Hydraulics Engineer

Robert Peccia & Associates; Helena (MT); On-site; USD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Retirement Plan

100% Employee Owned

Competitive Salary and Bonuses

Flexible Work Environment

Professional Growth Opportunities

Job summary

Robert Peccia & Associates is looking for a Hydraulics Engineer in Helena, Montana to support hydrology efforts for transportation projects. Ideal candidates will have 4+ years of experience, with responsibilities including hydrologic analyses, drainage design, and technical leadership.

RPA offers a generous retirement plan, employee ownership, competitive salary, and a flexible work environment. We focus on professional growth and support work-life balance for our employees.

Qualifications

• Four or more years of progressive hydrology and hydraulics experience.
• Experience in transportation drainage preferred.
• Ability to prepare technical documentation and drainage reports.

Responsibilities

• Perform hydrologic and hydraulic analyses and design drainage systems.
• Prepare drainage plans and details integrating project requirements.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to support project delivery.

Skills

Technical proficiency with hydraulic analysis tools (HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS)

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Collaboration and teamwork

Problem-solving abilities

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field

Professional Engineer license in Montana or ability to obtain within 6 months

Tools

HEC-RAS

HEC-HMS

HY-8

Civil 3D

MicroStation/OpenRoads

ArcGIS

Job description

Hydraulics Engineer

• Streets & Highways Group
• All Office Locations
• $80,000 - $115,000 (base salary)
• Regular Full-Time

Robert Peccia & Associates is seeking a motivated Hydraulics Engineer to join our Streets & Highways Group. This position will support and/or lead hydrology and hydraulics efforts for transportation infrastructure projects across Montana and the Northwest, ranging from rural highways to complex urban corridors and interchanges.

This opportunity is designed for candidates with mid- to senior-level experience. Depending on experience, the selected candidate may perform hydrologic and hydraulic analyses under the guidance of senior engineers and project managers, or serve as a technical lead and primary hydrology and hydraulics point of contact for select projects.

In this role, you will help deliver practical, resilient, and permit-ready drainage solutions that support safe and reliable transportation infrastructure. You will work closely with roadway designers, project managers, structural engineers, environmental staff, surveyors, clients, and regulatory agencies to develop drainage designs, prepare technical documentation, support project approvals, and integrate hydrology and hydraulics solutions into multidisciplinary transportation projects.

As a Hydraulics Engineer, you will support and/or lead hydrology and hydraulics analyses and design for transportation projects. Responsibilities will vary based on experience level and may include:

• Perform Hydrology & Hydraulics Design: Complete hydrologic and hydraulic analyses and design transportation drainage systems, including storm sewer systems, culverts, channels and ditches, water quality BMPs, pipe hydraulics, bridge hydraulics and scour support, and floodplain evaluations.
• Develop Drainage Plans & Details: Prepare drainage exhibits, quantities, design details, and plan deliverables that integrate with roadway geometry, structural elements, environmental constraints, constructability considerations, and overall project requirements.
• Prepare Technical Documentation: Develop calculations, drainage reports, hydraulic memoranda, technical reports, permitting documentation, and calculation packages to support design decisions, reviews, approvals, and regulatory coordination.
• Apply Design Criteria & Support Quality Reviews: Apply federal, state, and local design criteria; participate in internal QA/QC reviews; address review comments; and help ensure deliverables are accurate, consistent, and defensible.
• Coordinate Projects & Stakeholders: Collaborate with project managers, roadway designers, structural engineers, environmental staff, surveyors, clients, and regulatory agencies to resolve drainage issues and support project delivery.
• Conduct Field & Site Reviews: Participate in site reviews and field investigations to validate assumptions, evaluate existing conditions, and ensure designs align with real-world constraints and applicable specifications.
• Provide Technical Leadership: For senior-level candidates, serve as the hydrology and hydraulics lead or primary point of contact on select projects, providing technical direction, coordinating drainage design development, and supporting client and agency interactions.
• Mentor & Support Staff: For senior-level candidates, provide technical guidance and mentorship to EITs and junior engineers through task leadership, design review, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
• Support Scopes, Schedules & Budgets: For senior-level candidates, lead hydrology and hydraulics tasks and provide technical input to project scopes, schedules, budgets, and staffing plans in coordination with project managers.

We are looking for a self-motivated engineer with strong technical knowledge in transportation-related hydrology and hydraulics, sound judgment, initiative, and the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively. The ideal candidate has:

• Education & Licensure: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related field, with a Professional Engineer license in Montana or the ability to obtain Montana licensure within six months of hire.
• Relevant Experience: Four or more years of progressive hydrology and hydraulics experience, with transportation or roadway drainage experience preferred. Senior-level candidates should typically have eight or more years of relevant experience and the ability to independently lead complex drainage tasks.
• Transportation Drainage Experience: Experience supporting or delivering roadway, highway, urban street, interchange, culvert, storm sewer, bridge hydraulics, scour, floodplain, or related transportation drainage projects.
• Technical Proficiency: Experience with hydrologic and hydraulic analysis tools such as HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, HY-8, SSA, and/or comparable software. Familiarity with Civil 3D, MicroStation/OpenRoads, and ArcGIS is preferred.
• Documentation & Design Skills: Ability to prepare calculations, drainage reports, technical memoranda, permitting documentation, and plan deliverables with strong attention to detail and clear technical communication.
• Project Coordination: Ability to work effectively with project managers, multidisciplinary teams, clients, agencies, and stakeholders to support project delivery and resolve drainage-related design issues.
• Leadership & Mentorship: For senior-level candidates, demonstrated ability to provide technical direction, review complex calculations and reports, mentor junior staff, and exercise independent engineering judgment.
• Professional Attributes: Strong written and verbal communication skills, collaborative and team-oriented approach, self-motivation, sound judgment, adaptability, and alignment with RPA’s core values and employee-owned culture.

Company Culture and Benefits

At RPA, our employee-owners are the cornerstone of our success. That is why we invest in you, your professional development, your community, and your future, celebrating both your work achievements and personal milestones. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Generous Retirement Plan: RPA contributes to your retirement future, with no match required, starting on day one.
• 100% Employee Owned: Our Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) provides you with direct ownership in the company, aligning your success with ours.
• Competitive Salary and Bonuses: Enjoy a rewarding compensation structure including competitive base salary and company-wide bonus program.
• Flexible Work Environment: We support work-life balance with excellent leave policies, flexible schedules, and paid time over 40 hours per week.
• Professional Growth: We support and encourage professional development and involvement in civic/professional organizations and provide ample opportunity for career growth within RPA.

Additional details about our benefits can be found on our RPA Advantage Page.