Senior Technical Lead
Overview
Our client is looking for an experienced Senior Technical Lead - Water Resources to join their Austin office within a leading multinational civil engineering firm. This role will provide technical leadership and strategic oversight on complex water resources projects across Texas and beyond, with a focus on flood risk management, urban drainage, and resilient infrastructure.
The ideal candidate is a recognized subject matter expert in hydrology and hydraulics, capable of leading multidisciplinary teams, mentoring junior staff, and delivering high-quality technical solutions to public and private sector clients.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as technical lead on major water resources projects, including watershed studies, flood risk assessments, and drainage infrastructure design
- Provide advanced hydrologic and hydraulic modeling expertise, including 1D/2D analysis
- Oversee development, calibration, and review of models using HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS (1D/2D), SWMM, InfoWorks, or similar tools
- Lead preparation and review of technical reports, drainage studies, and floodplain analyses
- Guide design of stormwater management systems, detention/retention facilities, channels, and conveyance networks
- Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, including FEMA, TxDOT, City of Austin, and regional criteria
- Act as a technical advisor to clients, supporting business development, proposals, and client engagement
- Mentor and develop junior engineers and modelers, fostering technical excellence within the team
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across geographies on large-scale infrastructure and resilience projects
- Drive innovation and best practices in modeling approaches, digital tools, and automation
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related discipline (Master's preferred)
- 8-15+ years of progressive experience in water resources engineering
- Demonstrated expertise in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, including complex and large-scale systems
- Strong familiarity with Texas-specific regulations and criteria (e.g., City of Austin, FEMA, regional authorities)
- Proven ability to lead technical teams and manage project delivery
- Professional Engineer (PE) license required (Texas preferred or ability to obtain via reciprocity)
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Preferred Skills
- Extensive experience with 2D hydraulic modeling and floodplain mapping
- Knowledge of FEMA CLOMR/LOMR processes and floodplain permitting
- Experience in climate resilience, green infrastructure, or nature-based solutions
- Proficiency in GIS platforms and data integration
- Experience with scripting/automation (Python or similar) to enhance modeling workflows
Why Join
- Opportunity to lead high-profile, technically challenging projects across Texas and internationally
- Work within a global, multidisciplinary engineering organization with strong technical reputation
- Leadership role with influence over technical direction and innovation
- Competitive compensation, benefits, and clear career progression pathway
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