SHAPE THE CENTRAL COAST WITH SLO CIVIL DESIGN
We're a small firm doing serious work — custom homes, hotels, vineyards, ADUs, multi-family developments, and more across SLO County. If you’re a civil engineer or recent grad and want your work to actually matter from day one, read on.
This isn’t your average engineering job.
At most firms, you sign a contract, get introduced to a senior engineer, and then get handed to a junior team you've never met. Your mentor becomes a name on an org chart. You spend two years redlining documents someone else will present.
That's not how we work.
SLO Civil Design was founded on a simple belief: clients deserve an experienced engineer who stays with their project from first sketch to final sign-off. That same philosophy applies to our team. When you join us, you work directly alongside our licensed PE on real projects — grading and drainage plans, utility design, permitting, land development from feasibility to construction closeout.
You won't be cutting your teeth on someone's investment in the background. You'll be in the room and on the calls.
SLO Life Enthusiasts.
San Luis Obispo isn't a compromise. It's the point.
We're ten minutes from Edna Valley vineyards. Twenty from Montana de Oro. An hour from Big Sur. The Central Coast is booming — wine country, boutique hospitality, coastal residential, and a steady wave of mixed-use development — all looking for experienced engineers to start projects off right.
That could be you at SLO Civil Design.
Our office is in SLO proper. Our projects are local. Our team goes home on time. We believe the best engineers are well-rested, intellectually engaged, and living somewhere that inspires them. We're not interested in burnout culture, and we're not a firm that confuses long hours with hard work.
If you’re a Cal Poly Grad who doesn’t want to leave, this is your chance to stay where everyone else vacations.
Our Core Values
Game-Time Mentality
We're a small team handling large projects, which means everyone who joins us has to be ready to perform when it counts. No hiding behind process. No waiting to be told what to do. We hire people who take initiative, stay sharp under pressure, and care about the outcome as much as the paycheck.
Advocates first
Technical expertise is the baseline. What sets good civil work apart is what happens before the drawings — understanding a client's goals, anticipating agency pushback, and communicating early enough to actually change outcomes. We show up as advocates for the project, not just consultants on it.
Built for the Central Coast
We didn't end up here by accident. We chose SLO — and that choice shapes everything about how we work. Our projects are local, our relationships are local, and our team is invested in growth. We are always working to strengthen ties to the community and be an active participant in the development of SLO County.
Available Positions
Project Engineer
San Luis Obispo, CA. Full-Time
AutoCAD/Civil3D
EIT Required
P.E. is a plus
Land Development
Work directly with the owner/principal and some of the most accomplished architectural firms on the Central Coast — managing your own projects and mentoring junior engineers within 18–24 months.
Your role
Prepare civil engineering plans in Civil 3D and AutoCAD to company standards
Lead design and engineering calculations with senior staff oversight
Produce grading, site improvement/development, water, sewer and storm drain plans
Coordinate across disciplines on public and private California projects
Transition to Project Management within 18–24 months, guiding junior engineers
What we're looking for
B.S. in Civil Engineering from an accredited university
3–7 years of land development engineering experience
Proficiency in AutoCAD drafting
EIT certification
Strong communication and collaborative work style
Genuine drive to keep growing technically
Above & beyond
Background in architecture, surveying, landscape architecture, permitting or planning
Experience in hydrology, utilities, drainage, or sewer systems
P.E. license in California
$40-45/hr — depending on experience
To apply or ask a question, please email raylene@slocivildesign.com or click the button below.
Junior Engineer
San Luis Obispo, CA. Full-Time, Part-Time
AutoCAD/Civil3D exposure
B.S. in Civil Engineering
EIT is a plus
Land Development
Work directly alongside licensed PEs on real Central Coast projects — directly contributing to grading, drainage, and permitting work from your first week.
Your role
Assist in preparation of civil engineering plans in Civil 3D and AutoCAD
Support design calculations for grading, drainage, and utility systems
Help produce plans for grading, site development/improvements, water, sewer, and storm drain
Coordinate with senior engineers, architectural firms, and permitting agencies
Build your technical toolkit across land development, permitting, and project management
What we're looking for
B.S. in Civil Engineering from an accredited university (new grads welcome)
0–3 years of experience — internships and school projects count
Familiarity with AutoCAD; Civil 3D exposure is a plus. We sponsor further AutoCAD training upon hire.
EIT certification, or actively working toward it
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Eagerness to learn and ask questions
Above & beyond
Internship or coursework in land development, hydrology, or utilities
Experience with SWPPPs or environmental permitting concepts
Work experience within the local SLO Community
Competitive compensation — offered based upon experience to be discussed during interview stage.
To apply or ask a question, please email raylene@slocivildesign.com or click the button below.
We review applications on a rolling basis and respond to every one.
While you wait for us to review your application, Follow SLO Civil Design on LinkedIn to stay up to date with open positions, project updates, and more!