Graduate Engineer III - Water Resources

LJA is an employee-owned firm that offers a collaborative, respect-driven culture designed to amplify your capabilities and support long-term career growth. With nearly 100 locations and over 3,000 employee-owners, LJA provides hands-on experience across a broad range of clients and services, fostering continuous learning and personal development.

About the role

As a Graduate Engineer III at LJA Land Development, you will support drainage and floodplain analyses, drainage design, and review services for municipal clients in the DFW metroplex. You will collaborate with internal project managers to deliver these services for land development, transportation, and planning and landscape architecture teams. This role offers hands-on experience in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, design, and project delivery while working closely with experienced engineers and technical staff.

Responsibilities

• Apply basic hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) principles using appropriate modeling applications.
• Conduct multiple H&H studies in support of land development and municipal projects.
• Review project requirements and prepare models for analysis.
• Perform hydraulic calculations and provide direction to technical support or drafting personnel.
• Investigate limited variables and receive supervisory guidance on unusual problems or potential solutions.
• Coordinate with internal clients to obtain necessary project data.
• Make preliminary decisions regarding conceptual alternative project solutions.
• Communicate effectively with internal LJA personnel involved in projects.
• Provide input to Project Managers on project scopes and budgets.
• Assist in preparing presentation materials for clients.
• Collaborate effectively with team members, Project Managers, Task Leads, and supervisors.
• Follow direction well and demonstrate autonomy in executing assigned tasks.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering or a related engineering field (required).
• Master of Science in Civil Engineering or a related engineering field (preferred).
• Certified Engineer-in-Training (EIT) (required).
• Experience in hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, detention design, FEMA Letters of Map Change, and Floodplain Fill Mitigation Plans.
• Proficiency in HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, HY-8, and Flow Master.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build strong relationships and collaborate within a team environment.

Qualifications

• Experience with GeoHECRAS, GeoHECHMS, CADD, and ArcGIS.
• Familiarity with advanced dynamic H&H modeling platforms such as XPSWMM, InfoWorks ICM, ICPR4 (Stormwise), unsteady flow, and/or 2D HEC-RAS modeling.
• Experience utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to solve engineering problems or improve workflow efficiency.

Benefits

• Generous time off, including PTO, paid holidays, and a full office closure between Christmas and New Year’s.
• Comprehensive benefits with multiple plan options for health, dental, and pets, along with mental health support.
• Paid maternity and parental leave.
• Tuition reimbursement and in-house courses provided by the Learning and Development team.
• Referral bonuses for recommending talent.
• Company-sponsored volunteer days and philanthropic initiatives.
• Professional development through memberships in industry organizations.
• Internal mobility opportunities for career advancement.
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
• Social events, employee sports teams, and family-friendly activities like "bring your kid to work day."