Junior Project Engineer – Heavy Civil Underground Utilities

Now Hiring:
Junior Project Engineer| Company:
Ortiz Corporation

Location:

National City, CA 91950 | Industry: General Engineering Const (Underground Util)

Ortiz Corporation is seeking a long-term, full-time addition to our team. This is not an entry-level, temporary, or short-term position. We are looking for an experienced professional who is interested in building a long-term career with our company and growing alongside our team.

Because we are looking to fill this position immediately, preference will be given to candidates who currently reside in or near San Diego County and are available to work on-site. This is an in-person position and is not eligible for remote work.

Ortiz Corporation is a heavy civil general engineering contractor specializing in public works underground utility construction, including sewer, water, storm drain, roadway restoration, and resurfacing. We are seeking a Junior Project Engineer to support our growing portfolio of municipal infrastructure projects throughout San Diego County.

This role serves as a central coordination point between project managers, field crews, subcontractors, inspectors, vendors, and municipal agencies—helping keep documentation, procurement, scheduling, and construction operations moving forward in compliance with contract requirements.

If you have experience in public works construction, enjoy solving problems in both the field and office, and want to grow into a project management career with a hands-on, fast-paced team, we'd like to hear from you.

• Coordinate daily communication between project managers, foremen, subcontractors, vendors, inspectors, and municipal representatives.
• Track outstanding issues, pending approvals, shutdowns, procurement items, and closeout tasks.
• Support weekly look-ahead scheduling and planning meetings.

• Prepare, submit, and track RFIs using owner-specific systems and formats.
• Review plans and specifications to identify conflicts and constructability concerns.
• Prepare, review, and track material and product submittals for compliance.
• Coordinate material testing and inspections and maintain testing logs.

• Support the construction of sewer mains, water mains, water services, and replumb systems.
• Coordinate shutdown scheduling, utility tie-ins, trench restoration, and resurfacing activities.
• Coordinate trench restoration, dig-outs, curb ramps, alley aprons, and roadway restoration work.
• Perform quantity takeoffs from plans and specifications.
• Assist with bid pricing, schedules of values, and subcontractor comparisons.
• Prepare Time & Material cost proposals using labor burden rates and equipment schedules.
• Support the pricing and development of change orders related to plan revisions and owner-directed scope changes.
• Coordinate with utility, paving, striping, corrosion, drilling, welding, and concrete subcontractors.
• Track procurement of long-lead materials and specialty components.
• Maintain communication with suppliers regarding pricing, lead times, and submittal requirements.

• Experience in public works, heavy civil, or underground utility construction (project engineering or project coordination experience preferred).
• Working knowledge of municipal specifications, standard drawings, and construction administration processes.
• Ability to read, interpret, and annotate construction plans.
• Strong organizational and follow-up skills, with the ability to track multiple RFIs, submittals, schedules, and subcontractor activities simultaneously.
• Familiarity with quantity takeoffs and cost proposal development is a plus.
• Proficiency with PDF plan annotation and document management software.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills—you will serve as the connector between the field, office, and client.

Preferred:
Experience using AI tools and other emerging technologies. We encourage innovation and welcome individuals who enjoy leveraging technology to improve productivity, solve problems, streamline workflows, and work more efficiently.

We're a hands-on, growing general engineering…