Senior Drainage Engineer - Tampa, FL

GAI Consultants, Inc.; Tampa (FL); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

GAI Consultants, Inc. seeks a licensed P.E. to lead FDOT transportation drainage and stormwater design in Florida from our Tampa office on a hybrid schedule.

You will own hydraulic analyses, pond siting, and environmental permitting from concept through delivery, using ICPR, HEC-RAS, and GeoPAK Drainage. The role requires 10+ years of Florida transportation drainage experience, a Florida P.E., and proven project leadership across complex FDOT projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in civil engineering or a related discipline.
• Florida P.E. license, or ability to obtain by reciprocity.
• 10+ years of transportation drainage engineering experience or equivalent depth.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical lead on complex transportation drainage projects, including urban corridors, highways, interchanges, and bridges.
• Direct stormwater management design and hydraulic/hydrologic analysis.
• Model using ICPR, HEC-RAS, MicroStation ORD Drainage, and GeoPAK Drainage.
• Lead drainage permitting through SJRWMD, SFWMD, SWFWMD, NWFWMD, and FDEP with agency reviewers and clients.
• Manage drainage teams across multiple projects, including scope, schedule, budget, and risk.
• Mentor engineers and support licensure and career growth.
• Partner with leadership on client development and Florida market growth.

Skills

10+ years transportation drainage ENG

FDOT project delivery in FL

Stormwater management

Hydraulic analysis

Drainage design

Transportation permitting

Team leadership

Mentoring engineers

Client development

Decision making

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Civil Engineering

Florida P.E. license

Tools

ICPR

HEC-RAS

MicroStation ORD Drainage

GeoPAK Drainage

Job description

Transportation Drainage & Stormwater / Water Resources| Tampa, FL |Hybrid

Lead FDOT transportation drainage design and stormwater management on some of Florida’s most visible highway, roadway, interchange, and bridge projects. In this senior water resources engineering role you will own hydraulic analysis, drainage design, floodplain and stormwater modeling, pond siting, culvert and storm sewer design, and environmental resource permitting from concept through delivery. You will apply industry-standard tools including ICPR, HEC-RAS, MicroStation ORD Drainage, and GeoPAK Drainage to complex FDOT and local-agency drainage projects across Florida.

We are seeking a licensed P.E. with deep FDOT drainage engineering experience in transportation drainage, stormwater management, hydraulic and hydrologic (H&H) analysis, drainage permitting through SJRWMD, SFWMD, SWFWMD, NWFWMD, and FDEP, bridge hydraulics, pond siting analysis, and MS4 / stormwater compliance to serve as technical lead and grow our Florida Stormwater / Water Resources practice.

We’re excited to hire a leader for our Stormwater/Water Resources practice to expand our capabilities and reinforce our reputation as an industry leader throughout Florida. Steve Boylan, VP, Florida Business Sector Leader.

At GAI you get direct access to leadership, a defined development program, and the stability of a firm that has been solving infrastructure challenges since 1958 with an established FDOT project pipeline and the chance to advance into leadership faster than you might at a larger national firm.

What You Will Do

• Serve as technical lead on complex transportation drainage projects including urban corridors, limited-access highways, interchanges, and bridges.
• Direct stormwater management design, hydraulic and hydrologic (H&H) analysis, drainage design, pond siting analyses, and bridge hydraulic reports.
• Perform and oversee modeling in ICPR, HEC-RAS, MicroStation ORD Drainage, and GeoPAK Drainage.
• Lead drainage permitting through SJRWMD, SFWMD, SWFWMD, NWFWMD, and FDEP, coordinating directly with agency reviewers and clients.
• Manage drainage teams across multiple concurrent projects, including scope, schedule, budget, and risk.
• Mentor engineers and support their licensure and career growth.
• Partner with leadership on client development and Florida market growth, and represent GAI at industry events.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in civil engineering or a related discipline.
• Florida P.E. license, or the ability to obtain one by reciprocity.
• 10+ years of transportation drainage engineering experience, or equivalent depth.
• Demonstrated FDOT project delivery in Florida.
• Strong command of stormwater management, hydraulic analysis, drainage design, and transportation permitting.
• Proven ability to lead teams, build consensus, and make sound engineering and business decisions.
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Experience

• Urban and limited-access roadway drainage design; local government roadway, trail, and multimodal projects.
• ICPR, HEC-RAS, MicroStation ORD Drainage, and GeoPAK Drainage.
• Pond siting analysis and bridge hydraulic report preparation.
• Experience with FDOT Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, or the Turnpike Enterprise.

Why This Role Stands Out

• An established pipeline. High-visibility FDOT highway, urban roadway, bridge, and trail work across Florida. Experience with Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, or the Turnpike Enterprise is preferred, not required.
• Real technical authority. You set the drainage approach on complex stormwater, hydraulic, and permitting work.
• A team to build. Mentor engineers and help shape the growth of GAI’s Florida Transportation practice.
• In-house support. Roadway, bridge, environmental, and planning colleagues one call away.

Location, Travel, and Relocation

Based in our Tampa office on a hybrid schedule of 2–3 days onsite per week. Periodic travel throughout Florida for client meetings, agency coordination, field assessments, and industry events. Relocation assistance is available. Must be authorized to work in the United States, without sponsorship.

Compensation

Salary range: $185,000 to $210,000 per year, plus a sign-on bonus. This range is a good faith estimate at the time of posting. Actual compensation will depend on factors such as education, licensure, qualifications, relevant experience, and current skills.

Health and Wellness

Medical, dental, and vision coverage; company-paid life insurance; short- and long-term disability; Employee Assistance Program

Time and Flexibility

Hybrid schedule with 2–3 days onsite per week; generous paid time off; seven paid holidays plus one floating holiday; paid parental and adoption leave

Financial and Growth

401(k) with company match; performance and development bonuses; relocation assistance; tuition reimbursement; licensing and certification support

Ready to Build Florida’s Transportation Future?