Senior Hydrology / Hydraulics Engineer

JOB OVERVIEW

ROBERT PECCIA & ASSOCIATES (RPA) has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Hydrology/Hydraulics Engineer. This individual will provide team leadership and technical support on water resource projects primarily within the Streets and Highways Group. The successful candidate will have a comprehensive range of hydrology and hydraulic engineering experience related to transportation infrastructure projects. Key traits include self-motivation, team-oriented, technically proficient, and strong leadership characteristics.

Company Culture and Benefits

At RPA, our employee-owners are the cornerstone of our success. That is why we invest in you, your professional development, your community, and your future, celebrating both your work achievements and personal milestones. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

Generous Retirement Plan: RPA contributes to your retirement future, with no match required, starting on day one.
100% Employee Owned: Our Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) provides you with direct ownership in the company, aligning your success with ours.
Competitive Salary and Bonuses: Enjoy a rewarding compensation structure including competitive base salary and company-wide bonus program.
Flexible Work Environment: We support work-life balance with excellent leave policies, flexible schedules, and paid time over 40 hours per week.
Professional Growth: We support and encourage professional development and involvement in civic/professional organizations and provide ample opportunity for career growth within RPA.

Additional details about our benefits can be found on our RPA Advantage Page.

Primary Responsibilities

The Senior Hydrology/Hydraulics Engineer will serve as a design team leader on highway design projects across the northwest. This position will support our highly ranked and successful Streets and Highways Group. In this role, you will lead a team to design, analyze, and provide technical expertise for water resources on transportation projects. Specific responsibilities may include the following:

Serve as a discipline lead for hydrology and hydraulics on projects of varying size and scope.
Analyze and design common drainage and water resources including storm sewer, culverts, water quality BMPs, pipe hydraulics, bridge hydraulics, scour, floodplain evaluation, irrigation design, and permit compliance.
Review team member preliminary designs for compliance with federal, state, and local criteria and regulations.
Perform site reviews and studies to ensure designs are aligned with location constraints and specifications.
Coordinate and build effective relationships with clients, government agencies, and other professionals.
Provide mentorship, training, and guidance to junior engineers.
Prepare written reports, calculations, and other design documentation.

Qualifications

Individual qualities that the company looks for are self-motivation, intelligence, common sense, industriousness, and the ability to communicate and work well with people. We will consider applicants with varied experience levels but are most focused on qualified individuals who exhibit leadership skills and strong technical knowledge in highway design. The following are desired qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.
Professional Engineering license in Montana or ability to obtain within six (6) months.
Eight years of (8) years of progressive experience in transportation engineering.
Demonstrated leadership skills, communication skills, and ability to work with various teams.
Experienced in roadside drainage including storm drain modeling, culvert sizing, and channel analysis and preparation of engineering design details and supporting documents and reports.
Proficient in analysis software such as HydroCAD, HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, HY-8, and SSA, and CADD design software such as MicroStation and OpenRoads or Civil3D.
Superior attention to detail and technical proficiency.
Experience working with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) highly desirable.
Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) desirable.
Self-motivated and ability to handle tight deadlines and make independent decisions.
Ability and desire to develop and mentor staff.

About RPA

Robert Peccia & Associates (RPA) is a distinguished, 100% employee-owned civil engineering, planning, and land surveying firm headquartered in Montana. Established in 1978, we are renowned for our personalized service and commitment to designing practical and sustainable solutions for our clients.

We champion an open leadership style based on mutual trust, empowering our team members to influence the future of RPA. Our commitment to a collaborative culture has fostered consistent growth and one of the lowest staff turnover rates in the industry. At RPA, our core values—listening, respect, integrity, empowerment, teamwork, and social responsibility—drive our success and shape our dynamic work environment.

Our Locations

Recruiting and retaining people who complement our company culture is a top priority at RPA. We provide services from three well-established and connected offices at key locations across Montana. With hiking, skiing, biking, hunting, fishing, arts, theatre, and more right out our back door, each office offers easy access to the things that make Big Sky Country so unique.

Helena: Our corporate headquarters with access to award-winning trails and a lively downtown community.
Kalispell: Nestled between mountain ranges and ski hills, with Glacier National Park nearby.
Bozeman: Renowned for its quality of life, cultural offerings, and proximity to Yellowstone National Park.

Whether you seek adventure in the backcountry or prefer the serenity of nature, RPA offers the flexibility to balance your career and personal passions.

HOW TO APPLY

Submit your information to careers@rpa-hln.com and become a part of RPA’s innovative and supportive work environment.