Senior Drainage Engineer

STV Incorporated; Los Angeles (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

Continuing Education

Job summary

STV seeks a Senior Drainage Engineer to lead drainage design for transportation infrastructure across California and the West, guiding complex projects, mentoring staff, and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams and public-sector clients to deliver high-visibility programs.

This role offers flexibility to be based in California offices (Los Angeles, Irvine, San Francisco, or Rancho Cucamonga) or other locations in the West, with hybrid work arrangements and a competitive compensation

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
• 13–18 years of progressive experience in drainage design for transportation projects.
• PE license in WA/OR/CA (preferred) or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire.
• Expertise in hydrology and hydraulic analysis with HEC-RAS, HydroCalc, XPSWMM, StormCAD, and related tools.
• Experience with stormwater management, drainage systems, culvert design, and BMP/LID strategies.
• Strong technical report writing and QA/QC for drainage deliverables.
• Proficient with MicroStation and AutoCAD Civil 3D; OpenRoads Designer and ArcGIS.

Responsibilities

• Lead drainage design for transportation infrastructure including roadways, rail, bridges, and highways.
• Oversee stormwater, drainage systems, culverts, hydraulic structures, and LID/BMP features.
• Perform hydrology and hydraulic analyses to support design and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate permitting, coordination with agencies, and environmental regulatory tasks.
• Prepare and review technical drainage reports, cost estimates, and design documentation.
• Provide technical leadership, QA/QC, and mentorship to junior staff.
• Engage with clients and stakeholders to strengthen relationships.

Skills

Project leadership

Hydrology & hydraulics

Technical report writing

Client engagement

Mentoring staff

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering

Tools

HEC-RAS

HydroCalc

XPSWMM

StormCAD

WSPG

WNT-55

LAR04

ORD Storm Module

MicroStation

AutoCAD Civil 3D

OpenRoads Designer

ArcGIS

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

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.

STV is one of the top infrastructure-focused professional services firms in North America. Founded in 1912, STV advises, plans, designs, engineers and delivers the infrastructure that powers local economies, including transportation systems, buildings, water and other facilities. Headquartered in New York City, the company has more than 65 offices and 3,400 employees who reimagine the solutions and structures that connect our communities. The firm is ranked 32nd in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms survey and is 10th in its transportation category. STV is deeply committed to investing in its people and creating a world‑class employee experience. We are passionate about mentoring, coaching and cultivating our talent because we know they are destined to become the next generation of industry leaders. We’re also committed to delivering formative career experiences – and we do that by providing challenging and unique work experiences, by mapping multiple ways to advance (beyond the traditional career ladder!) and by recognizing those who successfully chart new and exciting paths for the firm.

We value a wide range of perspectives and experiences, without regard to any factor or characteristic, regardless of whether it is a category protected by federal, state and/or local law, making them an integral part of how we work. Our approach ensures that every individual is respected, heard, and given opportunities to contribute meaningfully. We remove barriers and create pathways for growth, embedding fairness into our daily operations.

Learn more at stvinc.com.

STV exists to make communities better through innovative solutions that connect people, places and the present to the future. Our local teams throughout the country deeply understand the needs of their communities and have the expertise to provide solutions. We are also committed to giving back to our communities and our neighbors through volunteering and philanthropic activities; fundraising events; scholarships, internships, and mentoring; and sustainability and community improvement projects. Learn more.

STV provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.