Senior Hydraulics Engineer
Senior Hydraulics Engineer
- Streets & Highways Group
- All Office Locations
- $95,000 - $115,000 (base salary)
- Regular Full-Time
JOB OVERVIEW
Robert Peccia & Associates (RPA) is seeking a Senior Hydraulics Engineer to provide technical leadership for hydrology and hydraulics efforts within our Streets & Highways Group. This position supports transportation projects ranging from rural highways to complex urban corridors and serves as a key technical resource for drainage and hydraulic design.
The Senior Hydraulics Engineer will apply sound engineering judgment to complex hydrologic and hydraulic challenges, work closely with project managers and multidisciplinary teams, and serve as the primary hydrology and hydraulics point of contact for select projects. Responsibilities include oversight of drainage design development, preparation and review of technical documentation, coordination with agencies and clients, and mentorship of junior staff.
The successful candidate will be a self-motivated professional with strong technical expertise in transportation-related hydrology and hydraulics, effective written and verbal communication skills, and an interest in delivering practical, high-quality solutions that support safe and resilient transportation infrastructure.
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.
What to Expect in this POsition
As a Senior Hydraulics Engineer, you will provide technical leadership for hydrology and hydraulics on transportation projects ranging from rural highways to complex urban corridors and interchanges. You will work closely with project managers and multidisciplinary teams to develop practical, resilient drainage solutions.
Responsibilities may include:
- Technical Leadership in Hydrology & Hydraulics: Lead and perform complex hydrologic and hydraulic analyses and designs for transportation infrastructure, including storm sewer systems, culverts, channels and ditches, water quality BMPs, bridge hydraulics and scour support, and floodplain evaluations.
- Primary Hydrology and Hydraulics Point of Contact: Serve as the primary hydrology and hydraulics point of contact for select projects, providing technical direction, coordinating with project managers and multidisciplinary teams, and supporting agency and client interactions related to drainage and hydraulic design.
- Drainage Design Oversight: Oversee the development of drainage design concepts, exhibits, quantities, and details that integrate with roadway geometry, structural elements, environmental constraints, and constructability considerations.
- Criteria Application and Quality Assurance: Apply federal, state, and local design criteria; provide technical review of drainage designs, calculations, and reports; and support internal QA/QC processes to ensure accurate, consistent, and defensible deliverables.
- Reports and Technical Documentation: Prepare and review drainage reports, hydraulic memoranda, calculation packages, and permitting documentation in support of project approvals and regulatory coordination.
- Project and Stakeholder Coordination: Coordinate with project managers and roadway, structures, environmental, and survey disciplines, and work directly with clients and regulatory agencies to resolve drainage issues and address review comments.
- Field Reviews and Engineering Judgment: Participate in site reviews and field investigations to validate assumptions, evaluate site conditions, and provide engineering judgment during design development.
- Mentorship and Staff Development: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to EITs and junior engineers through task leadership, design review, and knowledge sharing.
- Task and Scope Leadership: Lead hydrology and hydraulics tasks and provide technical input to scope development, schedules, and budgets in coordination with project managers.
Qualifications
The individual qualities RPA values include self-motivation, sound engineering judgment, initiative, and the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively. We are seeking a senior-level engineer with strong technical expertise in transportation-related hydrology and hydraulics and the ability to independently lead complex drainage tasks while supporting multidisciplinary project teams.
Desired qualifications include:
- Education and Licensure: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (or related field) with a Professional Engineer (PE) license in Montana, or the ability to obtain Montana licensure within six (6) months of hire.
- Experience: Eight (8) or more years of progressive hydrology and hydraulics experience, with a strong preference for transportation and roadway drainage projects. Experience delivering projects for the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and/or Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is desirable.
- Technical Expertise: Advanced proficiency with hydrologic and hydraulic analysis tools such as HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, HY-8, SSA, and/or comparable software, with demonstrated experience applying these tools to roadway and highway drainage design. Experience with Civil 3D, OpenRoads, and ArcGIS preferred.
- Design and Professional Skills: Demonstrated ability to independently prepare and review complex calculations, drainage reports, and plan deliverables; strong attention to detail; excellent technical writing and verbal communication skills; and the ability to exercise independent engineering judgment.
- Mentorship and Collaboration: Interest and ability to provide technical guidance and support to EITs and junior engineers while working effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
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 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 offers access to award-winning trail systems and a lively downtown community.
- Kalispell: Located 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.
- Missoula: Known for its university community, trail and river access, as well as a strong arts and music scene.
- Anaconda: Offering small-town character and outdoor recreation, this historic community is near the Pintler Mountains.
Whether you seek adventure in the backcountry or prefer the serenity of nature, RPA offers the flexibility to balance your career and personal passions.
APPLY TODAY
Submit your information to and become a part of RPA’s innovative and supportive work environment.
"*" indicates required fields