Senior Drainage Engineer - Transport

Tetra Tech Europe; Dún Laoghaire; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Tetra Tech Europe is looking for a Senior Drainage Engineer to provide technical leadership in the Transport and Civils Drainage team across multiple projects in Ireland and the UK. This role includes leading drainage design efforts, coordinating with various teams, and ensuring compliance with project standards.

Expect to integrate AI and emerging technologies, scale project lifecycles, and contribute to climate adaptation strategies. This position also offers hybrid working arrangements and the opportunity to mentor junior engineers.

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years’ experience in drainage design and multidisciplinary project delivery.
• Proven knowledge and application of Irish and UK standards.
• Strong competence in 3D modelling and BIM workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver drainage design packages on civil and transport projects.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to training plans.
• Produce compliant designs and calculations.

Skills

Irish drainage design standards

UK drainage design standards

3D modelling

BIM workflows

Technical communication

Mentoring

Education

Level 8 Honours Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline

Tools

3D Modelling Software

Job description

Senior Drainage Engineer – Transport

Location: Galway, Dublin, Cork

Purpose & Scope Of The Role

The Senior Drainage Engineer provides technical leadership within the Transport and Civils Drainage team, taking responsibility for the end‑to‑end delivery of drainage design across a diverse portfolio of projects in Ireland and the UK. This role ensures that designs, calculations, models, and documentation meet programme, technical, and quality requirements, align with Irish and UK standards, and satisfy client expectations. You will lead drainage workstreams, coordinate with project managers, discipline leads, clients, and regulators, and resolve technical interfaces to deliver resilient, constructible, and cost‑effective solutions. The position also includes mentoring junior engineers, contributing to resource planning, and producing high‑quality design packages, reports, and integrated 3D models that support approvals and consents.

Your Impact In This Position

In this role, you will lead and deliver drainage design packages on live civil and transport projects, stabilising and accelerating delivery while contributing to climate adaptation strategies for the Irish national road network. You will integrate emerging technologies, including AI, to improve efficiency and design assurance. Over time, you will take ownership of new projects through the full lifecycle—from inception and option development to detailed design, construction support, and handover—while embedding the latest standards and innovations in drainage design. Longer term, you will have the opportunity to progress into senior leadership, shaping strategy, strengthening client relationships, and contributing to a sustained track record of successfully delivered programmes across Tetra Tech.

Core Capabilities

Standards‑led Drainage Design Expertise: Detailed, practical command of Irish and UK drainage design standards, including TII and GDRCP in Ireland and DMRB, Sewers for Adoption and CIRIA guidance in the UK. The Senior Drainage Engineer applies these frameworks consistently to produce compliant designs and calculations, interpret and justify departures where necessary, and secure the approvals and consents required by project‑specific scopes and employer’s requirements.

3D Modelling And Digital Delivery Excellence: Ability to prepare high‑quality 3D models aligned to current BIM standards, with data‑rich content that supports clash detection, coordination, and digital review. The Senior Drainage Engineer structures models to integrate seamlessly within federated project models, manages discipline interfaces, and uses model‑based workflows to drive accuracy in quantities, spatial checks, and construction sequencing.

Multidisciplinary Integration And Interface Resolution: Collaboration closely with highways, structures, geotechnical, environmental, utilities and construction teams, identifying interdependencies early, and leading interdisciplinary checks and reviews to resolve interfaces and conflicts.

Technical Communication And Stakeholder Influence: Excellent written and verbal communication to convey technical intent clearly and succinctly to team members, design coordinators, project managers, clients and regulators, producing reports, presentations, drawings and commentary that are logically structured, evidence‑based and accessible.

Mentoring And Capability Building: Responsibility for developing junior engineers to deliver work to the quality standards expected by the company, providing structured feedback, contributing to training plans aligned to individual goals and sector strategy, and fostering a culture of accountability, curiosity and continuous improvement.

Qualifications & Experience

• Level 8 Honours Degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Minimum of eight years’ experience in drainage design and multidisciplinary project delivery.
• Proven knowledge and application of Irish and UK standards (TII, GDRCP, DMRB, Sewers for Adoption, CIRIA).
• Strong competence in 3D modelling and BIM workflows.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated experience in mentoring and technical leadership.
• Desirable: Chartered Engineer status (CEng MICE or equivalent), training in climate adaptation, hydrology expertise, and experience with Tier 1 contractors and national authorities.

Working Environment

This role is based in Galway, Cork, Dublin or Kilkenny, with hybrid working and agile office arrangements offered as standard. Office attendance will be balanced to meet project and client needs, while supporting flexible working for work‑life balance. Travel to client sites, planning authority meetings and project locations across Ireland will be required on an occasional basis.

Legal and Equal Opportunity

In alignment with the Equality Act 2010, we will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates and employees requiring additional arrangements. Please inform us if you need any accommodations during the recruitment process or in your day‑to‑day role.