Coastal Engineer

ESA seeks a highly motivated Coastal Engineer to join our team of engineers and scientists in the Southeast region. We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic team member with 2+ years of work experience, a passion for coastal processes and restoration, and the desire to learn and grow. This is a full-time and exempt role with office and field work expected. Strong preference given to candidates within a 1-hour commutable distance to one of these ESA Office locations: Tampa or Boynton Beach. Qualified candidates within a 1-hr commutable distance to other ESA offices including Sarasota, Orlando, & Pensacola will also be considered.  This role will involve some travel and field work as needed for in-person team collaborations and site visits as-needed. This is an in-office role, with the potential for hybrid flexibility with proven performance and supervisor approval.

Who You Are 

• 2+ years of professional experience in coastal analyses with an emphasis on living shorelines, beach nourishment, dredging, inlet management, or natural systems restoration.
• You hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in coastal, environmental, civil, or ocean engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• You are enthusiastic and experienced in performing analyses to support the design or monitoring of beach, dune, shoreline, inlet, or creek enhancement and restoration projects.
• You are familiar with steps to gather data, perform analyses, prepare reports, and communicate results, including working closely with colleagues in related fields.
• You possess skills and experience using Microsoft tools, design, and modeling software such as AutoCAD, ArcGIS, MATLAB, or others.
• You are an effective communicator who fosters teamwork and inclusion. You present information clearly and work in an organized manner.
• You possess effective time management skills. 
• You accept feedback willing and are eager to learn from a variety of senior staff through project work, direct supervision and in-house mentoring programs.
• You can work independently from our Florida offices and are able and willing to travel for and perform occasional field visits through the state of Florida, Alabama, and others as project needs arise (coastal).
• You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 50 pounds. You are confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, work in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in vegetated environments, agricultural fields, arid lands, and along stream banks. You may be exposed to inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. Some early morning, late night and/or weekend work, as well as long hours may be required.
• Must have valid driver's license
• Live near Tampa or Boynton Beach offices and be available for occasional travel to project sites, industry conferences and team collaboration events.  Qualified candidates within a 1-hr commutable distance to other ESA offices including Sarasota, Orlando, & Pensacola will also be considered.
• Preference given to qualified candidates with any of the following preferred skillsets:
  • Experience with performing construction observations during active coastal construction projects such as dredging, beach nourishment, coastal structures, living shorelines, wetlands creation, artificial reefs or other.
  • Experience with field data collection related to coastal projects: waves, currents, beach profiles, sediment sampling, natural resources, geophysical or geotechnical data.
  • Experience with environmental permitting (USACE, FDEP, other).
  • Scientific diving or snorkeling experience.
  • Certified/Trained Boat Operator

What You Will Do for ESA

• You will assist with the preparation of coastal processes analyses, reports, designs, permit applications, construction drawings, technical specifications and other project documentation.
• You will have the opportunity to participate in hydrographic, topographic, geologic, natural resource and related field data collection to support engineering analysis and design.
• You will collaborate with engineers, scientists, hydrologists, geomorphologists, numerical modelers, landscape architects, ecologists, biologists, and other specialists in advancing coastal resilience and restoration approaches and other project solutions from concept to implementation.
• Consistently demonstrate your solid writing skills and prepare draft documents that are clear, concise, well-written and supported.
• You will thrive in a fast-paced, challenging environment and be able to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines, while working on a team or independently.
• Provide peer review for the work of others and take initiative to provide mentoring to more junior staff.
• Other ad hoc tasks as needed

What’s Special About Our Team

By joining our team in the Southeast Engineering & Hydrology Design (EHD) Team, you’ll become part of the local region’s strong culture where we value creative thinking, teamwork, and multi-disciplinary integration and have ample opportunities for cross-disciplinary engagement and project exposure. You’ll also benefit from the expertise of our national Engineering Hydrology & Design (EH&D) group. Our EH&D team includes engineers, hydrologists, geomorphologists, scientists and water quality specialists who provide expertise for many municipalities in the Southeast, Pacific Northwest, Southern and Northern California. You will have the opportunity to be exposed to well-respected technical leaders nationwide.

Locally and nationally, ESA’s work matters because it helps communities shape a positive future for their citizens. 

To read about some of our exciting projects check out these links: Sebastian Inlet District, Philippe Park Living Shoreline, Fowl River, Surfers Point Shoreline Management, Ocean Beach Master Plan, Lemon Bay Preserve, Balm-Boyette Stallion Creek Restoration and Florida RESTORE Act

What’s Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company share through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.

We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.