Role of a Design Engineer in San Diego: Complete 2025 Career Guide

**Design Engineer vs. Structural Engineer:**

• All structural engineers do design work, but not all design engineers are licensed structural engineers
• Structural Engineers (SE): Hold advanced licensure beyond PE, required for certain complex structures
• Design Engineers: May work under PE supervision while gaining experience toward licensure

**Design Engineer vs. Project Engineer:**

• Design Engineers: Focus on creating construction documents and calculations
• Project Engineers: Manage overall project coordination, budgets, and schedules

**Structural Plans:**

• Foundation plans showing footings, slabs, and below-grade elements
• Framing plans for floors, walls, and roofs
• Connection details and structural sections
• Schedules for beams, columns, and other elements

**Civil Plans:**

• Site plans showing buildings, parking, and hardscape
• Grading and drainage plans
• Utility plans for water, sewer, and storm drainage
• Details for retaining walls, curbs, and pavements

Design engineers in San Diego must account for:

• Seismic Zone 4 requirements throughout the county
• Coastal influence in areas from La Jolla to Imperial Beach
• Hillside construction regulations in communities like Mount Helix and Rancho Penasquitos
• Multiple jurisdictions (City of San Diego, Chula Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, and 15+ other cities)

**Typical Calculations:**

• Gravity load analysis (dead loads and live loads)
• Seismic load calculations per ASCE 7 and CBC
• Wind load analysis
• Foundation bearing capacity and settlement
• Beam and column sizing
• Connection design

**Software Tools Used:**

• ETABS, SAP2000: Structural analysis
• RISA: Steel and concrete design
• RAM: Building structural systems
• AutoCAD, Revit: Drafting and BIM
• Excel: Custom calculations and spreadsheets

**California Building Code (CBC):**

• Chapter 16: Structural Design
• Chapter 18: Soils and Foundations
• Title 24, Part 6: Energy Efficiency
• Title 24, Part 11: CALGreen (Green Building)

**San Diego Municipal Code:**

• Local amendments to CBC
• Hillside development regulations
• Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) requirements
• Coastal zone considerations

**With Architects:**

• Ensure architectural designs are structurally feasible
• Coordinate structural grid with architectural layout
• Integrate structural elements aesthetically
• Resolve conflicts between architectural vision and structural requirements

**With MEP Engineers:**

• Coordinate beam depths with duct runs
• Locate structural penetrations for mechanical/electrical/plumbing
• Ensure floor-to-floor heights accommodate all systems

**With Civil Engineers:**

• Coordinate building elevations with site grading
• Ensure foundation design matches geotechnical recommendations
• Integrate building drainage with site storm drainage

**Contractor Support:**

• Answer Requests for Information (RFIs)
• Review shop drawings and submittals
• Clarify design intent
• Approve or reject contractor-proposed modifications

**Site Observations:**

• Verify construction matches design intent
• Identify potential issues early
• Document special inspection requirements
• Coordinate with building inspectors

**Bachelor's Degree (Minimum):**

• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Architectural Engineering
• Related engineering disciplines

**Relevant Coursework:**

• Structural analysis and design
• Geotechnical engineering
• Construction materials (concrete, steel, wood, masonry)
• Computer-aided design (CAD)
• Engineering mechanics and dynamics

**Advanced Degrees (Advantageous):**

• Master's in Structural Engineering
• Master's in Civil Engineering
• Enhances career prospects and technical expertise

**Engineering-in-Training (EIT) / Engineer Intern:**

• Pass Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
• Typically taken during final year of college or immediately after graduation

**Professional Engineer (PE) License:**

• Four years of qualifying engineering experience under licensed PE
• Pass Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam
• California requires passing both Seismic and Surveying exams
• License issued by California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists

**Structural Engineer (SE) License:**

• Additional licensure beyond PE
• Required for certain structures in California
• Pass 16-hour structural engineering exam
• Demonstrates advanced structural expertise

**Technical Skills:**

• Proficiency in structural analysis software
• CAD and BIM software expertise
• Understanding of construction methods and materials
• Code interpretation and application

