Field Engineer 1 - Southern California
The Field Engineer at Confidential Client is an entry-level role focused on supporting heavy civil construction projects through field and office engineering tasks, including interpreting drawings, quantity calculations, surveying, safety compliance, and project coordination. This position offers extensive travel and relocation opportunities across Southern California and beyond, requiring strong work ethic, communication skills, and a passion for safety to ensure successful infrastructure project delivery.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Heavy Civil Construction (Transportation).
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Position Overview
Confidential Client is hiring an entry-level Field Engineer (Field Engineer 1) to support heavy civil, transportation, and water-resources construction projects. This role provides on-site and office support for field operations, surveying, estimating, and project recordkeeping. The position requires travel and potential relocation as project needs dictate. Employment type: Full Time.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist in interpretation of drawings and specifications for field crews and craft supervision
- Perform quantity calculations and material takeoffs from drawings and contract documents
- Support field surveying and layout (elevation control, as-built data collection)
- Assist in preparing work plans, work packages, Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), and daily reports
- Enter data into job cost systems and assist with basic cost review and change order documentation
- Order and schedule material deliveries; coordinate subcontractor operations and site work groups
- Perform basic engineering calculations and technical drafting to support field teams
- Participate in safety reviews, toolbox talks, and mandatory safety training
- Assist estimating teams with historical data review, bid takeoffs, and risk identification
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a construction-related engineering discipline (civil, mechanical, construction management, mining, geotechnical) or equivalent
- Minimum overall GPA: 2.5
- Willingness to travel and relocate to project locations as required (national work scope)
- Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; team player with independent initiative
- Demonstrated work ethic, attention to detail, and commitment to safety and integrity
- Previous internship or construction experience preferred
- Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship requirements
Other Requirements & Work Conditions
- Ability to access all points of an active construction site across varied climates and terrain
- Willingness to work rotating schedules, overtime, and weekends as project demands require
- Regular, reliable attendance and ability to meet deadlines
- Commitment to safe work practices and following written and oral instructions
Compensation & Benefits
- Base compensation: $85,000 - $95,000 per year (actual pay depends on experience, education, and location)
- Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement plan options (with matching), employee assistance/wellness programs, and paid time off
Location & Travel
- Authoritative job location: Santa Fe Springs, CA
- Confidential Client relocates teams based on project needs; final job assignment will be determined closer to start date
- Role requires travel and the flexibility to work at different job sites across the region or country
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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