Civil 3d Designer

Job Title: Civil 3D Designer
Job Description
This role is a hands-on AutoCAD Civil 3D production position focused on complex civil and geotechnical site design. You will perform computer-aided design and drafting for large-scale grading, landfill, remediation, industrial, and utility projects, contributing from conceptual design through construction. The position is intended for a career designer/CADD professional who enjoys being a long-term Civil 3D power user, rather than an engineer-in-training seeking a stepping-stone into engineering management.
Responsibilities
+ Perform detailed computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) using AutoCAD Civil 3D for a variety of civil and geotechnical engineering projects.
+ Develop grading plans, site layouts, and detailed drawings for landfills, ash pond closures, remediation sites, industrial facilities, utilities, and other large-scale sites.
+ Create and manage surfaces, grading models, and earthwork calculations, including cut-and-fill volume analyses for large-acreage, grading-heavy projects.
+ Design and refine alignments and profiles for site access, simple roadway/linear features, and related infrastructure.
+ Develop and maintain pipe networks and pipe profiles for stormwater systems and other site utilities.
+ Produce and revise drawings for grading plans, stormwater systems, profiles and alignments, pipe networks, and earthwork calculations in support of complex civil and environmental projects.
+ Apply advanced Civil 3D tools such as feature lines, grading groups, corridors, data shortcuts, reference files, survey databases, and sheet sets.
+ Incorporate survey data imports, vertical and horizontal datums, and geospatial data transformations into design workflows.
+ Collaborate closely with engineers and other team members to translate design concepts into accurate, constructible CADD deliverables.
+ Support stormwater management design and related civil infrastructure layouts as part of multidisciplinary project teams.
+ Leverage tools such as ArcGIS/ArcMap, MicroStation, Map 3D, and Subassembly Composer when applicable to project needs.
+ Participate in a consulting-style environment, managing multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining high-quality design standards.
+ Review work prepared by junior designers and assist in mentoring and developing less-experienced staff over time.
+ Contribute to a strong technical and training culture by sharing Civil 3D best practices and helping improve production workflows.
+ Maintain consistent drawing standards, file organization, and documentation to support efficient project delivery and coordination.
+ Demonstrate long-term commitment to a designer/CADD career path and provide stable, reliable production support on a continuing basis.
Essential Skills
+ Minimum of 5+ years of hands-on AutoCAD Civil 3D production experience in civil design.
+ Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D, with real-world project experience beyond basic drafting.
+ Strong technical expertise in creating and managing surfaces and performing surface analysis.
+ Advanced experience with grading design, including large-scale site grading and complex grading groups.
+ Proficiency in earthwork and cut-and-fill volume calculations for large, grading-intensive sites.
+ Experience designing and managing alignments and profiles for site and linear features.
+ Proficiency in creating and editing pipe networks and pipe profiles, particularly for stormwater systems.
+ Understanding and practical use of Civil 3D feature lines, grading groups, and corridors.
+ Demonstrated experience with large-scale, complex site design projects (approximately 100+ acres), such as landfills, remediation sites, earthwork-heavy or industrial sites.
+ Ability to serve as a Civil 3D power user supporting engineers on complex civil and environmental projects.
+ Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and quality in CADD production work.
+ Clear intent to build a long-term career as a designer/CADD professional rather than transitioning into engineering management.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
+ Associate's degree in Drafting (or similar technical discipline) combined with approximately 5 years of relevant experience.
+ Experience working in a consulting environment with multiple projects and deadlines.
+ Exposure to survey-related design, including survey data imports, survey databases, and working with vertical and horizontal datums.
+ Understanding of geospatial data transformation and integration into Civil 3D workflows.
+ Experience with stormwater management design and related drainage infrastructure.
+ Familiarity with ArcGIS or ArcMap for geospatial analysis and data handling.
+ Experience with MicroStation and Map 3D in support of civil design projects.
+ Exposure to pressure pipe design and related Civil 3D tools.
+ Experience with Subassembly Composer for custom corridor and assembly development.
+ Proficiency using data shortcuts, reference files, and Sheet Set Manager to manage complex project files and drawing sets.
+ Ability and interest in reviewing the work of junior designers and providing mentoring and guidance.
+ Demonstrated job stability and a track record that reflects long-term commitment to design-focused roles.
Work Environment
This role is primarily a desk-based production position within a collaborative, technically focused team. The work environment emphasizes a strong CAD/Civil 3D culture where technical excellence and continuous learning are highly valued. The position offers a hybrid work setup, typically 2-3 days per week in the office, with flexibility depending on individual fit and location. Core hours are 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with flexibility on start and end times to support work-life balance. The primary preferred locations are Kennesaw, GA and midtown Atlanta, GA, with additional consideration for offices in Birmingham, AL; Austin, TX; Pensacola, FL; Raleigh, NC; Charlotte, NC; Tampa, FL; Boca Raton, FL; and Knoxville, TN. You will work closely with a stable team known for long tenure, diverse project types, and a collaborative culture that emphasizes knowledge sharing rather than siloed work. The environment supports long-term growth into an experienced designer role, with leadership invested in professional development, technical training, and building a strong, supportive design team.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Birmingham, AL.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $36.06 - $45.87/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)
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in Birmingham,AL.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 1, 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 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.