Senior Drainage Engineer

Senior Drainage Engineer

My client, a well-established infrastructure consultancy, is seeking a Senior Drainage Engineer with a strong consultancy background to join their growing team. They are looking for an all-rounder, comfortable with drainage design from feasibility stage through to detailed design, including producing Flood Risk Assessments and Drainage Strategies for planning, as well as both highway and on-plot drainage design.
About the Role
The successful candidate will be experienced in applying relevant guidance and standards, actively contributing to fee proposals, and managing projects to budget. They should be able to delegate and mentor junior staff, confidently manage client relationships, and deliver high-quality work for a range of clients, including private developers, public bodies, and contractors.

Requirements

- Minimum 5 years’ consultancy experience in the UK across a range of drainage design schemes and project stages
- Proficiency with industry-standard design software, including AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Site 3D, and InfoDrainage (or comparable alternatives)
- Practical knowledge of UK drainage design standards, guidelines, and processes
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
- Ability to manage multiple projects across different scales
- Strong communication skills, able to liaise with design teams, clients, and contractors
- Good report writing skills, including Flood Risk Assessments and drainage Technical Notes
- Understanding of multi-disciplinary projects from planning through completion
- Chartered status or working towards it is advantageous but not essential

Specific Experience

- Technical experience in drainage design for civil engineering projects, covering preliminary and detailed design, including SuDS features
- Experience liaising with internal and external stakeholders such as planning authorities, Lead Local Flood Authority, statutory undertakers, and national bodies like the Environment Agency
- Client-facing experience, attending meetings and managing stakeholder relationships
- Section 104 / 106 / 185 drainage designs and applications
- Drainage designs following DMRB, Sewerage Sector Guidance, Building Regulations, CIRIA guidance, and local authority standards
- Detailed design of on-plot drainage (surface water and foul) across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors
- Detailed design of highway drainage
- SuDS modelling, including ponds/basins, tanks, rain gardens, and swales
- Experience with tender processes and construction phases, including responding to RFIs and contractor queries

Desirable

- Some knowledge or experience in highway design, including Section 278 / 38 designs to DMRB and local authority guidelines, vehicle tracking, estate road design, commercial/industrial access and car parks, ground modelling/earthworks, and pavement design