Drainage Engineer Orange County

LVI Associates; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company contributions

Generous PTO and paid holidays

Leadership development and mentorship

Professional development support

Strong work-life balance culture

Job summary

LVI Associates is seeking a Project Engineer (Flood & Drainage) in California to join our Flood & Drainage team on public agency projects. The role targets a licensed PE with water resources expertise and strong modeling skills.

You’ll develop hydrologic/hydraulic models, perform flood risk assessments, support FEMA/ master plans, and coordinate with agencies and multidisciplinary teams while mentoring junior staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field.
• Active California Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 5+ years of water resources engineering experience.
• Proficiency with HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, InfoWorks ICM, XP-SWMM, TUFLOW, MIKE, or similar modeling software.
• Experience with floodplain mapping, FEMA studies, drainage master planning, and hydraulic modeling.
• Strong ArcGIS Pro and geospatial data management experience.
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively while mentoring junior team members.

Responsibilities

• Develop and analyze hydrologic and hydraulic models for stormwater, watershed, floodplain, and flood control projects.
• Perform flood risk assessments, drainage studies, and infrastructure deficiency evaluations.
• Support drainage master plans, FEMA flood studies, and climate resilience initiatives.
• Assist in the design and evaluation of pump stations, detention basins, channels, culverts, and storm drain systems.
• Develop GIS databases, mapping products, and geospatial analyses to support engineering studies.
• Prepare technical reports, memoranda, exhibits, and client presentations.
• Coordinate with public agencies, project stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Support the preparation of plans, specifications, cost estimates, and construction documents.

Skills

Water resources engineering

Hydrologic modelling

Hydraulic modelling

Flood risk assessment

GIS

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

California PE license

Tools

HEC-RAS

HEC-HMS

InfoWorks ICM

XP-SWMM

TUFLOW

MIKE

ArcGIS Pro

Job description

Job Title: Project Engineer (Flood & Drainage) Salary Range: $100,000 - $140,000

Company Description

Join an award-winning engineering consulting firm recognized for its innovative culture, employee development, and commitment to solving complex infrastructure challenges across California. This employee-focused organization empowers engineers to grow their careers while working on meaningful projects that improve communities and build resilience for the future.

Job Description

We are seeking a Project Engineer to join a growing Flood & Drainage team supporting public agency clients throughout California. This role is ideal for a licensed PE with experience in water resources engineering, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, stormwater systems, and flood risk reduction projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and analyze hydrologic and hydraulic models for stormwater, watershed, floodplain, and flood control projects.
• Perform flood risk assessments, drainage studies, and infrastructure deficiency evaluations.
• Support drainage master plans, FEMA flood studies, and climate resilience initiatives.
• Assist in the design and evaluation of pump stations, detention basins, channels, culverts, and storm drain systems.
• Develop GIS databases, mapping products, and geospatial analyses to support engineering studies.
• Prepare technical reports, memoranda, exhibits, and client presentations.
• Coordinate with public agencies, project stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Support the preparation of plans, specifications, cost estimates, and construction documents.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or related field.
• Active California Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 5+ years of water resources engineering experience.
• Proficiency with HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, InfoWorks ICM, XP-SWMM, TUFLOW, MIKE, or similar modeling software.
• Experience with floodplain mapping, FEMA studies, drainage master planning, and hydraulic modeling.
• Strong ArcGIS Pro and geospatial data management experience.
• Knowledge of stormwater infrastructure, flood control facilities, and watershed management.
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively while mentoring junior team members.

Compensation

• Base salary of $115,000 - $145,000, depending on experience.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company contributions.
• Generous PTO and paid holidays.
• Leadership development and mentorship programs.
• Professional development and continuing education support.
• Unique employee-focused culture with strong work-life balance.

Why Should You Apply?

If you're passionate about water resources, flood mitigation, and resilient infrastructure, this is an opportunity to work on technically challenging projects that make a real impact. You'll join a collaborative team that values innovation, invests heavily in employee growth, and provides a clear path toward technical and project leadership.