Lead Engineer - Transportation and Drainage

HR Green, Inc.; Aurora, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HR Green, Inc. is seeking a Lead Engineer to guide our Transportation and Drainage practice in Aurora, IL. You will lead drainage projects, mentor engineers, and shape technical direction with leadership support. This role offers growth into management while remaining engaged in technical work.

You will influence project outcomes, manage staffing needs, and collaborate with clients to ensure durable, safe transport infrastructure. A PE license and multi-state readiness are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering.
• 10+ years of progressive engineering design experience.
• Active Professional Engineer license with multi-state licensure ability.
• Experience with drainage and hydraulic modeling tools listed above.
• Proven ability to sign, seal, and own engineering documents.
• Strong communication, mentorship, and strategic thinking skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead drainage engineering tasks across hydraulics and hydrology for transportation projects.
• Serve as technical authority, directing designs with professional judgment.
• Collaborate with PMs and may act as PM on select projects.
• Provide oversight, quality control, and mentorship to engineers at all levels.
• Grow the drainage team, assist staffing and hiring efforts.
• Make design decisions aligned with client needs and long-term performance.
• Communicate with clients, draft agreements, and develop amendments.
• Support proposals, scope definition, cost estimating, and business planning.
• Sign and seal engineering documents as HR Green representative.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering

Tools

OpenRoads Designer

MicroStation

HEC RAS

HEC HMS

XP SWMM

SRH 2D

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Lead Engineer - Transportation and Drainage

Full Time Professional Aurora, IL, US

What if your next role gave you the opportunity to shape a growing drainage practice, lead a high-performing team, and build a legacy while having a clear path to management?

At HR Green, our drainage engineers hel p deliver transportation infrastructure that protects communities, improves safety, and stands the test of time.

This role focuses on leading complex drainage efforts, mentoring other engineers, and helping develop our transportation drainage practice and will give you the opportunity to step into leadership, influence technical direction, and build a team that you help shape.

You will contribute to projects that span hydraulics, hydrology, and infrastructure resilience, working alongside leadership who are invested in your growth into management.

In this role, you will serve as a technical authority on drainage related engineering, leading design, directing multidisciplinary teams, and applying professional judgment to solve complex challenges.

You’ll gain experience in project management, business development, and strategic planning, with exposure to the full lifecycle of transportation projects.

You will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced leaders and a collaborative team of engineers while building your ability to lead, mentor, and influence both technical direction and organizational growth.

Over time, you will have the opportunity to take on greater leadership responsibilities, including team development, staffing strategy, and regional growth, with a clear pathway into management.

Why This Role

The position is different because it combines technical leadership with organizational impact. You will not just be designing drainage systems, you will be helping tobuild a practice, shape a team, and influence how we deliver work across the firm.

This role allows exposure to strategic decisions, client relationships, and firm wide initiatives that go beyond individual project delivery. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to grow into management while staying connected to the technical work they love.

What You Will Be Doing

• Lead and manage drainage engineering tasks involving hydraulics, hydrology, and technical reporting across multiple transportation projects
• Serve as a technical authority, independently developing and directing engineering designs with professional judgment
• Collaborate with Project Managers, or serve as PM on select projects, to assign work, set schedules, and guide multidisciplinary teams
• Provide technical oversight, quality control, and mentorship to engineers at all levels
• Play an active role in growing the drainage team, including identifying staffing needs and supporting hiring efforts
• Make design decisions that align with client needs, project goals, and long term infrastructure performance
• Communicate directly with clients, prepare agreements, and develop amendments as needed
• Support proposal development, scope definition, cost estimating, and business planning
• Sign and seal engineering documents as an authorized representative of HR Green
• You will represent HR Green through professional organizations, technical presentations, and industry engagement
• Partner with leadership on business development, leveraging technical expertise to expand client relationships

You Might Be a Great Fit If

• You are ready to step into a leadership role with a clear path to management
• You’re interested in helping to build and shape a team while staying engaged in technical work
• You enjoy mentoring engineers and elevating the expertise of those around you
• You are interested in strategic planning, business development, and client growth
• You are looking for a role where your experience directly shapes the future of a practice

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering
• 10 plus years of progressive engineering design experience
• Active Professional Engineer license, with ability to obtain licensure in additional states as needed
• Experience with drainage and hydraulic modeling tools such as OpenRoads Designer, MicroStation, HEC RAS, and HEC HMS
• Familiarity with XP SWMM and SRH 2D is preferred
• Familiarity with IDOT Drainage Design, Hydraulic Reports and Location Drainage Studies is preferred
• Proven ability to sign, seal, and take ownership of engineering documents
• Strong communication, mentorship, and strategic thinking skills

Why HR Green

With over 110 years of experience, HR Green has built a reputation as a trusted partner to our clients and communities. We are proud to be recognized as a top design firm and a great place to work.

Here, we are large enough to take on meaningful, complex projects but structured so you can build a team, shape a practice, and have a direct impact on how we grow. You will have the opportunity to leave a legacy by helping define standards, processes, and future talent within the drainage discipline. You will be supported in pursuing leadership, staying engaged in technical work, and advancing your career.

Not only does HR Green provide you with a place to grow, thrive, and enjoy your work, but we are also dedicated to delivering a comprehensive and multi-faceted benefits package. Visit our website for detailed total rewards information.

The expected compensation range for this position is displayed in accordance with the Illinois Salary Transparency amendment to the Equal Pay Act of 2003. The final agreed-upon compensation is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: individual education, qualifications, skills, prior work experience, competencies, and geographic work location. The total annual compensation package may consist of a base salary and eligibility to participate, after a qualifying period, in our performance and discretionary incentive bonus program(s).

HR Green is proud to be an affirmative action/ equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law.