Intermediate Civil Designer / Technologist
Arcadis · Toronto · CA$80,000–CA$120,000 (stated in the posting)
Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.
We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.
Role description:
This role is intended for a highly capable Civil 3D professional who can independently lead the design production of land development projects while mentoring junior staff and developing toward Senior Designer responsibilities. The successful candidate will serve as the lead designer within a project delivery cell, owning technical design and drawing package responsibilities while working closely with Project Managers, Engineers, Designers, and Technologists.
Role accountabilities:
POSITION DUTIES
- Serve as the primary Civil 3D design resource within assigned project teams, translating engineering concepts and criteria into complete, coordinated design models and drawing packages.
- Lead Civil 3D design production for land development projects, including grading, servicing, stormwater management, erosion and sediment control, roadworks, and municipal infrastructure.
- Develop grading, servicing, and stormwater management design solutions in collaboration with Project Engineers and Project Managers.
- Lead development of grading strategies, municipal servicing layouts, storm drainage systems, and site design solutions using advanced Civil 3D functionality and Ontario municipal design standards.
- Act as the primary Designer A resource within a project delivery team consisting of a Project Manager, Project Engineer, and supporting Designers/Technologists.
- Coordinate with engineers, planners, surveyors, landscape architects, utility companies, municipalities, architects, and other disciplines throughout project delivery.
- Participate in design reviews, municipal comment resolution discussions, project coordination meetings, and submission planning activities.
- Develop a strong understanding of project objectives, client requirements, municipal standards, and approval processes.
- Support municipal approval submissions by coordinating design revisions and responses to municipal and agency comments.
- Apply engineering standards, municipal criteria, and industry best practices to develop practical, efficient, and constructible design solutions.
- Demonstrate initiative in identifying design issues, proposing practical solutions, and advancing projects with limited supervision.
- Work on projects that include:
- Residential developments
- Draft Plan Subdivisions
- High-rise and mixed-use developments
- Industrial and employment lands
- Commercial developments
- Institutional developments
- Municipal infrastructure improvements
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Function as the Civil 3D technical lead within the project delivery cell.
- Lead preparation and coordination of Civil 3D drawing packages for grading, servicing, stormwater management, erosion and sediment control, and municipal infrastructure projects.
- Independently prepare:
- Grading plans
- Servicing plans
- Composite utility plans
- ESC plans
- Stormwater management layouts
- Roadway designs
- Plan and profile drawings
- Detail sheets
- Engineering submission packages
- Develop and manage Civil 3D models throughout the project lifecycle, maintaining model integrity, coordination, and quality control.
- Establish and maintain project Data Shortcut environments, reference structures, drawing templates, and production workflows.
- Design and coordinate:
- Water distribution systems
- Sanitary sewer systems
- Storm sewer systems
- Stormwater management facilities
- Road geometry and profiles
- Site access and circulation layouts
- Utility coordination plans
- Site and lot grading systems
- Utilize advanced Civil 3D tools to develop grading solutions, utility networks, corridors, profiles, cross-sections, and stormwater infrastructure layouts.
- Interpret survey information, geotechnical recommendations, utility information, municipal standards, and engineering requirements to develop coordinated design solutions.
- Evaluate design constraints, identify conflicts, and recommend practical engineering solutions before formal review stages.
- Coordinate closely with Project Engineers regarding design intent, municipal review comments, approvals requirements, and design revisions.
- Assist with quantity takeoffs, earthworks calculations, servicing checks, preliminary design calculations, and cost estimate preparation.
- Act as the lead coordinator for drawing package quality, ensuring consistency across grading, servicing, roadworks, utility, landscape, and architectural disciplines.
- Maintain ownership of package quality, accuracy, completeness, and schedule performance.
- Support Site Plan, Draft Plan, Condominium, and municipal engineering submissions.
- Mentor junior designers and technologists on Civil 3D workflows, drafting standards, model management, and quality control practices.
- Troubleshoot Civil 3D modelling, coordination, and production issues while supporting junior team members.
- Support continuous improvement of Civil 3D standards, templates, workflows, and best practices across the team.
