Drainage Engineer

Fairhurst; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairhurst in Edinburgh is seeking a Drainage Engineer to deliver a broad range of drainage projects including major infrastructure and renewables. You will design highway drainage systems, develop strategies from feasibility to construction, and coordinate with highways geometry, earthworks, utilities, and environmental requirements.

The role emphasizes technical delivery, client management, and quality assurance, with opportunities to progress in project leadership and professional development

Responsibilities

• Design highway drainage systems for new-build, improvement, maintenance, and major infrastructure schemes.
• Develop drainage strategies from feasibility through detailed design and construction.
• Design surface water drainage systems including highway gullies, carrier drains, and pipe networks.
• Undertake rainfall/runoff calculations and climate-change allowances.
• Undertake hydraulic calculations and network modelling using Causeway Flow and InfoDrainage.
• Oversee models, drawings, and technical reports; coordinate with other disciplines.

Job description

The Drainage Engineer is responsible for delivering on a broad and diverse range of drainage projects, including major infrastructure, masterplan development, and renewables/energy schemes.

The role requires strong technical capability, a commitment to high quality design, and an ambition to develop experience in both project and client management.

Design & Technical Delivery

• Design highway drainage systems for new-build, improvement, maintenance, and major infrastructure schemes.
• Develop drainage strategies from feasibility through detailed design and construction.
• Design surface water drainage systems including:
• Highway gullies and carrier drains
• Pipe networks and culverts
• Filter drains and linear drainage systems
• Headwalls and outfalls
• Attenuation and storage systems
• Swales, ponds, wetlands, and other SuDS features
• Pumped drainage systems where required
• Undertake rainfall/runoff calculations and assess design storm events and climate-change allowances.
• Undertake hydraulic calculations and network modelling using Causeway Flow and/or InfoDrainage to assess capacity, surcharge, flooding, and exceedance.
• Oversee and produce accurate models, drawings, and technical reports.
• Coordinate drainage design with highways geometry, earthworks, structures, utilities, landscaping, environmental, and geotechnical requirements.
• Assess existing drainage infrastructure and identify capacity constraints, defects, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop flood mitigation and exceedance-flow solutions.
• Assist in technical reviews, ensuring designs align with best practice and project specifications.

Project Management

• Support the planning, coordination, and delivery of engineering tasks and project packages.
• Monitor progress, manage priorities, and contribute to forecasting, resources, and project reporting.
• Develop experience in commercial awareness, risk management, and programme control.
• Take ownership of assigned tasks and deliverables, ensuring compliance with deadlines and quality standards.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Attend meetings, workshops, and site visits (driving licence required).
• Communicate proactively with clients, consultants, contractors, and regulators.
• Represent Fairhurst professionally, clearly conveying technical information to varied audiences.
• Build strong, long‑term working relationships with partners and stakeholders.

Quality & Compliance

• Apply relevant highway, drainage, water, flood-risk, and environmental standards and guidance.
• Demonstrate an understanding of requirements from organisations such as National Highways, local highway authorities, Lead Local Flood Authorities, water companies, and the Environment Agency.
• Prepare drainage design reports, calculations, specifications, schedules, drawings, and technical submissions.
• Ensure designs satisfy relevant health, safety, environmental, planning, and constructability requirements.
• Contribute to technical approvals and departures from standards where required
• Support and guide junior team members, sharing knowledge and encouraging professional development.
• Assist in developing skills within the team and contribute to a positive, collaborative working environment.