**Soft Skills:**

• Communication with architects, contractors, clients
• Problem-solving and creative thinking
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Time management and meeting deadlines
• Team collaboration

**Typical Responsibilities:**

• Create construction drawings under PE supervision
• Perform routine calculations for standard projects
• Prepare details and schedules
• Learn software tools and design methodologies

**Typical Salary in San Diego:**

• $65,000 - $85,000/year
• Varies by firm size and sector (building vs. infrastructure)

**Advancing Responsibilities:**

• Design smaller projects independently
• Perform complex calculations
• Coordinate with architects and other engineers
• Review work of junior designers

**License Progress:**

• Working toward PE license
• Gaining qualifying experience hours
• Studying for PE exam

**Typical Salary in San Diego:**

• $85,000 - $110,000/year

**Expanded Role:**

• Lead design engineer on major projects
• Mentor junior staff
• Client communication and project management
• Quality control and plan checking

**Professional Status:**

• Usually licensed as PE by this stage
• May pursue SE license
• Continuing education for license maintenance

**Typical Salary in San Diego:**

• $110,000 - $145,000/year

**Leadership Position:**

• Oversee multiple projects simultaneously
• Business development and client relationships
• Technical review and final approval
• Firm management responsibilities

**Typical Salary in San Diego:**

• $145,000 - $200,000+/year
• Partner/owner positions may earn significantly more

**Focus Areas:**

• Building structural systems (wood, steel, concrete, masonry)
• Seismic design for high-risk zones
• Foundation engineering
• Structural retrofits and renovations

**San Diego Market:**

• High-rise residential and commercial in downtown San Diego
• Hillside residential in La Jolla, Del Mar, Point Loma
• Educational facilities (UCSD, SDSU, community colleges)
• Healthcare and biotech facilities

**Focus Areas:**

• Site development and land planning
• Grading and drainage design
• Utility infrastructure
• Transportation and traffic engineering

**San Diego Applications:**

• Master-planned communities (Otay Ranch, Santee, etc.)
• Coastal development with drainage challenges
• Redevelopment of former military bases
• Campus and institutional site design

**Focus Areas:**

• HVAC system design
• Electrical distribution and lighting
• Plumbing and fire protection
• Energy efficiency and Title 24 compliance

**San Diego Market:**

• Life science and laboratory facilities
• Sustainable/net-zero buildings
• Hospitality and high-end residential
• Healthcare and medical office buildings

**Geotechnical Engineering:**

• Soil analysis and foundation recommendations
• Slope stability on San Diego's hillsides
• Liquefaction potential near coast and bay

**Coastal Engineering:**

• Wave action and erosion
• Coastal bluff stability
• Marine structure design

**Seismic Engineering:**

• Advanced seismic analysis
• Base isolation and damping systems
• Historic building seismic retrofits

**Single-Family Custom Homes:**

• Luxury coastal properties ($2M-$20M+)
• Hillside homes with complex foundations
• Net-zero and sustainable design
• Architectural homes requiring custom engineering

**Multi-Family Residential:**

• High-rise condominiums downtown
• Mid-rise apartments throughout county
• Mixed-use residential/commercial
• Affordable housing developments

**ADUs and Small Projects:**

• Growing ADU market for rental income
• Garage conversions and additions
• Backyard cottages and studios

**Office Buildings:**

• Life science and biotech campuses (Torrey Pines, Sorrento Valley)
• Traditional office developments
• Creative office and tech spaces

**Retail and Hospitality:**

• Shopping centers and restaurants
• Hotels and resorts (especially coastal areas)
• Entertainment venues

**Mixed-Use Developments:**

• Urban infill projects combining residential, retail, office
• Transit-oriented development near trolley stations

**Educational Facilities:**

• UCSD campus expansions
• San Diego State University projects
• Community college facilities
• K-12 schools throughout county

**Healthcare:**

• Hospital expansions and renovations
• Medical office buildings
• Outpatient facilities
• Life science research facilities

**Government and Military:**

• Naval base facilities
• Civic buildings and libraries
• Public infrastructure projects

