Senior Drainage & SUDS Engineer

Calibre Search; Swillington Common; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Free on-site parking

Competitive salary & benefits package

Flexible holidays

Training & progression

Job summary

Calibre Search is working with a Leeds-based team to recruit a Senior Drainage & SuDS Engineer. You will design and deliver drainage solutions for major infrastructure and environmental projects, using digital tools and innovative approaches.

The role offers hybrid working, free on-site parking, and a clear path to technical leadership within a national team. You'll join a respected consultancy with flexible holidays, training opportunities and exposure to high-profile UK projects, while

Qualifications

• Solid background in drainage design, particularly surface water management and SuDS.
• Experience delivering design solutions within a consultancy environment.
• Chartered status with ICE or CIWEM preferred, though wider experience considered.

Responsibilities

• Design surface water drainage networks, attenuation systems and SuDS solutions.
• Produce and review technical calculations, drawings, reports and design packages.
• Use hydraulic modelling and design software to develop practical, cost-effective solutions.
• Manage design packages and ensure projects meet programme and budget.
• Support and mentor Graduate and junior Engineers.
• Liaise with clients, stakeholders and project teams.
• Contribute to technical proposals and future opportunities.
• Explore opportunities to integrate new digital technologies into delivery.

Skills

Drainage design

Surface water management

SuDS

Hydraulic modelling

MicroDrainage

InfoDrainage

Civil 3D

AutoCAD

Chartered status (ICE/CIWEM)

Education

ICE/CIWEM Chartered status

Tools

MicroDrainage

InfoDrainage

Civil 3D

AutoCAD

Job description

Senior Drainage & SuDS Engineer

Leeds

Looking for a role where you can genuinely make an impact, work alongside some of the best technical minds in the industry and get involved in projects that go well beyond your typical drainage design work?

We're working with one of the UK's most established and highly regarded engineering consultancies as they look to strengthen their Surface Water Management and Sustainable Drainage team with the appointment of a Senior Drainage & SuDS Engineer. This is a business with a fantastic reputation, both nationally and internationally, for delivering major infrastructure and environmental projects. They're at the forefront of how surface water is managed, combining traditional engineering expertise with innovative digital technology, sustainable design and a much broader approach to creating better places for people to live and work. Their Leeds office is conveniently located just outside the city, close to the motorway network, making it particularly accessible for those travelling from across West Yorkshire. There's free parking on site, flexible working arrangements and a hybrid approach that gives you a good balance between office collaboration and working from home.

Why consider this opportunity?

For starters, the scale and variety of work is a huge selling point. You'll be joining a nationally connected drainage and water management team, working alongside experienced specialists across civil engineering, hydrology, environmental consultancy, ecology, landscape architecture and digital design. The business works with some of the UK's largest infrastructure clients, including water companies, local authorities, highways authorities, rail organisations and major developers. Projects range from large-scale infrastructure and regeneration schemes through to sustainable developments, flood resilience and integrated green-blue infrastructure. What makes this opportunity particularly interesting is the direction the team is heading. They're not simply looking at how to move water from one place to another. They're looking at how smarter drainage design can improve communities, enhance biodiversity, reduce flood risk and create more sustainable environments. There's also a significant investment in digital engineering, with opportunities to get involved in developing new tools, improving design processes and helping shape how drainage engineering is delivered in the future.

And importantly, there's genuine room to progress.

You'll have access to an impressive network of technical specialists, structured training and professional development, with the opportunity to become a recognised technical expert within the regional team. For someone with ambitions beyond a traditional Senior Engineer position, there's a clear opportunity to develop into a technical leadership role, mentor younger Engineers, build client relationships and become a key point of contact for Surface Water Management and SuDS.

What will you be doing?

The role offers a good mixture of hands-on technical design, project delivery and wider team involvement. You'll be responsible for developing and delivering drainage and SuDS solutions across a diverse range of multidisciplinary projects, working from initial concept and feasibility through to detailed design and construction. Your responsibilities will include:

• Designing surface water drainage networks, attenuation systems and sustainable drainage solutions.
• Producing and reviewing technical calculations, drawings, reports and design packages.
• Using hydraulic modelling and design software to develop practical, sustainable and cost-effective solutions.
• Working closely with colleagues across highways, infrastructure, environmental and landscape disciplines.
• Managing design packages and helping ensure projects are delivered to programme and budget.
• Supporting and mentoring Graduate and more junior Engineers.
• Liaising directly with clients, stakeholders and other project teams.
• Contributing to technical proposals, fee submissions and future project opportunities.
• Exploring opportunities to incorporate new digital technologies and innovative approaches into project delivery.

There's plenty of opportunity to take ownership of your work without being left to figure everything out yourself. You'll have the support of an established national team, including some highly experienced technical specialists who are genuinely passionate about their field.

What are we looking for?

Ideally, you'll already be operating at Senior Engineer level, although we'd also be interested in speaking with experienced Drainage Engineers who feel ready to make that next step. You'll need a solid background in drainage design, particularly surface water management and SuDS, along with experience delivering design solutions within a consultancy or similar engineering environment. Experience using packages such as MicroDrainage, InfoDrainage, Civil 3D or AutoCAD would be beneficial, alongside an understanding of relevant drainage standards, CDM Regulations and sustainable design principles. Chartered status with ICE or CIWEM is preferred, particularly given the technical nature of the position, although the wider experience and capabilities you can bring to the team are equally important. Beyond the technical side, we're looking for someone who takes a genuine interest in the bigger picture. Someone who understands that good drainage design isn't just about calculations and pipe networks, but also how engineering can contribute to better developments, improved environments and more resilient communities. You don't need to be an expert in ecology, landscape design or environmental management, but an interest in these areas would certainly be welcomed.

What's on offer?

One of the biggest attractions of joining a consultancy of this size and standing is the combination of career opportunities, technical support and employee benefits. You'll benefit from:

• Hybrid and flexible working, offering a good balance between home and office.
• Free on-site parking at an easily accessible office just off the motorway outside Leeds.
• A competitive salary and comprehensive, flexible benefits package.
• Flexible holiday arrangements and a strong emphasis on work-life balance.
• Access to nationally and internationally recognised technical experts.
• Excellent training, CPD and ongoing professional development.
• Opportunities to work on major UK infrastructure and environmental projects.
• Exposure to innovative digital engineering and sustainable design technologies.
• A genuine opportunity to develop towards Principal Engineer, technical specialist or wider leadership positions.
• The stability and resources of a major international consultancy, combined with the opportunity to make a real contribution within a growing regional team.

Interested?

If you're a Drainage or SuDS Engineer who enjoys the technical side of engineering but wants more variety, better career development and the chance to work on projects with a genuine environmental impact, this is definitely worth exploring. Equally, if you're already working for a large consultancy but feel you've become a little too specialised or restricted in the type of work you're doing, this could offer a refreshing change.

Calibre Search promote equality in the workplace and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified candidates regardless of their sex, race, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age. We act as both an employment agency and employment business.