League City is a growing city of nearly 126,000 residents located along Clear Creek and Clear Lake just south of Houston, and we are nowhere near built out. With roughly 40% of our land still undeveloped, we are on a path to 200,000 or more residents at full build-out, which means the decisions we make today on drainage standards, floodplain management, and stormwater infrastructure will shape this community for generations.

In 2017, Hurricane Harvey made clear what was already true: for league city, sitting at the intersection of growth and flood risk, a strong drainage program is not optional. We have spent the years since Harvey tightening our standards and building a team that earns public trust one decision at a time. The City Drainage Engineer will lead that team, directly overseeing three positions on our Drainage and Stormwater staff, and will serve as our chief technical authority on all things drainage. If you are a licensed engineer who takes floodplain management seriously, communicates plainly, and wants your work to matter, we want to hear from you.

The City Drainage Engineer is a senior-level engineering and leadership position responsible for leading and overseeing the City’s comprehensive drainage and stormwater management program. This position serves as the City’s chief technical authority on drainage and stormwater matters and provides strategic direction, regulatory oversight, and engineering expertise across all drainage-related activities, including development review, capital improvement projects, floodplain administration, stormwater quality compliance, and citizen engagement.

Job Functions
Leadership & Supervision:
• Directly supervise and provide technical guidance, direction, and oversight to the Stormwater/Floodplain team.
• Develop, mentor, and evaluate staff to strengthen technical capacity and support professional growth.
• Assist in strategic planning, budgeting, and resource allocation for drainage and stormwater programs.
• Coordinate with Engineering divisions and other City departments on drainage-related initiatives and cross-functional projects.

Drainage Engineering & Technical Review:
• Serve as the City’s chief technical authority on drainage and stormwater matters.
• Review and evaluate construction plans, development applications, and engineering studies for compliance with City drainage standards, the Master Drainage Plan, and regional criteria.
• Evaluate proposed developments for drainage impacts and provide authoritative technical recommendations.
• Review hydrologic and hydraulic analyses (including HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, or similar models) for the design and construction of drainage and flood control projects.
• Provide engineering-based review and technical recommendations for drainage quantity and quality issues related to development and public infrastructure.
• Provide technical direction for Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) where drainage is a primary consideration, including assistance with project scoping, cost estimating, and related correspondence.
• Apply and interpret the City’s Master Drainage Plan and lead periodic updates to the plan.
• Develop and recommend updates to drainage standards, specifications, and design criteria.
• Ensure compliance with FEMA regulations, Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), TCEQ stormwater requirements, and MS4 permit obligations.
• Identify CAD issues in submitted engineering plans and ensure technical accuracy.
• Perform field inspections to observe drainage conditions and infrastructure.
• Respond to citizen inquiries and concerns regarding drainage, flooding, and stormwater issues with professionalism and clarity.
• Translate complex engineering and technical drainage concepts into terms understandable to non-technical audiences.
• Present drainage-related information and recommendations to City Council, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and public meetings.
• Build trust with residents through empathetic and educational communication regarding drainage issues affecting their properties.
• Inform residents, developers, agents, and lenders of flood risks using FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
• Perform related work as required.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Education and Certification:
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or related field from an ABET-accredited program.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Texas, or ability to obtain licensure within six (6) months of employment.
• Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) certification.

Experience:
• Minimum of ten (10) years of drainage or stormwater engineering experience.
• Demonstrated supervisory or lead technical experience managing engineering staff and/or projects.
• Expert-level knowledge of drainage and stormwater engineering principles, hydrology, and hydraulics.
• Strong knowledge of FEMA Flood Studies, Floodplain Management, and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM).
• Strong working knowledge of hydraulic and hydrologic modeling software (HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, or similar) and ability to critically review modeling results.
• Experience with TCEQ stormwater regulations, including MS4 permit compliance.
• Knowledge of storm sewer design, culvert hydraulics, and drainage infrastructure planning.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Master’s degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience in municipal drainage program management.
• Knowledge of Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure techniques.
• Extensive experience presenting to governing bodies and public committees.

Supplemental Information
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
• Advanced knowledge of hydrology, hydraulics, stormwater quality, and floodplain management.
• Strong professional engineering judgment and analytical problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to interpret complex technical documents, plans, and models.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with strong diplomacy and customer service orientation.
• Ability to resolve conflicts and navigate sensitive situations with residents and developers.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal departments, consultants, regulatory agencies, and the public.
• Ability to respond to emergency drainage situations.

Essential Physical Demands:
• Ability to perform fieldwork, including walking on uneven terrain, near drainage channels, and in outdoor weather conditions.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Prolonged periods of sitting, standing, and computer use