Senior Civil 3D Designer - Land Development

The Opportunity

If you're the person Engineers and Project Managers rely on for the difficult Civil 3D work—the grading that requires some problem-solving, the complicated surface, the plan set that needs to come together correctly, or the design issue that can't be solved by simply following redlines—we'd like to talk with you.

RETTEW is seeking an experienced Senior Civil 3D Designer to play a key technical role within our Land Development practice.

This is not an entry-level drafting position. You'll use your Civil 3D expertise and land development experience to turn project concepts into coordinated, constructible designs and high-quality construction documents. You'll work directly with Engineers, Project Managers, Land Planners, Surveyors, and other technical professionals while taking meaningful ownership of design production and plan development.

Projects range from sites of less than one acre to complex, multiphase developments spanning hundreds of acres, giving you opportunities to solve different design challenges rather than producing the same type of plan repeatedly.

What You'll Design

As a Senior Civil 3D Designer, you will:

• Develop land development plan sets from conceptual design through final construction documents.
• Prepare Final Land Development and subdivision plan sets.
• Prepare NPDES permit plan sets, including stormwater management and erosion and sediment control components.
• Develop site layouts, grading plans, utility designs, utility profiles, roadway profiles, and cross sections.
• Use advanced Civil 3D functionality to create and manage surfaces, grading, profiles, corridors, point groups, and other design elements.
• Perform earthwork analyses and develop grading solutions that consider cut/fill balance and constructability.
• Prepare technical exhibits supporting design, permitting, client discussions, and regulatory review.
• Translate engineering concepts, calculations, survey information, and markups into coordinated design solutions and construction documents.
• Coordinate design information across engineering, survey, planning, environmental, and other project disciplines.
• Identify design conflicts, inconsistencies, and constructability concerns and work with project teams to resolve them.
• Perform quality-control reviews and incorporate technical comments and revisions into project deliverables.
• Apply RETTEW and client CAD standards, templates, details, and production requirements.
• Support subdivision-plan preparation in coordination with Project Managers and Licensed Surveyors.
• Participate directly in project and design-coordination meetings.
• Conduct occasional field visits, inspections, or data collection to better understand existing conditions and project needs.
• Share Civil 3D knowledge, production practices, and technical guidance with developing designers and project-team members.

What We're Looking For

Required

• Significant professional experience in civil design/CAD production with a strong focus on land development.
• Advanced proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D in a professional civil engineering environment.
• Demonstrated experience developing land development plans and construction-document sets.
• Experience preparing or supporting NPDES, stormwater management, and erosion and sediment control plan sets.
• Advanced working experience with Civil 3D surfaces, grading, profiles, corridors, and related design functionality.
• Experience with site grading, utilities, profiles, cross sections, and earthwork analysis.
• Ability to interpret engineering concepts, survey information, technical markups, and project requirements and translate them into coordinated designs.
• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to perform quality-control review of design documents.
• Ability to manage design responsibilities across multiple projects and competing deadlines with limited supervision.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred

• Associate degree, technical degree, or certificate in CAD, Civil Drafting, Engineering Technology, or a related field.
• Experience with complex or large-scale land development projects.
• Experience preparing subdivision plans.
• Experience coordinating design across engineering, survey, planning, and environmental disciplines.
• Experience developing or maintaining Civil 3D standards, templates, details, or production practices.
• Experience mentoring or providing technical guidance to other CAD/design professionals.

Build a Career Around Your Design Expertise

You don't have to become a Professional Engineer or Project Manager to make a significant impact on project delivery.

At RETTEW, experienced designers bring valuable technical knowledge and judgment to project teams. This role provides opportunities to deepen your Civil 3D expertise, take ownership of increasingly complex design work, influence quality and production standards, and share your knowledge with other professionals.

You'll have opportunities to:

• Work on projects ranging from small redevelopment sites to developments spanning hundreds of acres.
• Solve complex grading, earthwork, utility, and site-design challenges.
• Work directly with Engineers and Project Managers rather than functioning solely as downstream drafting support.
• Collaborate with Survey, Environmental, Planning, and other technical disciplines.
• Influence the quality and constructability of project deliverables.
• Become a go-to Civil 3D technical resource for project teams.
• Mentor and support developing designers.
• Continue growing along a technical design career path.
• Build ownership in RETTEW through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

Work Environment

Workplace Designation: Hybrid – Three Days In-Office
Location: Lehigh Valley, PA

This role combines regular in-office collaboration with focused design work and remote-work flexibility. You'll participate in both in-person and virtual project coordination and may occasionally visit project sites with Engineers or other technical professionals.

About RETTEW

RETTEW is a 100% employee-owned engineering consulting firm that has been helping clients solve complex challenges since 1969. Our multidisciplinary teams collaborate across engineering, planning, survey, environmental, transportation, water/wastewater, and other technical disciplines to deliver practical solutions for our clients and communities.

Our employee-owners are encouraged to bring ideas forward, solve problems, share expertise, and take ownership of the quality of the work we deliver.

RETTEW offers an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), competitive compensation, comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits, retirement savings options, paid time off, professional-development resources, and opportunities for continued technical and career growth.

RETTEW is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, please contact us at [email protected] to request assistance.

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