Qualifications & Experience:
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Advanced Civil 3D Expertise
- Advanced proficiency in Autodesk Civil 3D with demonstrated experience delivering complete land development projects.
- Expert-level understanding of:
- Existing and proposed surface modelling
- Feature lines and grading tools
- Pipe networks
- Alignments and profiles
- Corridors
- Cross-sections
- Data Shortcuts
- Xrefs and project referencing
- Quantity takeoffs
- Label styles and standards management
- Ability to independently establish and manage Civil 3D project environments.
- Ability to develop efficient and scalable modelling approaches for complex land development projects.
- Strong understanding of Civil 3D best practices, model management, file organization, workflow optimization, and QA/QC procedures.
Land Development Design
- Advanced grading and drainage design
- Municipal servicing design
- Site servicing design
- Watermain design
- Sanitary sewer design
- Storm sewer design
- Stormwater management facility layout
- Road design and profiles
- Utility coordination
- Earthworks analysis and balancing
- Functional servicing support
- Municipal engineering submission requirements
- Ontario municipal design standards
- Development approval processes
Design Coordination
- Site Plan developments
- Draft Plan Subdivisions
- Condominium developments
- Municipal comment response coordination
- Multidisciplinary drawing coordination
- Constructability reviews
- Quantity takeoffs and cost estimates
Digital Design Leadership
- Recognized as a strong Civil 3D user capable of mentoring others and resolving technical modelling challenges.
- Ability to review and improve design workflows, templates, standards, and production processes.
- Experience integrating survey information, utility information, GIS data, and consultant information into coordinated Civil 3D models.
MUST-HAVE
- Civil Engineering Technology diploma, Civil Engineering degree, or equivalent education and experience.
- 5-10 years of land development or municipal infrastructure design experience.
- Advanced Civil 3D expertise with the ability to independently deliver complete grading, servicing, roadworks, and municipal infrastructure drawing packages.
- Experience preparing Functional Servicing Reports (FSRs).
- Experience preparing Stormwater Management Reports (SWMs).
- Experience with both subdivision and site plan projects.
- Proven ability to establish, manage, and coordinate complex Civil 3D project models with limited supervision.
- Demonstrated experience leading production and quality control of Civil 3D deliverables on land development projects.
- Strong working knowledge of Ontario and GTA municipal engineering standards and submission requirements.
- Experience preparing Site Plan, Draft Plan, Condominium, and municipal engineering submission packages.
- Ability to identify design conflicts and coordinate resolutions with engineers and project teams.
- Strong time management, file organization, and drawing quality control skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
NICE-TO-HAVE
- OACETT C.E.T. designation or actively pursuing certification.
- Construction administration or site review experience.
- Previous mentoring experience.
- Exposure to utility coordination and municipal approvals processes.
SOFT SKILLS & EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
- Demonstrates accountability and ownership of package quality, schedules, and deliverables.
- Maintains professionalism and composure when working through redlines, deadlines, and multiple project demands.
- Demonstrates initiative and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- Identifies issues early and communicates risks before they impact project outcomes.
- Mentors junior staff with patience, professionalism, and a willingness to share knowledge.
- Works effectively with Project Managers, Engineers, Designers, Technologists, and external consultants.
- Receptive to feedback and committed to continuous improvement.
- Demonstrates sound judgment regarding when to resolve issues independently and when to seek guidance.
- Takes ownership of both design outcomes and underlying Civil 3D model quality.
- Shares technical knowledge and promotes Civil 3D best practices across the team.
- Leverages modern technology, automation tools, and AI-assisted workflows to improve efficiency while maintaining responsibility for design accuracy, quality control, and professional judgment.
- Demonstrates curiosity toward new software, design methodologies, and digital delivery practices that improve project outcomes.
- Contributes to continuous improvement of templates, standards, workflows, and digital processes within the design team.
EXPERIENCE
5-10 years of experience in land development, municipal infrastructure, or related civil engineering design.
This position is intended for an experienced Intermediate Designer who can function independently, own major drawing package delivery, mentor junior staff, and develop toward Senior Designer responsibilities through mentorship and progressively increasing technical leadership.
Why Arcadis?
We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.
You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.
Together, we can create a lasting legacy.
Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.
Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.