. They can work in various industries, including construction, manufacturing, IT, and energy, performing tasks such as design, project management, and technical consulting. Contractor Engineers bring specialized skills to a project, often filling short-term gaps or handling peak workloads. Their contracts may vary in duration and scope, depending on the needs of the client or project.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contractor engineer, and why are they important?

To excel as a Contractor Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, project management, and relevant industry experience, often supported by a bachelor's degree in engineering and professional certification (e.g., PE license). Familiarity with CAD software, project management tools like MS Project, and compliance with safety and building codes is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, effective communication, and the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams set outstanding Contractor Engineers apart. These competencies ensure projects are designed, executed, and delivered efficiently, safely, and within budget.

What are some common challenges contractor engineers face when managing multiple projects simultaneously?

Contractor Engineers often juggle several projects at once, which can make time management and prioritization challenging. Coordinating with various stakeholders, such as clients, subcontractors, and suppliers, requires strong communication skills and the ability to quickly resolve conflicts or delays. Additionally, adapting to shifting project requirements and maintaining compliance with safety and regulatory standards can add to the complexity. Successful Contractor Engineers typically rely on detailed scheduling, clear documentation, and proactive problem-solving to keep projects on track.

What is the difference between Contractor Engineer vs Construction Manager?

AspectContractor EngineerConstruction Manager
CredentialsEngineering degree, relevant certificationsEngineering or construction management degree, certifications
Work EnvironmentOn-site project execution, technical oversightOn-site and office coordination, project planning
Employer & Industry UsageConstruction firms, engineering companiesConstruction firms, general contractors
Primary FocusTechnical engineering tasks, ensuring design complianceProject management, scheduling, budget control

Contractor Engineers focus on technical engineering aspects and on-site project execution, while Construction Managers oversee overall project planning, coordination, and management. Both roles are essential in construction projects but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What cities in California are hiring for Contractor Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Contractor Engineer job openings:

Contractor Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contractor Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $96,657 per year, or $46.5 per hour.

Civil/Public Works Engineer (Full-time)

Local Agency Engineering Associates

Placentia, CA • On-site

$45 - $125/hr

Full-time

Retirement

Re-posted 25 days ago

Job description

Civil/Public Works Engineer

Job Description

LAE Associates, Inc. is a provider of professional Municipal Public Works Engineering and Construction Management services to cities, water districts, and other public agencies. LAE specializes in Project/Construction/Program Management, Inspection Services, and virtual/in-person Staff Augmentation to Cities.

Who we are looking for:

LAE is seeking an experienced Civil/Public Works Engineer to manage and support public works construction projects (e.g. roadway resurfacing/rehabilitation/reconstruction, water, sewer, storm drain, parking lot, park, and traffic signal projects) as well as providing Engineering Oversight to other Engineers. The selected person will be providing Engineering/Construction Oversight for a variety of Capital Improvements Program (CIP) projects for our City and Water District clients in various counties, acting as an extension of public agency staff and coordinating closely with engineers, inspectors, consultants, contractors, and agency stakeholders.

The ideal candidate should have at least 12 years of professional Civil/Public Works and technical experience working on public works and experience managing municipal infrastructure projects from pre-construction through construction and close-out, including scope development, schedule control, cost tracking, and coordination with multiple disciplines.

Responsibilities and Duties:

  • Serve as an Oversight Engineer/Manager on public works and utility construction projects from initiation through completion
  • Administer construction projects including contract compliance, schedule tracking, cost control, change order review, and coordination with contractors and consultants.
  • Coordinate with public agency staff, developers, consultants, and the general public on project issues, construction impacts, and resolution of field conflicts
  • Assist and support client engineers and management staff on large and complex public works construction projects
  • Work with our engineers, project managers, public works inspectors, outside civil/traffic/design and geo-technical engineers
  • Manage a variety of roadway, storm drain facility, water, sewer, utility, parking lot, park, and traffic signal projects
  • Prepare project schedules and track progress of various projects
  • Attend, and/or participate in meetings remotely, including progress meetings, and coordination meetings with stakeholders
  • Lead, plan, train, and review the work of staff responsible for performing professional and technical level engineering work.
  • Track project milestones, priorities, and deliverables, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.
  • Respond to inquiries and resolve issues from agency staff, contractors, developers, and the public related to construction activities
  • Perform other Public Works project management functions as assigned

Job Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering/Technology, and/or sufficient Industry experience
  • Professional Engineering license preferred but not required
  • 12 years of public/private sector construction, technical or engineering experience
  • Ability to meet deadlines and complete public works construction projects on-time and within budget
  • Strong understanding of public agency procedures, construction contracts, and multi-agency coordination.
  • Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills
  • Oversee junior and mid-level staff, providing feedback and answering their project inquiries.

Company Description

A Project/Construction Management, Staff Augmentation (Consultant City Engineer, Public Works Director) and Public works Inspection firm. Applications without the appropriate background are discouraged to apply and will not be considered.