Principal Water Engineer

Mott MacDonald•Woodbridge Township, NJ

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water. We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story. If you share that vision, even if you don’t meet every requirement listed, we’d still love to hear from you. We value potential and diverse perspectives as much as experience. Let’s explore how we can support your growth and help you take the next step in your career, while contributing to an exciting new chapter for Mott MacDonald in North America. We are seeking an experienced Principal Water Engineer to lead the delivery and growth of stormwater, CSO, LTCP and flood risk services across New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania. This role focuses on solving complex flooding, drainage, and resilience challenges for municipal, utility, and infrastructure clients. The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in hydrology, hydraulics and NJ regulatory processes. Extensive experience navigating regional regulatory frameworks, and a proven track record delivering large-scale stormwater, flood mitigation, and CSO programs is preferred. This individual will act as a technical leader, client advisor, and mentor, driving high-quality project delivery and supporting strategic growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil, Environmental, or Water Resources Engineering
Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) (NJ required, NY, or PA preferred)
Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) strongly preferred
15+ years of experience in stormwater, drainage, CSO and flood risk engineering
Advanced experience in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling across complex systems
Strong background in: Floodplain and floodway analysis, Stormwater management design (BMPs, green infrastructure, subsurface systems), Large-scale sewer and drainage network modeling
Delivery of major infrastructure and resilience projects, such as: Flood mitigation and post storm recovery programs (including FEMA-funded projects), CSO Long Term Control Plans and wastewater system upgrades, Urban drainage and transportation-related stormwater systems
Deep understanding of NJDEP, NYSDEC, and PADEP requirements
Experience navigating multi-agency permitting and approvals
Familiarity with FEMA floodplain management and funding requirements
Proven ability to lead complex, multidisciplinary projects
Strong client-facing skills with public-sector stakeholders
Ability to solve complex, non-routine engineering problems
Experience mentoring and developing engineering teams
Willingness to travel to project sites and attend key meetings as required as needed

Responsibilities

Lead delivery of stormwater management, flood control, and drainage infrastructure projects, including pump stations, storage systems, and conveyance networks
Experience with H&H modeling using industry standard tools such as HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, XP-SWMM, InfoWorks ICM, SWMM, and related platforms
Direct floodplain analysis, watershed studies, and hydraulic system modeling across urban and riverine environments
Lead permitting and compliance efforts, including: NJDEP Flood Hazard Area (NJAC 7:13), NJ Stormwater Rules (NJAC 7:8), Understanding of NYSDEC and PADEP regulatory processes preferred, FEMA/NFIP coordination and floodplain considerations, NN Infrastructure Bank (NJEIT) funding
Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies and stakeholders (NJDEP, FEMA, USACE, local authorities)
Deliver complex programs such as: Flood mitigation and resilience projects (e.g., floodwalls, pump stations, drainage upgrades), Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) LTCPs and sewer system improvements
Review and approve engineering designs, reports, specifications, and cost estimates
Lead project execution, managing scope, schedule, budget, and risk
Develop innovative, climate-resilient solutions, incorporating future rainfall and flood conditions
Support business development through client engagement, proposals, and market growth initiatives
Mentor and develop staff, strengthening capability in stormwater, modeling, and flood risk disciplines