James Dooge was born in Birkenhead, England on 30 July 1922. He was educated in Liverpool, University College Dublin and Iowa University and qualified as an engineer. In 1942 he obtained a job with the Office of Public Works and in 1946 he began working with the Electricity Supply Board. Between 1954 and 1956 he was research associate at the Department of Civil Engineering at Iowa University. In 1958 Dooge became Professor of Civil Engineering at University College Cork. In 1970 he became a Profeesor at University College Dublin. Between 1984 and 1987 Dooge worked at the Department of Engineering Hydrology at University College Galway. Since 1988 he has worked at University College Dublin at the Centre for Water Resources Research.
As well as having a distinguished career as an academic Dooge has lead a very active political life. From 1961 to 1977 Dooge was a Senator in Seanad Éireann, serving as its Cathaoirleach (chairman) from 1973 to 1977. He worked closely with Garret FitzGerald during the late 1970's in re-organising the Fine Gael party. In 1981 Dooge was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in the short-lived Fine Gael government. Between 1981 and 1987 Dooge returned to Seanad Éireann.