Overview

Location(s): Southern California
Practice/Department: Engineering
Work Environment: Hybrid
Compensation: $150,000-$190,000 annually*

Position Overview

Who You Are

As an employee-owner, you embrace accountability, working safely, and collaboration while thinking resourcefully and independently.

Like all Dudekians, you are curious and solution-oriented, with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit of innovation.

How You'll Make an Impact

As a Senior Project Manager (Water Resources/Stormwater), you will serve as a senior-level project manager and technical leader responsible for delivering complex water resources, stormwater, and surface water engineering projects. In this role, you will lead multidisciplinary teams, provide technical oversight, and drive innovative solutions that support successful project outcomes for a diverse range of clients.

You will be recognized as a subject matter expert in areas such as hydrology, hydraulics, floodplain analysis, stormwater systems, and watershed management. From project pursuit through delivery, you will apply advanced technical expertise to manage high-impact projects while ensuring quality, regulatory compliance, and client satisfaction.

This position also plays a key role in strengthening client relationships, supporting business development efforts, generating revenue opportunities, mentoring staff, and contributing to the strategic growth of the practice. The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader who is passionate about technical excellence, team development, and delivering meaningful solutions that positively impact communities and the environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Advanced Engineering and Technical Expertise

• Leads technically complex hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, modeling efforts, and engineering studies across all project phases.
• Develops, reviews, and approves engineering designs, calculations, drainage studies, floodplain analyses, grading plans, storm drain systems, and stormwater management solutions.
• Oversees preparation of technical reports, feasibility studies, engineering analyses, construction documents, specifications, and construction-phase support activities.
• Serves as a subject matter expert in stormwater management, watershed planning, flood risk reduction, drainage infrastructure, BMP implementation, and regulatory compliance.
• Utilizes advanced engineering tools and software including ArcGIS, HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, FLO-2D, AutoCAD/Civil 3D, SWMM, and related platforms.

Project and Task Management

• Leads multidisciplinary water resources and stormwater projects, ensuring alignment with scope, budget, schedule, profitability, and client expectations.
• Manages project financial performance, resource allocation, risk management, and project execution strategies.
• Coordinates technical teams across multiple disciplines to deliver integrated engineering solutions.
• Provides senior review and technical oversight for project deliverables and critical project decisions.
• Ensures projects are delivered efficiently while maintaining quality and client satisfaction.

Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance

• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, engineering standards, design criteria, and permitting requirements.
• Maintains advanced knowledge of California stormwater regulations, NPDES programs, and stormwater BMP requirements.
• Identifies and resolves complex technical and regulatory challenges throughout project delivery.
• Establishes and enforces QA/QC standards for engineering reports, plans, studies, and technical deliverables.
• Promotes adherence to safety requirements, project standards, and engineering best practices.

Technical Leadership and Mentorship

• Serves as a firm-wide technical resource for water resources and stormwater engineering.
• Mentors junior and mid-level engineers in technical development, project execution, and professional growth.
• Provides technical guidance, coaching, and constructive feedback to project teams.
• Supports development of technical standards, best practices, and training initiatives.
• Contributes to building technical depth and future leadership within the practice.

Innovation and Process Improvement

• Evaluates and implements emerging technologies, analytical methods, and engineering tools to improve project outcomes and operational efficiency.
• Develops methodologies, workflows, templates, and best practices that enhance technical quality and reduce project risk.
• Champions continuous improvement initiatives across engineering and project delivery processes.
• Remains current on industry trends, regulatory changes, and advancements in water resources and stormwater engineering.

Business Development and Industry Engagement

• Develops and maintains strategic client relationships across public and private sectors.
• Supports and leads proposal development, project pursuits, contract negotiations, and client presentations.
• Identifies opportunities for business growth and revenue generation.
• Develops scopes of work, schedules, budgets, and cost estimates for engineering services.
• Represents the firm through professional organizations, industry events, conferences, and client engagements.
• Contributes to Dudek's reputation as a leader in water resources and stormwater engineering.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience: 18+ years of experience in water resources, stormwater, civil, or environmental engineering, including progressive project management responsibilities.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Licensure: Professional Engineer (PE) license in California or ability to obtain California licensure.
• Advanced expertise in hydrology, hydraulics, floodplain analysis, stormwater engineering, drainage systems, grading design, and watershed management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, lead multidisciplinary teams, manage project financial performance, and deliver successful client outcomes.
• Strong technical writing, communication, leadership, and client management skills.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by the first day of employment

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of California municipal, construction, and industrial NPDES programs.
• Experience with stormwater BMP design, flood mitigation planning, watershed studies, and drainage master planning.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS, HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, FLO-2D, SWMM, AutoCAD/Civil 3D, and other water resources modeling and design software.
• Strong business development experience, including proposal leadership, client relationship management, and revenue generation.
• Experience mentoring and developing engineering staff while maintaining high standards of technical quality and project delivery.

Compensation: $150,000-$190,000 annually*

*Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual's related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location.

Working Conditions

• This job operates in a remote or office-based environment and this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc.

• This job requires occasional project site visits, based outdoors which can include excessive noise, uneven walking surfaces, extreme weather, and moving vehicles and equipment.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This job requires the following:

• Working on a computer, sitting, or standing for long periods of time in an office or remote office setting.

• Attending meetings, both in person and virtually, and speaking on the phone with peers, clients, etc.
• Specific vision abilities, including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

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