Project Engineer

R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited is in search of a motivated and technically skilled Project Engineer to join our Drainage Group in Wingham, Ontario. We welcome candidates with an agricultural background and a passion for contributing to impactful drainage solutions that serve rural communities. As a member of our respected team, you'll work on challenging projects under the Drainage Act, collaborating with municipalities and property owners to improve infrastructure and land stewardship across Ontario.

Drainage engineering work is centered in our Woodstock, Wingham, Barrie, and Orangeville offices, with Orangeville and Collingwood providing Drainage Superintendent services to 22 municipalities. Burnside has been delivering high-quality drainage services since 1970, with deep technical expertise recognized by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

This is a rewarding opportunity to grow your career with a well-established firm that supports innovation, teamwork, and professional development.

What You'll Be Doing

You'll play a central role in designing and delivering municipal drainage systems, ensuring environmental responsibility and regulatory compliance. Working alongside seasoned engineers and field crews, you'll develop technical reports, supervise design tasks, engage directly with stakeholders, and contribute to the full lifecycle of drainage projects—from field surveys to final Council presentations. You'll support the broader Drainage Group by coordinating data collection, producing plans, and managing project logistics.

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Prepare and submit clear, compliant engineer reports under the Drainage Act, supporting decision-making and project transparency.
• Lead and coordinate survey data and design drawings to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and collaboration across teams.
• Communicate effectively with property owners, municipal staff, and council members, cultivating trust and clarity throughout project development.
• Produce accurate cost estimates, technical documentation, and tender packages that reflect Burnside's commitment to quality and efficiency.
• Provide sound calculations for allowances and assessments, demonstrating both technical rigor and fairness.
• Manage multiple drainage projects concurrently while mentoring junior staff and maintaining project schedules.
• Represent Burnside at Council and public meetings, articulating engineering concepts and project goals with professionalism.
• Contribute to stormwater management reports, site grading plans, and design development as needed across project phases.
• Stay current on drainage standards and technical tools, sharing insights and maintaining Burnside's recognized expertise in the field.
• Foster a safe and inclusive work environment that supports teamwork, initiative, and continuous learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed reports under Sections 4 and 78 of the Drainage Act.
• Conduct field surveys and gather data needed for design development.
• Coordinate design drawing production using AutoCAD and Civil 3D.
• Support hydraulic modeling, stormwater management design, and technical report writing.
• Interact with affected property owners and municipalities throughout project planning.
• Prepare cost estimates, allowances, and assessments based on project scope.
• Create tender and contract documents aligned with project requirements.
• Attend and present at Council meetings, supporting project approvals.
• Collaborate with internal teams and municipal stakeholders to ensure smooth project execution.

What You Bring

• A Bachelor's degree in Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Registered Professional Engineer (Ontario / PEO), ideally with a minimum of 5 years of licensure, in good standing with the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO).
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and other design and documentation tools.
• Strong technical writing skills with experience producing engineering reports.
• A valid Ontario driver's license and access to a vehicle for site visits.
• The ability to manage multiple projects and lead coordination across teams and disciplines.
• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• A collaborative and self-motivated mindset with attention to technical detail.
• Familiarity with the Drainage Act and its application to municipal infrastructure projects.

Why Choose Burnside?

Are you interested in working for an employer with a 5-decade track record of building a great reputation both internally with their staff and externally with their clients? The Burnside team is a supportive group of colleagues that work together to provide value and service to our clients, while extending care to each other. We know that our employees are our greatest asset, and thus we strive to provide a positive work/life balance.

We offer:

• A collaborative culture where friendship, honesty and respect are part of our core values and practices
• Flexible working hours and office locations, including hybrid working opportunities
• A competitive compensation and benefits package
• RRSP company matching plan
• Career growth and professional development opportunities
• Potential for performance-driven bonusing
• Active social committees
• A welcoming, positive, and inclusive work environment

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to valuing diversity in the workplace, and we welcome resumes from all qualified candidates. Burnside will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the entire recruitment, assessment, and selection process, as required.  If you are a person with a disability and require an accommodation during these processes, please contact our Human Resources department.

Company Profile – More about us:

Founded in 1970, R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited is a growing values-driven employee-owned multidiscipline engineering and environmental consulting firm with over 450 staff. Our consistent commitment towards investing in technology advancements and training, in addition to encouraging and promoting professional development, has enabled our firm to meet our ongoing and stated goal of continual improvement.

We actively seek to develop relationships with a broad and diversified client base in the Public, Private and Indigenous sectors. We work on a variety of projects throughout Canada, with 11 office locations in Ontario and one in Manitoba.

Burnside has expertise in many technical disciplines beyond our core civil engineering focus including air and noise, asset management, building sciences, environmental planning and ecology, GIS, hydrogeology, land development, landscape architecture, municipal drainage, solid waste, stormwater management, structures, transportation planning and design, water and wastewater and well drilling & diagnostics.

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