Senior Drainage Engineer

STV; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 161,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Disability insurance

Life Insurance and AD&D

401(k) Plan

Retirement Counseling

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Backup Dependent Care

Parental Leave

Continuing Education Program

Professional Licensure and Society

Job summary

STV is seeking a Senior Drainage Engineer to lead drainage design for transportation projects across the West, with flexibility to base in multiple CA offices or PT locations. You will guide complex designs, mentor staff, and collaborate with public-sector clients, driving high-visibility programs.

You will oversee hydrology/hydraulic analyses, support permitting and regulatory coordination, and contribute to technical reports and cost estimates, while building client relationships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
• 13–18 years of progressive experience in drainage design, preferably for transportation projects.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in WA, OR, or CA (preferred), or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire.
• Experience with drainage design, stormwater management, erosion & sediment control, and regulatory coordination.

Responsibilities

• Lead drainage engineering design for transportation infrastructure projects (roadway, rail, bridge, highway).
• Oversee stormwater drainage systems, culverts, hydraulic structures, BMPs, LID features, and sediment control plans.
• Perform and review hydrology/hydraulic analyses to support design decisions and compliance.
• Coordinate permitting, approvals, and environmental regulatory coordination.
• Prepare and review technical reports, drainage documentation, and engineer cost estimates with QA/QC focus.
• Mentor and develop junior drainage engineers and staff.

Skills

Technical leadership

Mentoring

Client engagement

Regulatory coordination

Report writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering

Tools

MicroStation

AutoCAD Civil 3D

OpenRoads Designer

ArcGIS

HEC-RAS

XPSWMM

Job description

Senior Drainage Engineer

STV is seeking a Senior Drainage Engineer to support transportation infrastructure projects across The West, mainly California. This role is ideal for an experienced drainage engineer who is ready to take on greater technical leadership, guide complex design efforts, support public-sector clients, and mentor early-career staff while contributing to high-visibility transportation programs. This position offers flexibility to be based in one of our California offices, including Los Angeles, Irvine, San Francisco, or Rancho Cucamonga, or Portland, OR, or Bellevue, WA.

This position offers the opportunity to work on impactful infrastructure projects supporting Caltrans, LA Metro, Metrolink, local counties, and municipal agencies while advancing technical leadership, project delivery, and client engagement responsibilities.

Why STV

At STV, you will join a nationally recognized engineering and infrastructure firm known for technical excellence and collaboration. We invest in professional development, leadership growth, and meaningful project work that strengthens communities.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Lead high-impact transportation infrastructure projects
• Expand your technical and project leadership skills
• Mentor and develop engineering staff
• Work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment
• Build long-term client relationships and career growth opportunities

What You’ll Do

• Lead drainage engineering design for transportation infrastructure projects, including roadway, rail, bridge, and highway improvements.

• Oversee the design of stormwater management systems, drainage systems, culverts, hydraulic structures, Best Management Practices (BMPs), Low Impact Development (LID) features, and erosion and sediment control plans.

• Perform and review hydrology and hydraulic analyses to support design decisions, regulatory compliance, and resilient project delivery.

• Support and manage stormwater permitting, erosion and sediment control approvals, and environmental regulatory coordination.

• Prepare and review technical reports, drainage reports, stormwater documentation, design documentation, specifications, and engineer’s cost estimates with a strong focus on clarity, accuracy, and quality.

• Coordinate multidisciplinary design efforts with roadway, structural, rail, and environmental teams to ensure integrated project delivery.

• Provide technical leadership, quality reviews, and QA/QC support for drainage deliverables, including report writing, calculations, plans, and permit documentation.

• Support client interactions and help strengthen relationships with public-sector agencies, stakeholders, and teaming partners.

• Mentor and develop early-career drainage engineers and technical staff, supporting team growth and capability development.

• Participate in project meetings with clients, subconsultants, and regulatory agencies, bringing confidence and technical expertise to every interaction.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
• 13-18 years of progressive experience in drainage design, preferably supporting transportation infrastructure projects.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Washington, Oregon, or California (preferred), or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire.
• Demonstrated expertise in hydrology and hydraulic analysis using some of the following software packages: HEC-RAS, Hydrocalc, XPSWMM, StormCAD, WSPG, WNT-55, LAR04, and ORD Storm Module.
• Experience with stormwater management design, drainage systems, and culvert design.
• Experience with erosion and sediment control design, permitting, and regulatory coordination.
• Knowledge of Best Management Practices (BMPs), Low Impact Development (LID) strategies, and stormwater quality design.
• Experience supporting transportation infrastructure projects.
• Strong technical report writing skills, including drainage documentation and QA/QC review of engineering deliverables.
• Experience with MicroStation and/or AutoCAD Civil 3D; OpenRoads Designer and ArcGIS.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and client-facing environments.

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-MS1

Compensation Range:

$160,647.46 - $183,597.09

STV offers the following benefits

• Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable)
• Disability insurance
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• 401(k) Plan
• Retirement Counseling
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off (starting at 16 days)
• Paid Holidays (9 days)
• Back-Up Dependent Care (up to 10 days per year)
• Parental Leave (up to 80 hours)
• Continuing Education Program
• Professional Licensure and Society Memberships

STV is committed to paying all of its employees in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner. The listed pay range is STV’s good‑faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the final salary offered for this position may be outside of this published range based on many factors, including but not limited to geography, education, experience, and/or certifications.