Landscape Designer

Michael Baker International•Santa Ana, CA

5h•$102,400 - $161,280•Hybrid

About The Position

Michael Baker International is seeking a motivated Landscape Designer to join their collaborative Landscape Architecture team in Santa Ana, California. This position will support transportation, public works, and federal infrastructure and facility projects through site analysis, conceptual design, planting and irrigation design, technical production, and construction documentation. The role involves working directly with landscape architects and collaborating with in-house civil, traffic, structural, and stormwater engineers. This position offers exposure to multiple phases of project delivery, from early studies and design concepts through construction documents and construction-phase support. The ideal candidate should combine creative design thinking with technical accuracy, communicate effectively, take ownership of assigned work, and be eager to grow within a collaborative multidisciplinary environment. A Hybrid working arrangement is available.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from an accredited program.
Approximately 3-5 years of professional landscape architecture experience. Strong entry-level candidates with relevant internship experience and a compelling portfolio may also be considered.
Proficiency in AutoCAD.
Working knowledge of SketchUp, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Creative Suite.
Understanding of planting design, irrigation design, grading and drainage fundamentals, construction documents, and technical detailing.
Ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams and respond constructively to redlines and design direction.
Strong written, verbal, graphic, and visual communication skills with careful attention to detail.
Ability to organize assignments, manage workload across multiple projects, and meet project deadlines.
Portfolio or work samples demonstrating both design/presentation graphics and construction-document or technical-detailing capabilities are required.

Nice To Haves

Experience or demonstrated interest in transportation, public works, federal facilities, civic landscapes, or other complex multidisciplinary projects.
Experience with MicroStation, particularly on Caltrans projects. Candidates without MicroStation experience should be willing to learn.
Experience with additional 3D modeling, visualization, or graphic design tools.
Demonstrated ability to produce clear, coordinated, and accurate work with increasing independence.

Responsibilities

Prepare landscape architecture construction documents using AutoCAD for federal and public works projects and MicroStation for Caltrans projects.
Compile and analyze site information, including land use, site context, soils, vegetation, drainage, utilities, and existing structures.
Develop landscape concepts, planting and irrigation plans, grading concepts, technical details, illustrative plans, diagrams, renderings, exhibits, and presentation materials.
Assist with preparing technical specifications, quantity calculations, and construction cost estimates.
Coordinate design and production activities with civil, traffic, structural, stormwater, and other technical disciplines.
Communicate professionally with clients, agencies, subconsultants, and internal project teams.
Participate in project meetings, site visits, agency coordination, and construction-phase services.
Complete assigned tasks on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with project quality requirements.
Perform careful self-checks and support ongoing quality assurance and quality control throughout project delivery.
Balance design quality with constructability, maintainability, schedule, and budget.
Communicate progress proactively, ask thoughtful questions, and follow assignments through completion.
Build technical knowledge while contributing positively to a collaborative team environment.