Senior Design Engineer - Stormwater & Drainage

AECOM; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Senior Drainage Engineer to lead surface-water and flood-management design for civil and transport infrastructure. You will work within multi-disciplinary teams to ensure safe, sustainable water engineering solutions and code compliance.

The role requires 8–12 years of water engineering experience, GCC/UAE familiarity, and PE/CEng certification. You will mentor junior engineers and coordinate with BIM/CAD teams on projects across the region.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 to 12 years of overall experience in water engineering and stormwater drainage.
• Regional insight into GCC/UAE construction environments and local codes.
• Professional Engineer (PE) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) status (or progressing toward it).

Responsibilities

• Lead design and analysis of surface drainage, pipelines, culverts and cross-drainage structures.
• Develop and calibrate 1D/2D hydraulic models to assess flood risks and network sizing.
• Champion Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and SuDS principles.
• Ensure designs comply with Dubai Municipality and local guidelines.
• Prepare drainage design reports, calculations and technical specifications.
• Collaborate with structural, geotechnical, transport and BIM/CAD teams.
• Mentor junior and intermediate water engineers.

Skills

Drainage design

Hydraulic modeling

Mentorship

Regulatory compliance

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's in civil engineering

Master's degree an advantage

Tools

BIM/CAD

Hydraulic modeling software

Job description

Job description

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

Role Overview:

The senior drainage engineer will lead the design, hydrologic modeling, and delivery of advanced surface-water, stormwater drainage, and flood-management solutions for civil and transport infrastructure projects. S/He will work within multi-disciplinary teams to ensure safe, sustainable, and code-compliant water engineering systems

Key Responsibilities

• Design & Engineering: Lead the layout, design, and analysis of surface drainage, piped networks, culverts, highway drainage, and cross-drainage structures.
• Hydrologic & Hydraulic Modeling: Develop, calibrate, and run 1D/2D hydraulic and hydrologic models to simulate water flow, assess flood risks, and size networks.
• Sustainable Design: Champion Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) principles.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all designs comply with local authority guidelines, environmental regulations, and regional standards (such as Dubai Municipality codes of practice).
• Technical Reporting: Prepare comprehensive drainage design reports, calculation sheets, technical specifications, and risk assessments.
• Project Coordination: Collaborate smoothly with structural, geotechnical, transport, and BIM/CAD teams to produce clash-free drawings.
• Mentorship: Supervise, guide, and mentor junior and intermediate water engineers.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Experience: Minimum 8 to 12 years of overall experience in water engineering, focusing on stormwater management and drainage design.
• Regional Insight: Sound understanding of GCC/UAE construction environments and familiarity with local municipal design codes.
• Certification: Professional Engineer (PE) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) status (or actively progressing toward it).

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, or Water Resources Engineering (master’s degree is an advantage).

Additional Information

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options,well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.