Stormwater Engineer - MS4
MacKay · Atlanta, GA
At MacKay, we believe great people are the foundation of our growth and success.
We are in an exciting phase of expansion, creating new opportunities for our employees to take on meaningful work, collaborate across disciplines, and build long-term careers. Whether your role is technical or part of our support services team, you play an important role in delivering high-quality work and helping our projects succeed.
For nearly 70 years, Lowe Engineers has built a reputation for engineering excellence, trusted relationships, and exceptional client service throughout the Southeast. Now, as Lowe Engineers, A Part of MacKay, we're building on that legacy as part of a growing national infrastructure and environmental services firm. This partnership creates new opportunities for our employees to collaborate across disciplines, work on meaningful projects, and build long-term careers while continuing to serve clients with the quality and responsiveness Lowe is known for.
We are seeking a full-time Stormwater Engineer to join our team in Atlanta, GA, supporting projects across neighboring municipalities. Design experience in stormwater design projects is preferred. Some travel to neighboring cities is required.
If that sounds good to you, let’s talk.
Position Summary:
The Stormwater Engineer leads the technical and regulatory activities required to operate and maintain the municipality’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). This position administers the MS4 permit program, coordinates stormwater infrastructure planning and maintenance, manages inspections and investigations, works with the capital projects manager/engineer, and works across departments to protect water quality and reduce flood risk.
Key Responsibilities:
MS4 Program Administration and Compliance
- Administer the municipality’s MS4 permit and maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local stormwater requirements.
- Develop, implement, and update the Stormwater Management Program, standard operating procedures, ordinances, policies, and measurable goals.
- Prepare permit applications, annual reports, certifications, schedules, maps, records, and responses to regulatory agencies.
- Track permit commitments, inspection findings, corrective actions, enforcement matters, and program performance.
- Coordinate activities supporting public education and outreach, public involvement, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction-site runoff control, post-construction stormwater management, and municipal pollution-prevention practices.
System Operations and Asset Management:
- Maintain an accurate inventory and map of stormwater assets, including outfalls, inlets, pipes, ditches, culverts, detention facilities, green infrastructure, and treatment practices.
- Develop risk-based inspection, cleaning, repair, and replacement priorities for the MS4.
- Coordinate field crews and contractors performing preventive maintenance, emergency response, sediment and debris removal, and structural repairs.
- Evaluate drainage complaints, localized flooding, erosion, stream impacts, and system capacity concerns; recommend practical corrective actions.
- Support budgeting, work planning, asset-management systems, level-of-service targets, and long-term capital improvement planning.
Inspections, Investigations, and Enforcement:
- Conduct or oversee inspections of outfalls, municipal facilities, construction sites, post-construction controls, industrial activities, and reported pollution incidents.
- Investigate suspected illicit discharges and improper connections using field observations, sampling, testing, records review, and source tracing.
- Document findings, issue notices or corrective-action requirements within delegated authority, and coordinate escalated enforcement with appropriate departments.
- Maintain defensible inspection, sampling, maintenance, complaint, and enforcement records.
Engineering and Project Delivery:
- Perform or oversee hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, drainage studies, concept development, design review, cost estimating, permitting, bidding support, and construction administration.
- Review development and redevelopment plans for compliance with stormwater, floodplain, erosion-control, and post-construction requirements.
- Prepare scopes of work and manage consultants, contractors, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and quality control.
- Promote resilient and cost-effective solutions, including green infrastructure and nature-based practices where appropriate.
Coordination and Public Service:
- Collaborate with public works, engineering, planning, inspections, parks, emergency management, legal, finance, communications, and executive leadership.
- Respond professionally to residents, businesses, elected officials, developers, and partner agencies regarding stormwater concerns and program requirements.
- Deliver technical training for municipal employees and support public education and participation activities.
- Represent the municipality at regulatory meetings, project meetings, watershed partnerships, and public forums.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in civil, environmental, water resources, or a closely related engineering field.
- Engineer-in-Training certification.
- Progressively responsible experience in stormwater engineering, municipal drainage, water resources, environmental compliance, or a related field.
- Working knowledge of MS4 permit requirements, stormwater best management practices, erosion and sediment control, drainage design, and municipal operations.
- Ability to interpret engineering plans, specifications, regulations, permits, maps, field data, and technical reports.
- Proficiency with standard office and engineering software; experience with GIS, asset-management systems, and hydrologic or hydraulic modeling tools is desirable.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to municipal facilities, construction sites, waterways, and stormwater assets.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Professional Engineer licensure, or eligibility for licensure, in the applicable state.
- Experience directly administering an MS4 permit or municipal stormwater program.
- Relevant certifications in erosion and sediment control, stormwater inspection, floodplain management, or green infrastructure.
- Experience with capital project delivery, consultant management, procurement, budgeting, and grant funding.
- Strong technical judgment, regulatory interpretation, problem-solving, project management, and written communication skills.
- Ability to organize multiple priorities, meet permit deadlines, maintain complete records, and communicate complex requirements clearly.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with field personnel, technical professionals, regulators, contractors, and the public.
- Commitment to public service, environmental stewardship, safety, integrity, and continuous improvement.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:
The position combines office (85%) and field work (15%). Field duties may involve uneven terrain, active construction sites, confined or limited-access areas, waterways, traffic, inclement weather, and exposure to typical municipal infrastructure hazards. The employee must be able to use required personal protective equipment, safely conduct inspections, and respond to urgent stormwater incidents outside normal business hours when assigned.
Why Join Lowe Engineers — A Part of MacKay?
The best of both organizations
Join a team with nearly 70 years of engineering excellence and trusted client relationships, backed by the resources, expertise, and opportunities of a growing national firm.
A people-first culture
At MacKay, we put people first. We are committed to creating an environment where employees can grow, contribute, and do their best work. We support well-being, encourage balance, and create space for people to succeed both pr