Principal Drainage & Stormwater Management Engineer

Industry

Transportation

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

At Jacobs, you'll help deliver resilient, sustainable infrastructure that strengthens communities across the Mid-Atlantic region. As a Principal Drainage & Stormwater Management Engineer, you'll bring deep technical expertise to complex transportation, transit, aviation, and infrastructure projects while helping advance engineering excellence across our teams.

In this senior technical role, you'll serve as a trusted advisor to project teams and clients, shaping drainage and stormwater strategies, solving complex engineering challenges, and providing independent technical and quality reviews. You'll also mentor developing engineers and contribute technical expertise to strategic pursuits. This role provides the opportunity to shape technical strategy, influence complex engineering solutions, and elevate drainage and stormwater expertise across multidisciplinary teams and projects.

What you'll do

• Serve as a senior technical authority for drainage, hydrology, hydraulics, stormwater management, floodplain analysis, and resiliency.
• Provide technical leadership across highway, bridge, rail, transit, aviation, and other infrastructure projects.
• Develop practical and innovative solutions that balance regulatory requirements, constructability, operational performance, resilience, and environmental considerations.
• Lead and perform independent technical and QA/QC reviews of drainage designs, hydrologic and hydraulic studies, stormwater management plans, floodplain analyses, bridge and culvert hydraulics, and erosion and sediment control plans.
• Guide teams in identifying and mitigating technical risk and resolving complex drainage, hydraulic, floodplain, and permitting challenges.
• Apply requirements and design criteria established by agencies including VDOT, Virginia DEQ, MDOT SHA, MDE, DDOT, FHWA, FAA, USACE, EPA, and local jurisdictions.
• Mentor engineers in drainage design, hydraulic analysis, stormwater management, and sound engineering judgment while supporting professional and technical development.
• Help advance technical standards, best practices, design guidance, and knowledge sharing across multidisciplinary teams.
• Support major pursuits through technical approaches, scope development, innovative concepts, risk strategies, proposal reviews, and client presentations.
• Strengthen client relationships and help expand Jacobs' drainage and stormwater capabilities throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

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Here's what you'll need

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering
• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) certification
• Substantial progressive experience in drainage, hydrology, hydraulics, and stormwater management design
• Experience serving as a drainage discipline leader, technical advisor, or subject matter expert on large, multidisciplinary project
• Expertise with VDOT, MDOT SHA, and other Mid-Atlantic drainage and stormwater requirements
• Advanced experience with HEC-RAS 1D/2D and tools such as HydroCAD, PondPack, StormCAD, HY-8, HydraFlow, XPSWMM, or InfoWorks ICM
• Demonstrated expertise supporting transportation infrastructure projects for departments of transportation and other public agencies
• Extensive experience with drainage design, stormwater management, permitting, and hydrologic and hydraulic modeling
• Strong technical writing and communication skills
• Proven experience mentoring engineers and conducting independent technical reviews

Ideally, you'll also have

• Experience supporting major design-build transportation programs
• Experience with floodplain and floodway analysis, bridge and culvert hydraulics, scour analysis, watershed planning, stormwater retrofits, or erosion and sediment control
• Knowledge of NPDES/SWPPP compliance, green infrastructure, low-impact development, water quality and quantity management, resiliency, or climate adaptation
• Experience contributing technical expertise to proposals, strategic pursuits, client interviews, or presentations

Posted Salary Range: Minimum

160,000.00

Posted Salary Range: Upper

200,000.00

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to a 401(k) plan, as well as legally mandated benefits.

The base salary range for this position is $160,000.00 to $200,000.00; though will be paid hourly based on hours worked. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on November 11, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we're keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.

Locations

CityStateCountryRichmondVirginiaUnited StatesVirginia BeachVirginiaUnited StatesRestonVirginiaUnited States