Site Civil Engineering Designer - Grading & Utilities

S Y Lee Associates, Inc. is seeking an experienced Civil Engineering Designer to support the design and production of construction documents for commercial, educational, municipal, healthcare, private, and public-sector projects.


The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with site civil design, grading, drainage, LID/stormwater, underground utilities, street improvements, and public improvement projects, is proficient in AutoCAD, and can develop accurate, well-coordinated designs and construction documents while working closely with our engineering and project management teams.

Join Our Team
At S Y Lee Associates, we believe that the strength of our firm comes from the people behind our projects. We value technical expertise, accountability, initiative, and a commitment to delivering quality work. As we continue to expand our reach, we are looking for talented and dedicated individuals who want to make a meaningful contribution, share in our vision for the future, and be part of what we are building together.


Joining our team offers the opportunity to:

• Work on meaningful projects: Contribute to the design and improvement of schools, colleges, municipal facilities, healthcare buildings, commercial developments, and other projects that serve communities throughout Southern California.
• Take ownership of your work: Play an active role in civil site design, problem-solving, and project coordination, with opportunities to contribute beyond traditional drafting responsibilities.
• Collaborate with experienced professionals: Work directly with engineers, project managers, and firm leadership in an environment that values teamwork, communication, and practical solutions.
• Develop your expertise and advance professionally: Gain exposure to diverse civil engineering systems and design challenges, with opportunities to take on greater responsibility as your capabilities and contributions develop.
  
  

We are looking for individuals who are dependable, hardworking, and motivated to continuously improve. We believe in recognizing strong performance and providing opportunities for professional development based on demonstrated capabilities and commitment. If that sounds like you, we welcome you to apply and look forward to learning more about your experience.


Responsibilities

• Develop civil engineering designs and prepare construction drawings using AutoCAD and/or AutoCAD Civil 3D.
• Prepare grading, drainage, utility, street improvement, and public improvement plans, including profiles, sections, details, and related construction documents.
• Assist with the design of domestic water, fire water, sanitary sewer, storm drain, LID/stormwater, and underground utility systems.
• Prepare and support B-Permit, street lighting, and other public improvement plans in accordance with applicable agency requirements.
• Coordinate building utility connections, points of connection, and site utility routing with mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and other engineering disciplines.
• Coordinate civil designs with architects, engineers, surveyors, geotechnical consultants, utility agencies, and public works departments.
• Incorporate engineering markups, plan-check corrections, and client/agency comments into construction documents.
• Review drawings for accuracy, coordination, and completeness while maintaining drafting standards and meeting project deadlines.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of civil engineering design or drafting experience preferred.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD required; AutoCAD Civil 3D experience preferred.
• Experience preparing civil site plans and construction documents for commercial, institutional, municipal, or similar projects.
• Familiarity with grading, drainage, stormwater management, and site utility systems.
• Ability to read and interpret civil, architectural, utility, and engineering drawings.
• Ability to understand and apply engineering calculations, design direction, and markups.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, time management, and ability to work independently while coordinating effectively with project teams.

Preferred Experience

• Grading and Drainage: Site grading, earthwork calculations, drainage layouts, storm drain systems, slopes, contours, and ADA-accessible site improvements.
• Water, Sewer, and Underground Utilities: Domestic water, fire water, sanitary sewer, utility profiles, pipe sizing, service connections, and coordination with existing infrastructure.
• LID and Stormwater Management: Low Impact Development (LID), stormwater treatment, infiltration and retention systems, drainage calculations, and applicable local stormwater requirements.
• Street Improvements and B-Permits: Public right-of-way improvements, roadway grading, sidewalks, curb ramps, street lighting, utility relocations, and B-Permit plan preparation.
• AutoCAD Civil 3D: Surface modeling, alignments, profiles, corridors, pipe networks, and preparation of coordinated civil construction drawings.
• California Projects and Agency Coordination: Experience with Southern California public agencies, including the Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering (LABOE), local public works departments, utility agencies, and applicable grading, drainage, and public improvement standards.