Demo

Civil CAD Designer

Freese and Nichols
Houston, TX Full Time
POSTED ON 9/22/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 10/21/2026

Freese and Nichols is seeking an experienced Civil CAD Designer experienced in AutoCAD Civil 3D to join our Dams and Levees Team in our Houston, Texas office. As Civil CAD Designer, you will contribute to the planning and design of complex civil infrastructure projects including dams, spillways, outlet works, levees, floodwalls, gates, and related water resource structures.

This position offers the opportunity to work collaboratively with engineers, designers, and project managers across disciplines while taking an active role in producing high-quality design drawings and 3D models.

What You’ll Do

  • Develop 3D models, drawings, and details for dam, levee, and related water resource projects
  • Use and interpret survey data to build accurate 3D surfaces, cross-sections, grading, alignments, and profiles for existing and proposed conditions
  • Translate sketches, markups, and redlines from design engineers into precise CAD deliverables
  • Collaborate with engineers to produce construction plans, conceptual figures, and technical drawings
  • Apply company CAD standards and help update templates, styles, blocks, and processes to support team needs
  • Conduct quality control reviews on models, drawings, and survey data to support accuracy and compliance with project requirements
  • Train and mentor CAD staff and engineers in drawing production and CAD best practices
  • Lead CAD activities on assigned projects and support CAD workload coordination across the Dams and Levees team and related water resources projects

Qualifications

  • 5 years of experience using Autodesk Civil 3D, with a broad base in engineering design and technical support of engineering.
  • Advanced expertise in computer operation and CAD software.
  • Proven ability to learn, adapt, and problem solve to produce accurate and quality deliverables.
  • Ability to work with all levels of personnel.
  • High School diploma or equivalent.
  • Experience with Microsoft Office Software, especially Excel and Word

Preferred:

  • Associate degree in CAD
  • Drafting and design certificate or Autodesk professional
  • Familiarity with Revit or MicroStation

About Freese and Nichols

At the heart of our culture is our LEADS values ( L earn continuously, E ngage as family, A ct with integrity, D eliver quality, and S erve always). Each year, our employee engagement survey confirms that our leaders and our employees live our values.

We strive to be the firm of choice for clients and employees through innovative approaches, practical results, and outstanding service. For more than 130 years, we have been planning and designing the infrastructure our communities need: developing water supplies, designing roadways and bridges, preparing for natural disasters, and much more.

Besides our comprehensive benefits package (see more at Benefits That Work for You ), we offer paid overtime for salaried employees, an annual bonus, and access to company cabins in Red River, New Mexico and Banner Elk, North Carolina. We are proud of our flexible work environment which includes a hybrid schedule with up to 40% of remote work, and an alternative work schedule program which provides a day off every other Friday.

Join our team of 1,300 employees as we grow from Virginia to Colorado. Learn more about working here at Working at Freese and Nichols .

Freese and Nichols is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

#LI-Hybrid

Salary.com Estimation for Civil CAD Designer in Houston, TX
$77,798 to $96,741
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Civil CAD Designer?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Civil CAD Designer career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$73,120 - $92,318
Income Estimation: 
$91,158 - $113,466
Income Estimation: 
$97,688 - $130,047
Income Estimation: 
$126,935 - $163,412
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Freese and Nichols

  • Freese and Nichols Oklahoma, OK
  • Freese and Nichols is seeking a Transportation Construction Representative to join our Central Plains Construction team in Oklahoma City . The Construction... more
  • 15 Days Ago

  • Freese and Nichols Tulsa, OK
  • Freese and Nichols is seeking a National Strategic Advisor- Disaster Resilience to serve as the firm's foremost technical expert and trusted advisor in dis... more
  • 3 Days Ago

  • Freese and Nichols Tampa, FL
  • Freese and Nichols is currently searching for a highly motivated Engineering Project Manager within our Stormwater practice with a strong technical backgro... more
  • 4 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Civil CAD Designer jobs in the Houston, TX area that may be a better fit.

  • Liberty Personnel Services, Inc. Houston, TX
  • Job Details: Role Summary The Project Development Designer prepares conceptual drawings and visual design documentation that define project scope and suppo... more
  • 4 Days Ago

  • Apetan Consulting Houston, TX
  • Role: CAD Designer Location: Houston TX, 77072 (Must be local) Schedule: 100% onsite Type: 1 year contract Interview Process: 2 rounds Job Description: 5 t... more
  • 8 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!