Drainage Engineer

Penguin Recruitment; England; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist water management firm in the UK is looking for a Drainage Engineer to join their team in Reading. The role involves delivering sustainable drainage and flood risk solutions for various projects. Candidates should have a degree in Civil Engineering and a minimum of 3 years' experience in the field. Proficiency in Causeway Flow, AutoCAD, and GIS is essential. The company offers competitive salary, 25 days holiday, healthcare, and opportunities for career progression in a friendly team culture.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days holiday plus option to purchase additional leave

Private healthcare

Pension

Life assurance

Tech/cycle-to-work schemes

Career progression support

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience in drainage/flood risk engineering.
• Knowledge of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), green/blue infrastructure, and nature-based solutions.
• Chartered status (ICE/CIWEM) or working toward it is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Deliver drainage projects from concept through detailed design.
• Apply hydraulic and hydrological principles to ensure sustainable designs.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks and prepare technical reports.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Report writing skills

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline

Tools

Causeway Flow

AutoCAD

GIS

FEH

Job description

The Opportunity

Drainage Engineer

Reading

Hybrid

Flexible working arrangements combining office-based and remote work to support work-life balance.

Join a specialist water team as a Drainage Engineer, delivering sustainable drainage and flood risk solutions across private and public sector projects in Reading. You'll contribute to diverse schemes, including surface water, foul water, water quality, and hydraulic modelling, helping communities and clients achieve resilient infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver drainage projects from concept through detailed design, including SuDS and foul / surface water solutions
• Apply hydraulic and hydrological principles to ensure technically sound, sustainable designs
• Interpret drawings, survey reports, and modelling data to develop innovative solutions
• Ensure compliance with NPPF, PPG, SuDS Manual, Water Industry Act, Flood & Water Management Act, and Land Drainage Act
• Collaborate with clients, local authorities, Environment Agency, Lead Local Flood Authorities, and other stakeholders
• Prepare technical reports, design risk assessments, and support CDM compliance
• Mentor junior staff and share expertise across the team

Candidate Requirements

• Degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, or related discipline
• Minimum 3 years' experience in drainage / flood risk engineering
• Proficient in Causeway Flow, AutoCAD, GIS, FEH, and hydrological modelling
• Strong organisational, communication, and report writing skills
• Knowledge of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), green / blue infrastructure, and nature-based solutions
• Chartered status (ICE / CIWEM) or working toward it is desirable

Why Join

• Competitive salary and flexible working arrangements
• 25 days holiday plus option to purchase additional leave
• Private healthcare, pension, life assurance, tech / cycle-to-work schemes
• Opportunity to work on diverse, technically challenging projects
• Career progression, chartership support, and mentoring from senior professionals
• Collaborative, friendly team culture