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Road Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Consor Engineers

Roadway Design Engineer

Walnut Creek, CA · Hybrid

$80K - $150K/yr

As a roadway design engineer, you'll support transportation improvement projects with the design and detailing of local, county, and state roadway and highway projects. You'll assist with geometric ...

Consor Engineers

Roadway Design Engineer

Walnut Creek, CA · Hybrid

$80K - $150K/yr

As a roadway design engineer, you'll support transportation improvement projects with the design and detailing of local, county, and state roadway and highway projects. You'll assist with geometric ...

Consor Engineers

Roadway Design Engineer

Walnut Creek, CA · Hybrid

$80K - $150K/yr

As a roadway design engineer, you'll support transportation improvement projects with the design and detailing of local, county, and state roadway and highway projects. You'll assist with geometric ...

Consor Engineers

Roadway Design Engineer

Walnut Creek, CA · On-site

$80K - $150K/yr

As a roadway design engineer, you'll support transportation improvement projects with the design and detailing of local, county, and state roadway and highway projects. You'll assist with geometric ...

Oregonite

Senior Roadway Design Engineer

Walnut Creek, CA · On-site

$90 - $150/hr

As a senior roadway design engineer, you'll support transportation improvement projects with the design and detailing of local, county, and state roadway and highway projects. You'll assist with ...

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All JobsRoad Design Engineer JobsRoad Design Engineer Jobs in California

Road Design Engineer information

See California salary details

$17

$50

$72

How much do road design engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for road design engineer in California is $50.03, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38.65 and $60.96 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Road Design Engineer vs Civil Engineer?

AspectRoad Design EngineerCivil Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Civil Engineering, specialized training in road designBachelor's or higher in Civil Engineering, broad engineering background
Work EnvironmentDesign offices, construction sites for roads and highwaysVaried settings including buildings, infrastructure, transportation projects
Industry UsagePrimarily in transportation and infrastructure sectorsWide-ranging sectors including construction, urban planning, transportation

While both roles require a background in civil engineering, a Road Design Engineer specializes in planning and designing roads and highways, focusing on transportation infrastructure. A Civil Engineer has a broader scope, working on various infrastructure projects. The Road Design Engineer's expertise is more specific to transportation projects, whereas Civil Engineers may work across multiple sectors.

What are some common challenges a road design engineer faces when working on large infrastructure projects?

Road Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating with multiple stakeholders, adhering to strict regulatory and environmental standards, and managing tight project timelines. Balancing technical requirements with budget constraints and site limitations requires strong problem-solving skills. Additionally, effective communication with surveyors, construction teams, and local authorities is essential to ensure that designs are feasible and can be smoothly implemented.

What is a road design engineer?

Road design engineers are professionals who plan, design, and oversee the construction of roads, highways, and related infrastructure. They use engineering principles to ensure roads are safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. Their work includes creating detailed plans, selecting appropriate materials, considering traffic flow, and complying with regulations and standards. Road design engineers often collaborate with other engineers, surveyors, and government agencies throughout the project lifecycle.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a road design engineer?

To thrive as a Road Design Engineer, you need a solid background in civil engineering, expertise in geometric design, and typically a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field. Familiarity with design software like AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and knowledge of relevant standards and codes, along with licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE), are commonly required. Strong problem-solving, project management, and communication skills help you collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders. These competencies ensure safe, efficient, and regulatory-compliant roadway projects that meet client and community needs.
What are popular job titles related to Road Design Engineer jobs in California? For Road Design Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Road Design Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Road Design Engineer jobs in California are:
Road Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Road Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 80% In-person, and 20% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $104,055 per year, or $50 per hour.

Design Engineer III

Sherwood Design Engineers

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 26 days ago

Job description

CA | GA | NY | CR
About Sherwood
Sherwood is a civil and environmental engineering firm that is committed to investing in and embracing people, communities and the environment.
Our team has delivered net zero energy and net zero carbon systems, net positive water systems, resilient coastlines, natural resource protection, green streets, living roofs and more for thousands of clients in the region and across the globe. We specialize in sustainable infrastructure, water management strategies, green building design, and systems based solutions for infrastructure and landscapes. Our focus is on the conservation and management of the consumption of all site resources - carbon, energy, water, and waste. We've worked on over thirty award-winning projects, and our work has been published locally and internationally.
Founded in 2003, our award-winning projects include Hudson Yards in New York (the largest private real estate development in U.S. history), San Francisco Better Streets Plan, Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan, revitalization of the iconic waterfront Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the 35 square-km Baietan Urban Area Plan in the heart of Guangzhou, China.
Our mission is to engineer an environmentally and socially regenerative planet. Will you join us?
The Role
At Sherwood Design Engineers, we value collaboration that incorporates multiple perspectives, and believe that diverse ideas produce more robust and equitable solutions. We have an amazing opportunity for a driven and curious Design Engineer focused on site civil design to support our team.
Minimum skills
  • Typically 4+ years of industry experience
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering - Civil and/or Environmental
  • Experience with Site Grading, Earthwork Calculations, Road Design, Drainage (Calculations & Reports), Utility Layout & Sizing, Technical Report Writing
  • Ability to research and interpret technical documents
  • Experience in preparing and advancing plan set packages through all project phases including providing redlines for drafter
  • Exercise sound judgment on design decisions and in application of standard methods
  • Work with multiple site base files oriented in different coordinate frames and varying units
  • Knowledge of civil design programs (Civil 3D, LDT, Hydro CAD, Flowmasters, StormCAD, etc)
  • Knowledge of Graphics programs (Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, etc.)
  • Proficient in AutoCAD

Preferred Skills
  • Certifications or other sustainability-oriented accreditation preferred (LEED,PE, etc.)
  • Knowledge of natural systems, green infrastructure, hydrology, GIS principles
  • Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite

Expected Outcomes
  • Research, design, develop, and evaluate plans, specifications, and layouts for residential, commercial, and industrial development projects, public works improvements, or other capital improvement projects using applied knowledge of civil engineering
  • Design naturally and physically built structures using knowledge of biology, statistics, dynamics, materials, kinematics, hydrology, hydraulics, and geotechnics
  • Prepare technical reports, create design specifications, and determine cost estimates
  • Oversee construction of projects to ensure adherence to design specifications
  • Ensure projects comply with local zoning and ordinances, as well as national regulatory requirements
  • Identify, evaluate, and document existing structures for signs for disrepair and provide design remedies as necessary
  • Create and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, and schematics
  • Use drafting tools or computer-aided design (CAD) equipment and software in design work. May manage project schedules and budgets
  • May be required to approve designs that can impact the health, safety, and welfare of the general public, as required by law

What We Offer
  • Own a part of the firm with ESOP eligibility after one year
  • Flexible working - with every other Friday off
  • Competitive Health plans, including PPO and HMO options, Dental and Vision plans
  • Learning and Development stipend to use as you see fit
  • Generous PTO and 8 paid holidays
  • Automatic 401k enrollment
  • Fun team events, lunches and happy hours to get to know colleagues outside of work
  • A tangible opportunity to truly help the environment!

Compensation:
The wage range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to: skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At Sherwood Design Engineers, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $97,592 to $119,280. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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