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Utility Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Utility Safety Officer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Learn more about our Career Opportunity The Utilities Safety Officer designs, implements, manages, and continually evaluates the Utilities Department's health and safety programs including utility ...

We validate the economic and clinical utility of new digital health technologies and enable regular ... in designing digital products Experience with prototyping your designs using modern prototyping ...

We validate the economic and clinical utility of new digital health technologies and enable regular ... in designing digital products Experience with prototyping your designs using modern prototyping ...

Plumbing Designer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$150 - $250/hr

Perform a certified plumbing designer review of Veteran Affairs health care facilities Utility Drawings to Certify As-Built. A total of 8 facilities will be reviewed. Required Qualifications * Must ...

Utility Specialist

Lucerne Valley, CA · On-site

$23.91 - $33.94/hr

... designed for customers' application needs. Position: Utility Specialist Location: Lucerne Valley, CA Compensation: $23.91 - $33.94 per hour What We Offer: * Competitive pay, commensurate with ...

Utility Specialist

Lucerne Valley, CA · On-site

$23.91 - $33.94/hr

... designed for customers' application needs. Position: Utility Specialist Location: Lucerne Valley, CA Compensation: $23.91 - $33.94 per hour What We Offer: * Competitive pay, commensurate with ...

Utilities Operator in Training

Mcfarland, CA · On-site

$21.07 - $26.97/hr

The Utility Technician in Training is an entry-level, trainee classification designed for individuals pursuing a career in water and wastewater operations. Under close supervision, incumbents receive ...

Senior Pipeline Designer

Los Angeles, CA

$109K - $117K/yr

Pipeline & Transmission Designer, Intermediate to Senior Location: Downtown Los Angeles, CA ... Natural gas transmission or utility pipeline projects. * Compressor stations, metering and ...

Pipeline & Transmission Designer, Intermediate to Senior Location: Downtown Los Angeles, CA ... Natural gas transmission or utility pipeline projects. * Compressor stations, metering and ...

Showing results 41-60

Utility Designer information

See California salary details

$35K

$82.1K

$108.6K

How much do utility designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for utility designer in California is $82,059.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,200.00 and $107,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a utility designer?

Utility Designers are professionals who plan and design the infrastructure for public utilities, such as electricity, water, gas, and telecommunications. They create detailed technical drawings and layouts for utility lines and systems, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and engineering standards. Utility Designers often collaborate with engineers, surveyors, and construction teams to bring utility projects from concept to completion. Their work is essential for both new developments and upgrades to existing utility networks.

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

To thrive as a Utility Designer, you need a solid background in civil engineering or a related field, along with proficiency in utility layout and design principles. Familiarity with CAD software, GIS systems, and relevant industry codes or certifications such as NCEES is typically required. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills set outstanding professionals apart in this role. These skills and qualifications are crucial for ensuring accurate, safe, and efficient utility infrastructure design that meets regulatory and client standards.

How does a utility designer typically collaborate with engineers and field crews during a project?

Utility Designers play a crucial role in bridging the gap between engineering teams and field crews. They work closely with engineers to interpret technical requirements and ensure that design plans meet regulatory and safety standards. During project implementation, Utility Designers often coordinate with field crews to address on-site challenges, clarify design details, and make adjustments as needed. This collaboration helps ensure that utility infrastructure—such as power lines, water systems, or telecommunications—are installed accurately and efficiently.

What is the difference between Utility Designer vs Utility Engineer?

AspectUtility DesignerUtility Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering, design certificationsBachelor's degree in engineering, professional engineering license
Work EnvironmentDesign offices, project planning sitesConstruction sites, project development environments
Industry UsageDesign phase of utility systems in infrastructure projectsImplementation and maintenance of utility systems
Common Search/ComparisonUtility Designer vs Utility Engineer

Utility Designers focus on planning and designing utility systems, ensuring they meet project specifications. Utility Engineers are more involved in implementing, testing, and maintaining these systems. While both roles require engineering knowledge, Utility Engineers often hold professional licenses and work more on the operational side, whereas Utility Designers concentrate on the planning and design stages.

How do you become a utility designer?

To become a utility designer, individuals typically need a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, or a related field. Gaining experience through internships or entry-level positions, developing skills in design software like AutoCAD, and obtaining relevant certifications can also enhance qualifications for this role.

What are popular job titles related to Utility Designer jobs in California?

For Utility Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in California are hiring for Utility Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Utility Designer job openings:

Infographic showing various Utility Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 92% Full Time, 2% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 90% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,059 per year, or $39.5 per hour.

Designer or Designer Senior (Pipeline Design & Drafting)

The Williams Companies

Novato, CA • Hybrid

$119K - $128K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 28 days ago


Williams College rating

5.2

Company rating: 5.2 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

614th of 631 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Williams is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis protected under applicable discrimination law.

