Civil Design Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Civil Design Engineer
Job Description

This Civil Design Engineer role focuses on a wide range of land development projects, including site planning, stormwater management design, utility design, sustainable design, and overall site development. You will contribute to the design and permitting of development projects across the state of Michigan, including schools, commercial buildings, retail facilities, and institutional developments. This position offers the opportunity to build deep expertise in local civil development projects and to grow a long-term career in civil design and engineering.

Responsibilities

• Plan and develop site plans, including grading, drainage, zoning, and utility layouts for land and site development projects.
• Prepare detailed project drawings, engineering calculations, and technical specifications for civil design projects.
• Create schematic designs, layouts, drafting, and complete construction documents using AutoCAD Civil 3D.
• Evaluate land use and zoning requirements, including interpretation of zoning ordinances and preparation of materials for site plan approval.
• Prepare and submit permit applications, coordinate agency reviews, and obtain required approvals for development projects.
• Design stormwater management systems, including drainage, pipe networks, and related site infrastructure.
• Develop civil design production plans for land and site development, ensuring accuracy, constructability, and compliance with applicable standards.
• Coordinate civil site design elements for projects such as K–12 schools, commercial buildings, retail, and institutional facilities.
• Conduct site visits during the construction phase to observe work, verify conformance with design documents, and support field-related questions.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure integrated, efficient, and compliant civil design solutions.

• Minimum 3+ years of civil design experience using AutoCAD Civil 3D for land development and site development projects.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D for design plan production, including grading, drainage, utility design, and stormwater management systems.
• Demonstrated experience in civil site development and civil land development projects.
• Strong understanding of site planning, including site plans, zoning considerations, and site plan approval processes.
• Experience preparing construction documents, including drawings, layouts, and specifications for civil design projects.
• Knowledge of stormwater management design, drainage systems, and pipe network design.
• Ability to evaluate and apply zoning ordinances and land use requirements to civil site design.
• Background in civil engineering or closely related civil design disciplines.

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.
• EIT (Engineer-in-Training) or PE (Professional Engineer) license.
• Experience in civil site design for K–12 education, school, or commercial projects.
• Familiarity with sustainable design practices in land and site development.
• Experience preparing permit applications and coordinating agency reviews and approvals.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to produce accurate, high-quality design documentation.
• Effective communication skills for coordinating with project teams and stakeholders.
• Motivation to develop a long-term career in civil design or civil engineering.

This position is based in Michigan, with offices located in Grand Rapids and Lansing. The typical schedule averages 40 hours per week and follows a hybrid model, with three days in the office and two days working remotely. You will work in a professional office environment using AutoCAD Civil 3D and other civil design tools to support land and site development projects across the state. The role involves a combination of desk-based design work and occasional site visits during the construction phase to observe field conditions and support project implementation.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Grand Rapids, MI.

The pay range for this position is $32.00 - $39.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a hybrid position in Grand Rapids,MI.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 21, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.