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Highway Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Obayashi Corporation

Tunnel Engineer

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$90K - $100K/yr

A minimum bachelor's degree in civil engineering, construction, or a related degree is required. * 0-5 years combined experience in project management or estimating in Tunneling or Civil Engineering.

Kimley-Horn

Project Manager - Highway

San Jose, CA · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

Coordinate and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, planners, CAD ... focus on highway projects. * California Professional Engineering (P.E.) License required.

Kimley-Horn

Project Manager - Highway

San Jose, CA · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

Coordinate and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, planners, CAD ... focus on highway projects. * California Professional Engineering (P.E.) License required.

Kimley-Horn

Project Manager - Highway

San Jose, CA · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

Coordinate and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, planners, CAD ... focus on highway projects. * California Professional Engineering (P.E.) License required.

Kimley-Horn

Project Manager - Highway

San Jose, CA · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

Coordinate and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, planners, CAD ... focus on highway projects. * California Professional Engineering (P.E.) License required.

KASA Construction Inc.

Operating Engineer

Chino, CA

$70K - $95K/yr

Operating Engineer Full KASA Construction Inc., one of Southern California's leading heavy-civil ... Performing work on street and highway construction: grading, paving, excavation of earth and rock ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsHighway Engineer JobsHighway Engineer Jobs in California

Highway Engineer information

See California salary details

$46.9K

$96.7K

$131.8K

How much do highway engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for highway engineer in California is $96,735.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,400.00 and $112,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Highway Engineer vs Civil Engineer?

AspectHighway EngineerCivil Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Civil Engineering, PE license often preferredBachelor's in Civil Engineering, PE license often required
Work EnvironmentConstruction sites, transportation departments, engineering firmsConstruction sites, infrastructure projects, consulting firms
Industry UsageSpecializes in highway and road projectsBroader scope including bridges, buildings, and infrastructure
Common Search/ComparisonHighway Engineer vs Civil Engineer

Highway Engineers focus specifically on designing, constructing, and maintaining roads and highways, often working within transportation departments or specialized firms. Civil Engineers have a broader role, working on various infrastructure projects including buildings, bridges, and water systems. Both roles require similar credentials and often overlap in work environments, but Highway Engineers specialize in transportation infrastructure.

What does a highway engineer do?

A Highway Engineer is responsible for designing, planning, and overseeing the construction and maintenance of roads, highways, and related infrastructure. Their work includes ensuring that transportation routes are safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. They collaborate with other engineers, government agencies, and contractors to address traffic flow, drainage, materials, and safety standards. Highway Engineers also assess existing road conditions and recommend improvements or repairs as needed.

What are some common challenges highway engineers face when working on large infrastructure projects?

Highway Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating with multiple stakeholders, managing tight project timelines, and ensuring compliance with strict safety and environmental regulations. Working on large-scale projects also requires adapting to unexpected site conditions and balancing budget constraints with quality standards. Effective communication and collaboration with surveyors, contractors, and government agencies are essential to address these challenges and keep projects on track.

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

To thrive as a Highway Engineer, you need a solid background in civil engineering principles, road design, and construction management, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree and Professional Engineer (PE) licensure. Proficiency with CAD software, transportation modeling tools, and project management systems is essential. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective highway infrastructure development and maintenance.

What is a highway engineer?

A highway engineer specializes in designing and maintaining roads, bridges, and tunnels to ensure safe and efficient transportation in a region. As a highway engineer, you must understand how traffic moves through a location for vehicles and pedestrians to determine the best flow of traffic. You must also know what kind of road surface would work best for each project. Highway engineers may work on a project from the design phase all the way through construction, and often are called back to maintain the structures to make sure they are still fully functional.

More about Highway Engineer jobs
What are popular job titles related to Highway Engineer jobs in California? For Highway Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Highway Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Highway Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Highway Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Highway Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Highway Engineer jobs in CA? For Highway Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Highway Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Highway Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $96,735 per year, or $46.5 per hour.

Roadway Engineer - Municipal Roadway

Kimley-Horn

Sacramento, CA

$90K - $115K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 18 days ago

Kimley-Horn rating

8.9

Company rating: 8.9 out of 10

Based on 86 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

53rd of 443 rated engineering

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a talented and motivated Roadway Engineer with 2+ years of experience specializing in municipal roadway projects to join our Sacramento office. As part of our growing team, you will contribute to the design and development of impactful infrastructure solutions while collaborating with clients and team members to deliver high-quality results. *This team will be relocating to our new office in Roseville, CA by January 2027!

Responsibilities
  • Candidates must have a willingness to perform a variety of civil engineering tasks supporting various project managers as required. Job duties may include, but are not limited to:
    • Horizontal and vertical alignments
    • Grading and Drainage design
    • Streetscape and roadway improvements
    • Multimodal design, including multi-use trails and complete streets
    • Signage, striping and signalization plans
  • As a critical member of the team, you will perform a variety of engineering tasks and will receive both on-the-job and formal training as well as mentorship and exposure to plan production, project financials, and client interactions
Qualifications
  • 2+ years experience with a civil engineering design firm   
  • Bachelors or Masters from an ABET accredited university in the field of Civil Engineering
  • "Engineer-In-Training" or "Engineering Intern" certification (or ability to obtain within 12 months)
  • Working knowledge of MicroStation/InRoads/OpenRoads and/or AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills
  • Strong sense of urgency and self-initiative to meet client deadlines
  • Detail-oriented with an ability to contribute to a positive work environment
  • Ability to work independently and as a team

Salary Range:

$90,000 to $115,000

Why Kimley-Horn?

At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it- that's why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn's placement on the Fortune "100 Best Companies to Work" list for 19 years!

Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn

  • Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to1- company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
  • Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
  • Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
  • Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
  • Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
  • Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
Education:Bachelor's DegreeEmployment Type: FULL_TIME

What Kimley-Horn employees say

Pay

Benefits

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About Kimley-Horn

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

We are a full-service consulting firm that provides a wide range of infrastructure and land development planning and engineering services to both public and private clients. Though we have more than 6,000 employees in 100+ offices, we pride ourselves on our small company feel. At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People--clients and employees--are at the forefront of our business. Clients know we are laser-focused on their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to see our staff flourish, one and all. Both groups know that with Kimley-Horn, they can expect more and experience better.

Industry

Specialized design services

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Raleigh, NC, US

Year founded

1967

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