Do something that means something at Williams. This isn't just a job - it's an opportunity to explore and discover your passion with coworkers who become friends and mentors who push you to be your best self in and out of the office. At Williams, we make clean energy happen. And you can too, so bring your energy to ours!

As a Designer Sr, you will be responsible for crafting highly proficient designs and producing drawings for pipeline, plant, and facility projects based on scope requirements provided by internal business partners. You will assist in the development of scope, schedule, and budget definition and will be integral to the overall success of our pipelines and related facilities.

Your work will challenge you, and with our Core Values to guide you, you'll quickly learn and grow with us.

Responsibilities/Expectations:
  • Crafts proficient designs and produces drawings for pipeline, plant, and facility projects based on scope requirements provided by internal business partners
  • Reviews and verifies that plans, designs, drawings, and maps conform to applicable codes, standards, specifications, and the requirements of collaborators
  • Troubleshoots and solves sophisticated technical or operational problems guided by past precedents
  • Assists Design Leaders, Supervisors, Project Managers and Engineers with scope, schedule and budget definition for new projects requiring design and drafting activities
  • Coordinates with partners to establish expectations on resource needs, scope, schedule, and budget
  • Other duties as assigned
Education/Years of Experience:

Designer:

  • Required: High school diploma/GED and Technical School with CADD Certificate (or equivalent experience) and a minimum of 5 years of drafting experience with some focus on independent design assignments in the energy, oil & gas, or utilities industry

  • Preferred: Associate's degree and 10 years of drafting experience with 5+ years focused on independent design assignments in the energy, oil & gas, or utilities industry

Designer Senior:

  • Required: High school diploma/GED and Technical School with CADD Certificate or equivalent experience and a minimum of 10 years of drafting experience with 6 years focused on independent design assignments in the energy, oil & gas, or utilities industry
  • Preferred: Associate's degree and 15 years of drafting experience with 10 years focused on independent design assignments in the energy, oil & gas, or utilities industry
Other Requirements:
  • Demonstrates outstanding organizational/interpersonal skills and safety as the utmost priority
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications
  • Experience with Cadworx and Autocad
  • Monday-Friday in office (Mandatory) Fridays- Remote (Optional)
#LI-AK1

About Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a city full of adventure. If you love a good ball game or the great outdoors such as visiting Point State Park in Pittsburgh's "Golden Triangle" to see the Allegheny River, Monongahela River, and Ohio River converge, then Pittsburgh has you covered! The city is also known for its "Only in Pittsburgh" experiences and its unique and vibrant 90 neighborhoods that create the perfect places to live, hang out and explore.

Also, Pittsburgh is a convenient, affordable place to live and work-with a cost of living 7% lower than the national average.

The Steel City's accent is a thing to behold, and you'll find people living in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania speaking Pittsburghese. You may hear the term "yinzer," which is the equivalent to the word "y'all" and used to address two or more people as a second-person plural pronoun. If you're moving to the 'Burgh, learning Pittsburghese will help!

Check out https://www.discovertheburgh.com/moving-to-pittsburgh/ or https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/ to learn more.

Why Choose Williams?

We are committed to providing our employees with competitive compensation and benefits as part of your Total Rewards package to help protect your current and future physical, emotional, and financial health. We generally offer health benefit programs to our employees and their families that are competitive and flexible enough to meet your needs, and retirement benefits to allow you to invest now for financial security when you retire. With rich learning and development programming and a high internal mobility rate, you are not just applying to a job with Williams; you are embarking on an exciting career!

  • Competitive compensation

  • Annual incentive program

  • Hybrid work model - one work from home day each week for most office-based roles

  • Flexible work schedule for most field-based roles

  • 401(k) with company matching contribution and a fixed annual company contribution

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits

  • Generous company-paid life insurance and disability benefits

  • A consumer-driven health plan option with the potential for a generous company contribution to a Health Savings Account

  • Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

  • Paid time off, including floating and company holidays

  • Employee stock purchase plan

  • Robust employee learning and development

  • High internal mobility (we promote from within)

  • Parental leave (we provide up to 6 weeks for each parent)

  • Fertility coverage and adoption benefits

  • Domestic partner benefits

  • Educational reimbursement

  • Non-profit donation matching contributions and time off to volunteer

  • Employee resource groups

  • Employee assistance programs

  • Technology to make our work more productive and collaborative

  • Regular employee engagement surveys and feedback processes

Williams has a long history of making a significant difference in the communities where we live and work, and we strive to cultivate an environment of employee inclusion, innovation and passion that values all voices and opinions. We help each other succeed and great things happen when people from a diverse set of backgrounds come together. Together, we make clean energy happen.

Eligibility and benefits are governed by the terms of the applicable plan or program document which can be amended or terminated at any time.

For more information, please visit Total Rewards | Williams Companies.

Education Requirements:High School Diploma/GED (Required)

Skill Requirements:

Competency Requirements:


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