SuDS Civil Engineer

Jacobs; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Well-being benefits

Global giving & volunteering program

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a leader in surface water and drainage to deliver end-to-end design, modelling, and governance for major projects in the UK. You will guide teams across feasibility through handover, applying SuDS and climate-resilient strategies to complex urban and environmental challenges.

You will mentor colleagues, ensure regulatory compliance, and advance best practices in water resources engineering while contributing to Jacobs’ global and local impact.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable track record leading surface water and drainage projects.
• In-depth knowledge of legislation, planning policy and design standards.
• Chartered status or working towards with ICE/CIWEM.
• Proficient in hydraulic modelling tools such as MicroDrainage/InfoDrainage/InfoWorks ICM/Causeway Flow.

Responsibilities

• Deliver outline and detailed design of surface water drainage solutions and strategies, including SuDS and green infrastructure.
• Review and approve design calculations, hydraulic models, contracts, and specifications.
• Oversee project lifecycle from feasibility to detailed design and construction.
• Conduct hydrological and hydraulic modelling for surface water systems.
• Incorporate climate resilience and biodiversity into designs.
• Promote best practice and innovation in water resource management.
• Ensure adherence to local, national, and international water regulations.

Skills

Flood risk

SuDS design

Hydraulic modelling

Team leadership

Regulatory knowledge

ICE/CIWEM chartered

Tools

MicroDrainage

InfoDrainage

InfoWorks ICM

Causeway Flow

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Leading projects from conceptual design through to construction and handover, you will bring your technical expertise in flood risk, sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), and water quality to turn complex challenges into practical, real‑world outcomes to ensure the successful delivery of projects from concept through to handover.

Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, the remit of your role will include

• Deliver outline and detailed design of surface water drainage solutions and surface water drainage strategies including SuDS, green infrastructure and gravity piped drainage.
• Review and approve design calculations, hydraulic models, contract documents and specifications.
• Oversee project lifecycle from feasibility to detailed design and construction.
• Conduct hydrological and hydraulic modelling for surface water systems.
• Incorporate climate resilience and biodiversity considerations into designs.
• Promote best practice and innovation in water resource management and green infrastructure.
• Ensure adherence to local, national, and international water management and environmental regulations.

Here's what you'll need

With a demonstrable track record in leading teams in the delivery of surface water and drainage strategies and solutions, we are keen to hear from candidates with a real blend of the following skills, experience and attributes;

• Chartered status (or working towards) with the ICE, CIWEM etc..
• In depth knowledge of relevant legislation, planning policy and design standards
• Sound knowledge of Safety in Design and an understanding of CDM requirements
• Proficient in hydraulic modelling (e.g. MicroDrainage, InfoDrainage, InfoWorks ICM, Causeway Flow)
• Comfortable taking a lead role, mentoring colleagues and peers to ensure both personal, career and capability development.

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well‑being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https://www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.