Water Resources Engineer

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Hiring Agency:
Transportation - Agency 27

Location:
Lincoln, NE

Hiring Rate:
$36.443

Job Posting:
JR2026-00029787 Water Resources Engineer (Open)

Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):

Job Description:
Join the Hydrology and Hydraulics team at the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT)! This is an exciting opportunity to apply your expertise in hydraulics and hydrology or start building your career with a focus on real-world challenges in water resources and highway drainage. This position is involved in a wide variety of hydrology and hydraulics related to highway design such as floodplains, culverts, bridges, storm sewer, stormwater treatment, 408, energy dissipation and much more.

Pay range is $36.443 -$53.722 per hour. The pay rate may be commensurate with education and/or experience within fiscal constraints if approved.

If unable to fill at the Professional Engineer I level, will consider applicants at the Engineer level which requires a bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline. Pay rate for this classification is $31.968 per hour.

Job Duties:

This position is located in the Bridge Division under the Hydraulics Section. In this role, you will provide hydrologic and hydraulic analysis and technical support to the Roadway Design Division, Bridge Division, Districts, Consultants hired by the Department, and other State and Federal Agencies, as well as perform bridge hydrologic and hydraulic analysis at bridge sites. You will potentially supervise at least one other engineer and/or a student work study.

Duties include highway project drainage design, drainage studies of existing and future culverts and storm sewer systems, performing hydrologic and hydraulic calculations to properly assess design on State bridges and bridge size structures, inspect structures in the field to assess drainage and hydraulic adequacy, document design requirements in bridge data sheets, guidance and training of all levels of roadway design personnel and consultants, permit review and recommendations, floodplain analysis and certification, wetland studies and design, hydraulic software investigation and support, and development of Section 408 documentation for submittal to USACE for projects impacting levees, dams or other civil works projects. Drainage studies are also performed analyzing existing conditions and conditions that occur after construction, or conditions that are proposed due to development.

This position is expected to review hydrology and hydraulics for projects for designers/engineers when needed, as well as provide training to designers/engineers on the Roadway Design floor related to hydrology and hydraulics.

For project delivery, the most important tasks are related to floodplain analysis and certification of the NDOT highway project and impacts on a floodplain in order to submit a floodplain permit to the floodplain administrator. In addition, a floodplain memo completed by a professionally qualified staff, which is a registered engineer with hydraulics expertise, is required for all NDOT state highway projects to meet FHWA's regulations for categorical exclusions and location hydraulic studies found in 23 CFR 650.111. The other project delivery components are related to drainage basin delineations, hydrology and flow calculations, culvert and bridge hydraulics, storm sewer design and analysis, stormwater treatment in Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4), detention basins, and energy dissipation.

Other duties include being involved in proposed hydrology and hydraulic research projects and taking part on the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), as well as developing ideas and general Statements of Need for research proposals. May perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements / Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Engineer: Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline. Must pass the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE) within one year of employment.

Professional Engineer I: Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline. Must possess a Professional Engineer (P.E.) license at the time of application and be licensed by the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects at the time of employment or be able to obtain such license within 90 days of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional Engineer License.
• Bachelor's in Civil Engineering with emphasis in hydrology and hydraulics.
• Five or more years of hydrology and hydraulics experience.
• Experience with hydrology methods such as the rational method and NRCS method.
• Experience with culvert hydraulics and FHWA's HY-8 program, and energy dissipation.
• Experience with storm sewer design and analysis.

Other:

• Engineer Classification Only - Degree must be from an EAC/ABET or CEAB (Canada)-accredited engineering program OR meet the NCEES Engineering Education Standard.
• Rare out-of-town travel may be required, with infrequent overnight stays, and working extended hours to ensure project delivery.
• Valid driver's license or ability to provide independent authorized transportation is required.
• Regular and reliable attendance is also required.
• undefined.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of hydrology and hydraulics related to the design and construction of highway projects.
• Hydrology understanding of the Rational Method and NRCS methods, channel and culvert hydraulics, energy dissipation, stormwater treatment, storm sewer analysis and design, and floodplain and Section 408 regulations including relation to USACE-regulated levees, dams and civil works projects.
• Understanding of drainage in Nebraska's Sandhills.
• Familiarity with NDOT's Roadway Design Manual, Drainage & Erosion Control Manual, and Standard Plans and Specifications.
• Ability to provide one-on-one training with engineer and designers, as well as larger classroom style trainings.
• Familiarity with Nebraska Floodplain Regulations, Laws, and State Minimum Standards and FEMA.
• Strong organizational, public relations, customer service, verbal, and written skills.
• Ability to work independently, or under the direct supervision of an engineer as part of a small design team.
• Working knowledge in at least some of the following computer programs: Microsoft Office Programs - Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook; Computer Aided Drafting Programs - MicroStation / OpenRoads; ArcGIS, Global Mapper; Hydraulic Design Software - FHWA's Hydraulic Toolbox and HY-8, HEC-RAS, Hydraflow Hydrographs / Storm Sewers / Express, etc., NDOT's Rational Method Calculator, etc.

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Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.

Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit:

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.