**Engineering Offices:**

• Most design work performed in office environment
• Collaborative spaces with design teams
• Computer workstations with multiple monitors
• Access to structural analysis and CAD software

**Site Visits:**

• Periodic field observations during construction
• Pre-design site visits for existing buildings
• Post-construction inspections

**Remote/Hybrid Work:**

• Increasing flexibility post-pandemic
• Many firms offer hybrid schedules
• Dependent on project phase and firm culture

**Typical Hours:**

• Standard 40-hour work week common
• Project deadlines may require overtime
• Peak periods during permit submittals

**Project Cycles:**

• Design phase: Weeks to months
• Construction phase: Months to years
• Multiple projects in various stages simultaneously

**Large Engineering Firms:**

• Arup
• Thornton Tomasetti
• Degenkolb Engineers
• Simpson Gumpertz & Heger

**Mid-Size Regional Firms:**

• Countless firms serving San Diego and Southern California
• Specialization in local market sectors
• Strong relationships with local architects and developers

**Small Boutique Firms:**

• Specialized expertise
• Personalized service
• Niche markets (residential, historic, sustainable, etc.)

**Public Sector:**

• City of San Diego Engineering Department
• Caltrans (California Department of Transportation)
• San Diego County

**Growing Sectors:**

• Life science and biotech facilities
• Sustainable/green building design
• Seismic retrofit of older buildings
• Multi-family residential

**Emerging Technologies:**

• Building Information Modeling (BIM)
• AI-assisted structural optimization
• Advanced analysis for complex geometries
• Prefabrication and modular construction

**By Experience Level:**

• Entry-Level (0-2 years): $65,000 - $85,000
• Mid-Level (2-5 years): $85,000 - $110,000
• Senior (5-10 years): $110,000 - $145,000
• Principal (10+ years): $145,000 - $200,000+

**By Sector:**

• Building structural: Above average
• Civil/site: Average
• MEP: Above average
• Public sector: Slightly below private, better benefits

**Typical Benefits:**

• Health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• 401(k) retirement plans with employer match
• Paid time off (2-4 weeks annually)
• Professional development and continuing education
• Professional license reimbursement
• Bonuses based on performance/profit sharing

San Diego's high cost of living affects salary expectations:

• Median home price: $850,000+
• Engineering salaries competitive to offset COL
• Many engineers live in surrounding counties (commute from Temecula, Escondido, etc.)

**California Employment Development Department:**

• Civil engineers: 8% growth through 2030
• Structural specialization in high demand
• Construction boom driving need for design engineers

**San Diego-Specific Factors:**

• Continued population growth
• Aging infrastructure requiring retrofit/replacement
• Sustainable building initiatives
• Housing shortage driving development

**Technology Integration:**

• AI and machine learning assisting design optimization
• Advanced BIM for better coordination
• Parametric design tools
• Virtual/augmented reality for design visualization

**Sustainability Focus:**

• Net-zero building design
• Carbon-conscious material selection
• Resilience engineering for climate change
• Circular economy principles

**For Design Engineers:**

• Diverse project portfolio (residential, commercial, institutional)
• Mentorship from experienced licensed PEs
• Professional development and license support
• Collaborative work environment

We serve San Diego and all of Southern California:

• **San Diego County:** San Diego, Chula Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas
• **Orange County:** Irvine, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Tustin, Laguna Beach
• **Los Angeles County:** Long Beach, Los Angeles, and greater LA area

From [residential structural engineering](https://aaaengineeringdesign.com/services/residential) to [commercial building design](https://aaaengineeringdesign.com/services/commercial), we provide:

• Structural engineering
• Civil engineering
• Sustainable design consultation
• Seismic engineering
• Value engineering

All projects supervised by California-licensed Professional Engineers with:

• Decades of Southern California experience
• Seismic design expertise
• Building code proficiency
• Professional liability coverage

**Serving San Diego and All of Southern California:**

• **San Diego County:** San Diego, Chula Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, La Jolla, and all surrounding areas
• **Orange County:** All cities including Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, Laguna Beach
• **Los Angeles County:** Long Beach, Los Angeles, and greater LA