Lead Transportation Engineer, Drainage

Join our team! Our mission is BUILDING COMMUNITIES. IMPROVING LIVES. With a history spanning over 110 years, HR Green has consistently delivered on this mission, establishing ourselves as a trusted partner for our colleagues, clients, and communities alike. Each day, we work to find solutions that inspire our employees and fit our clients' needs to build trust to exceed their expectations. As a leading player in the industry, we’re proud to be ranked No. 168 on Engineering News Record’s Top 500 Design Firms list in 2025. Our unwavering dedication to cultivating an exceptional workplace environment has earned us the distinguished honor of being recognized as a Best Place to Work.

Lead Drainage Engineer

HR Green is seeking a Lead Drainage Engineer who is eager to make a lasting impact—both technically and organizationally. This role offers a clear pathway for professional growth, leadership development, and advancement into management while playing a critical role in expanding our transportation drainage practice.

You’ll lead complex drainage efforts, mentor and grow a high-performing team, and partner with leadership to help shape the future of our business.

What You’ll Do

As a Lead Drainage Engineer, you will:

• Lead and manage drainage-related engineering tasks involving hydraulics, hydrology, and technical reporting across multiple transportation projects.
• Serve as a technical authority, applying professional judgment to independently develop and direct engineering designs.
• Collaborate closely with Project Managers—or serve as Project Manager on select projects—to assign work, set schedules, and guide multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide technical oversight, quality control, and mentorship, helping develop engineers at all levels and strengthening our internal expertise.
• Play an active role in growing and shaping the drainage team, including identifying staffing needs, supporting hiring efforts, and fostering a collaborative team culture.
• Make design decisions that meet client needs and align with project goals and long-term infrastructure performance.
• Proactively identify and resolve technical, schedule, and financial challenges in partnership with project leadership and clients.
• Communicate directly with clients, prepare project addenda, and recommend and develop change orders when necessary.
• Support proposal development and business planning efforts, including scope definition, cost estimating, and schedule development.
• Sign and seal engineering documents as an authorized representative of HR Green.
• Contribute to firm-wide standards, best practices, and innovation initiatives within your technical discipline.
• Represent HR Green through professional organizations, technical presentations, and industry engagement.
• Partner with leadership in business development efforts, leveraging technical expertise and client relationships to expand existing accounts and pursue new opportunities.

Career Growth & Leadership Path

This role is ideal for a senior engineer who is ready to take the next step in their career. At HR Green, we intentionally invest in our leaders by offering:

• A clear path toward expanded leadership and management responsibilities, including opportunities to grow into Group Leader or regional leadership roles.
• The ability to build and lead a team, influence staffing strategies, and shape technical direction.
• Hands-on involvement in strategic planning, business development, and client growth.
• Mentorship from experienced firm leaders and exposure to decision-making that impacts the broader organization.
• The opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by helping define standards, processes, and future talent within the drainage discipline.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering
• 10 years of progressive engineering design experience, with demonstrated authority to sign and seal engineering documents
• Active Professional Engineer (P.E.) license, with the ability to obtain licensure in additional states as needed
• Experience with drainage and hydraulic modeling tools such as:
  • OpenRoads Designer
  • MicroStation
  • HEC-RAS
  • HEC-HMS
  • XP-SWMM (preferred)
  • SRH-2D (preferred)

Why HR Green?

• At HR Green, you’ll find more than a job—you’ll find a career with purpose and momentum. You’ll have the opportunity to lead meaningful projects, grow a talented team, expand our business, and help shape infrastructure that strengthens communities for generations to come. If you’re looking for a role where your technical expertise, leadership ambition, an entrepreneurial mindset can thrive—we’d love to hear from you.
• Visit our website for detailed total rewards information. https://www.hrgreen.com/careers/total-rewards/
• CLICK HERE to find out why our employees chose HR Green. 
• Not only does HR Green provide you with a place to grow, thrive, and enjoy your work, but we are also dedicated to delivering a comprehensive and multi-faceted benefits package.  We invest in our people with a comprehensive total rewards package that supports both your career and your life outside of work, including:

• Employee ownership opportunities
• Hybrid and flexible work schedule 
• Performance-based bonus program
• Traditional and Roth 401(k) plans with immediate vesting of employer match
• Tuition reimbursement for continued learning
• Two days of paid volunteer time each year
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Parental leave
• Fitness membership reimbursement
• Ergonomic desk and office set-ups

Compensation 

$110,000 – 150,000

The expected compensation range for this position is displayed in accordance with the Illinois Salary Transparency amendment to the Equal Pay Act of 2003. The final agreed-upon compensation is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: individual education, qualifications, skills, prior work experience, competencies, and geographic work location. The total annual compensation package may consist of a base salary and eligibility to participate, after a qualifying period, in our performance and discretionary incentive bonus program(s).

HR Green is proud to be an affirmative action/ equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law.