Drainage Engineer - Director

GAI Consultants, Inc.

Orlando (FL)

On-site

USD 140,000 - 210,000

Full time

6 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Health benefits

Paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

GAI Consultants, Inc. is seeking a Senior Drainage Engineer to lead transportation drainage initiatives across Florida. This role requires 15+ years of FDOT drainage experience and expertise in stormwater management, permitting, and hydraulic analysis.

The position involves guiding drainage teams, mentoring staff, and shaping strategic engineering direction on complex projects. The ideal candidate delivers across urban and large-scale drainage systems, coordinates with local governments, and

Qualifications

15+ years of experience in transportation drainage projects with FDOT across Florida.
P.E. license with multi-state reciprocity preferred.
Experience leading drainage teams and mentoring staff.
Experience with urban and large-scale limited-access drainage systems.
Permitting experience with Florida water management districts.

Responsibilities

Lead statewide transportation drainage projects and guide engineering direction.
Mentor staff, manage drainage teams, and develop project strategies.
Interface with clients and regulators to secure permits and approvals.
Assess risk and deliver complex hydraulic analysis and reports.

Skills

FDOT drainage experience

Stormwater management

Leadership & mentoring

Strategic engineering direction

Urban drainage design

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Engineering (preferred)

Tools

MicroStation ORD Drainage

GeoPAK Drainage

ICP R

HEC-RAS

Job description

GAI Consultants is seeking a Senior Drainage Engineer to lead transportation drainage projects across Florida, requiring 15+ years of FDOT drainage experience and strong expertise in stormwater management, permitting, and hydraulic analysis. The ideal candidate has experience with urban and limited-access roadway drainage systems, local government transportation projects, and permitting through Florida water management districts and regulatory agencies. This is a senior leadership role focused on guiding drainage teams, influencing statewide transportation initiatives, mentoring staff, and providing strategic engineering direction on complex projects.

Key Attributes And Experience Should Include

15 years+ of experience working in Transportation drainage projects with the Florida Department of Transportation across the State. Experience with FDOT D5, D2, D3, and the Turnpike is preferred.
Urban drainage and large-scale limited access drainage experience is desired.
Experience with local government clients on transportation and/or trail projects
Experience in obtaining stormwater permits with SJRWMD, SFWMD, SWFWMD, FDEP, and/or NWFLWMD.
Proficiency in Pond Siting and Bridge Hydraulic reports is preferred.
Knowledge of ICPR, HEC-RAS is preferred.
Direct experience in MicroStation ORD Drainage and/or GeoPAK Drainage is preferred.
Experience in managing a drainage team and staff is preferred.

General Characteristics

Makes decisions with broad influence on activities of their practices.
Makes authoritative decisions and recommendations that are conclusive and have a far-reaching impact on the practice and the industry.
Demonstrates a high degree of creativity, foresight, and mature judgment in planning, organizing, and guiding projects and activities of major consequence.
Provides leadership and develops and engages others to create a common vision for their projects and the practice.
Assesses the acceptability of engineering economic analyses and the risks associated with solutions to complex engineering problems.
Evaluates solutions to complex problems that involve multiple specialty areas of engineering.
Advocates for ethical behavior in the practice of engineering and assesses courses of resolution to ethical dilemmas in complicated situations.

Experience

15+ years of experience.

Education

B.S. or M.S. Engineering, Master's Degree or Equivalent Experience Preferred

Certification/Licensure

Professional Engineer (P.E.) License, reciprocity in multiple states.
Driver's License

Technical Responsibilities

Frequently performs advisory or consulting work for the practice across broad project areas or within a specialized area with innovative/complex aspects.
Assesses practices and requirements to achieve sustainable performance of complex engineering projects from a systems perspective.

Project and Task Management

Evaluates project management plans for complex engineering projects.
Develops risk mitigation plans to address project risks.
Evaluates effectiveness of leaders and teams.

Management, Supervision and Guidance

Leads an entire project of critical importance.
Develops projects needed for accomplishing the objectives of the practice.
Develops practice strategy for staff development through mentored experience, continuing education, and self-development.
Instills and fosters professional attitudes within the practice.

Communication, Teamwork and Leadership

Negotiates critical and controversial issues with leadership of other practices.
Represents their practice at important functions and conferences.

Why GAI?

GAI offers an exceptional place to do meaningful work, grow your career, and make a real impact in communities nationwide. You’ll join a collaborative, multidisciplinary firm bringing together engineering, planning, and environmental expertise to deliver projects across transportation, infrastructure, power, and energy markets. Working alongside accomplished colleagues, you’ll help move projects from vision through construction, creating solutions that keep people moving, power essential systems, and support responsible development.

At GAI, you’ll work in a team-driven environment grounded in integrity, respect, and shared success, with the flexibility, resources, and career support that reflect a real and lasting commitment to our people. That commitment includes comprehensive benefits, wellness programs, and employee discounts. With opportunities across the U.S., GAI offers the collaboration and client focus of regional teams, supported by the stability, resources, and career-development opportunities of an established and growing firm.

Benefits To Working at GAI Include:

Competitive Pay & Recognition