Water resource engineer Jobs in Ottawa, ON

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values, and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

We are looking for a Water Resources Leader to join our growing Canadian Water business. This role is for a market-facing technical leader — someone who combines deep engineering credibility, client trust, systems thinking, and commercial judgment to grow and strengthen Arup’s Integrated Water Management capability across Canada.

The role will initially focus on Ontario markets while supporting broader Canada-wide growth and collaboration across Arup’s global Water business. The position may be based in Toronto or Ottawa.

The role spans advisory, planning, approvals, and major infrastructure projects, providing technical leadership, client advisory, people leadership, and business growth across the full water cycle, including flooding, erosion, treatment, reuse, and climate resilience.

Integrated Water Management applications are expected to address the full water cycle, including rainfall, runoff, flooding, ocean or lake-related inundation, erosion, water retention, treatment, reuse, and climate resilience.

The Opportunity

• Technical & Project LeadershipLead Integrated Water Management solutions across catchment-scale, infrastructure, site-development, and urban projects.Provide senior technical leadership in stormwater, flood risk, hydrology/hydraulics, climate resilience, green infrastructure, and drainage.Guide multidisciplinary teams from planning through delivery, ensuring technical excellence and alignment with client goals.
• Client Relationships & Business DevelopmentServe as a trusted advisor to public-sector, municipal, infrastructure, and development clients across Canada.Lead strategic pursuits and proposals, bringing strong technical differentiation and early client engagement.Represent Arup externally to strengthen market profile and thought leadership in the Canadian water sector.
• People Leadership & Capability GrowthLead and grow Canada’s Water Resources/IWM capability across water resources, stormwater, flooding, drainage, and resilience work.Mentor engineers, modellers, specialists, and emerging leaders to support technical and career development.Build a collaborative, inclusive IWM community across Water, Civil, Transport, Planning, and Advisory teams.
• Sustainability & ResilienceIntegrate sustainability, resilience, climate adaptation, and nature-based solutions into projects and advisory work.Embed water considerations into urban, transport, watershed, and infrastructure planning to support carbon, ecology, and social value outcomes.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas.

You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

• Bachelors’ Degree qualified in Civil, Environmental, or Water Resources Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) license in Canada
• At least 15 years’ experience applying Integrated Water Management principles to water catchments and site developments.
• Demonstrated expertise across the full water cycle, including:
• Rainfall–runoff analysis, flood modelling, and drainage design.
• Inland and coastal/lakeshore inundation risk assessment.
• Water retention, treatment, reuse, and water-sensitive urban design practices.
• Climate change adaptation and resilience planning.
• Proven experience delivering both small-scale advisory and consulting assignments, as well as large multi-disciplinary projects.
• Strong understanding of Canadian regulatory, planning, and environmental approval frameworks.

Please note that all applicants must apply directly via the job portal. If this role is not quite what you are looking for but you are interested in other opportunities for a future with purpose, please sign up to join our Talent Community where you will be kept up to date with roles suitable for you to shape a better world.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognizes the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

Benefits at Work - At Arup, we have a comprehensive and valuable benefits program that works for our employees and their families. These are 100% paid for by Arup except for optional life insurance. These benefits provide health and welfare security for you as well as paid time off for rest and renewal. Our Global Profit Share Plan (paid bi-annually) provides an opportunity for you to share in the success of the Firm. As a valued employee of Arup, you can also choose to participate in our GRRSP 5% company match to help you save for your future.

Flexible Working - We believe that flexible arrangements create a more inclusive way of working that supports our diversity and the wellbeing of our people. Options for alternative schedules and the ability to work outside of the office for a portion of your workweek are available.

Toronto Hiring Range - The good faith base salary hiring range for this job if performed in Toronto is $160,000 to 220,000 per year. This range is commensurate with experience, educational background, and skill level. Benefits are not included in the base salary. Please note hiring ranges for candidates performing work outside of Toronto will differ.