Senior Civil 3D Designer / CAD Manager (1099 Independent Contractor)

MNK Engineering & Development PLLC
Remote (U.S.)

About MNK Engineering & Development

MNK Engineering & Development is a boutique civil engineering firm specializing in high-quality land development and residential engineering projects throughout the Western United States.

The firm's founder is a licensed Professional Civil Engineer with more than 35 years of experience and engineering licenses in eight states. Recent experience includes serving in a senior leadership role on the $9.6 billion Micron semiconductor campus in Boise, Idaho—one of the largest construction projects currently underway in the United States.

Our immediate focus is supporting homeowners rebuilding after the Pacific Palisades and Altadena wildfires. We are looking for an exceptional Civil 3D professional who enjoys producing technically accurate, presentation-quality construction documents and working directly with an experienced engineer.

The Opportunity

This is a long-term 1099 Independent Contractor position. You will work directly with the Principal Engineer and serve as the firm's primary Civil 3D design professional. This is not an entry-level drafting position—we are seeking an expert Civil 3D user capable of independently producing permit-ready civil engineering plan sets with minimal supervision.

Required Qualifications

• Expert-level Autodesk Civil 3D proficiency
• Formal Autodesk Civil 3D training
• Autodesk Civil 3D Certification preferred
• 10+ years of land development experience preferred
• Strong grading, drainage, utility, and erosion control design experience
• Excellent understanding of civil engineering drafting standards
• Self-starter with exceptional attention to detail
• Outstanding communication and organizational skills

Highly Preferred Experience

• Surveying and topographic mapping
• Boundary and ALTA surveys
• Surface modeling and point database management
• Coordinate geometry
• Pipe networks
• Profiles and cross sections
• Data Shortcuts and Xrefs
• Sheet Set Manager
• Civil 3D template and standards development
• Presentation-quality exhibits
• California residential land development

California Experience

Experience preparing permit-ready plans for City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, LADBS, Public Works agencies, and other Southern California jurisdictions is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Produce complete civil engineering plan sets
• Build and manage Civil 3D surfaces
• Prepare grading, drainage, utility, and erosion control plans
• Coordinate survey information
• Produce presentation-quality exhibits
• Maintain CAD standards
• Collaborate directly with the Principal Engineer
• Identify design issues before they become engineering problems

Compensation

1099 Independent Contractor

Up to $80 per hour depending upon demonstrated Civil 3D expertise, California land development experience, surveying background, and overall qualifications.

Approximately 20–40 hours per week initially with the opportunity for a long-term working relationship as the firm grows.

Independent Contractor Requirements

• Must operate as a 1099 Independent Contractor
• Maintain a professional home office and reliable high-speed internet
• Provide and maintain a licensed copy of Autodesk Civil 3D and required software
• Available during normal Pacific Time business hours for coordination
• Willing to execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and Independent Contractor Agreement
• Professional liability insurance is preferred but not required for the right candidate

Technical Skills Evaluation

Finalists will complete a practical Civil 3D exercise. A topographic survey and supporting information will be provided. Applicants will prepare:

• Existing Conditions Plan
• Civil 3D Surface Model
• Finished Grading Plan
• Spot Elevations
• Proposed Contours
• Drainage Flow Arrows
• Sheet Layout using company title block standards

Evaluation will focus on technical accuracy, Civil 3D proficiency, organization, CAD standards, presentation quality, constructability, and the ability to produce permit-ready drawings with minimal supervision.

Application Requirements

Please submit:

• Resume
• Autodesk Civil 3D Certification(s), if applicable
• Three representative civil engineering plan sets (client information may be redacted)
• Portfolio or sample drawings (PDF)
• Summary of Civil 3D and surveying experience
• California jurisdictions worked in
• Earliest available start date
• Desired hourly rate

Pay: Up to $166,400.00 per year

Work Location: Remote