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Water Resources Engineer II

Glen Burnie, Maryland, United States; Richmond, Virginia, United States; Warrenton, Virginia, United States

At RES, we’re looking for purpose-driven individuals who are passionate about restoration and sustainability, and who want their work to make a lasting environmental impact. Our team members go above and beyond, bringing initiative, integrity, and a strong work ethic to every project. Collaboration is key—we thrive on teamwork, open communication, and diverse perspectives. In a field that constantly changes, we value those who are resilient, adaptable, and resourceful in the face of challenges. If you're intellectually curious, eager to learn, and ready to help restore ecosystems and protect natural resources, you’ll find your place here.

We’re looking for an Engineer II to support the design and implementation of restoration, stormwater, and nature-based infrastructure projects. The primary office location for this position is Warrenton, VA, but other office in Maryland and Virginia may be considered. This role is ideal for an engineer with strong fundamentals in hydrology, hydraulics, and ecological design who’s ready to contribute to meaningful, field-tested solutions—and grow into technical leadership. You’ll be based out of one of RES’s regional offices or remote hubs, working closely with our internal engineers, scientists, and project managers. You’ll spend most of your time focused on design, modeling, and technical analysis, with occasional travel to project sites for assessments, construction support, and QA/QC review.

The mission: Join a growing, multi-disciplinary, and innovative team of restoration designers and water resource engineers currently working on some of the nation’s largest stream and wetland restoration projects, hydraulic and hydrology investigations, and sustainable stormwater management.

You will have the opportunity to work on projects and contribute to their design throughout the entire project’s life cycle. Our designers/engineers are involved from the initial concept/site identification through assessment, design, construction, and long-term monitoring allowing our team to understand the full process of stream and wetland restoration projects and apply innovative techniques to future restoration projects.

Why You’ll Love This Job

  • You’ll help design and deliver real-world ecological solutions

  • You’ll gain exposure to restoration, stormwater, and nature-based design

  • You’ll work with a team that blends technical rigor with mission-driven values

  • You’ll learn from senior engineers, PMs, and field staff across diverse regions

  • You’ll contribute to projects that get built—not just sit on a shelf

A Day in the Life

60% of your time, you will be designing. You will be participating in the development of hydrologic & hydraulic models (1D & 2D), natural resource plans, stream and/or wetland restoration plans, sustainable stormwater design plans, erosion and sediment control plans, floodplain studies, FEMA map revisions, and as-built plans under the support of senior staff. As you progress in your career, you will have the opportunity to design entire projects with the due supervision of our senior staff.

You will analyze the existing systems, determine design parameters, and develop 3-dimensional designs in the Autodesk Civil 3D environment. As part of the design process you will be responsible for engineering evaluations, calculations, floodplain analyses, and tree conservation/save plans.

20% of the time, you will produce technical documentation associated with the restoration design process, including writing design summaries, floodplain reports, permit applications, construction specifications, construction oversight reports, post-construction monitoring reports and coordinating with local & state agencies to facilitate all necessary permits.

Around 20% of your time will consist of Fieldwork. You will be collaborating with land acquisition specialists, scientists, regulatory experts, senior design/engineering staff and construction teams doing the following:

  • Carrying out the geomorphic and ecological site assessments, fulfilling mitigation crediting field protocols, and executing fluvial geomorphic/hydraulic surveys.
  • Determining existing drainage and flow patterns, evaluating land use and land cover.
  • Carrying out the collection and analysis of field data to establish existing conditions, identify potential design constraints, and helping to determine design parameters.
  • Providing construction oversight as needed during project implementation.
  • Restoration monitoring.

Fieldwork involves travel to job sites and occasional overnight stays.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of your job duties.

We would love to talk to you if you have many of the following:

  • Required: Bachelor’s degree in water resources, civil, environmental, biological systems, or closely related Engineering Discipline. 
  • 2 to 5+ years’ experience in a natural resources design field (ie. civil engineering, environmental engineering, biological systems engineering, agricultural engineering, or water resources engineering)
  • EIT preferred
  • AutoCAD Civil 3D and/or GIS skills.
  • Knowledge of field survey, data collection techniques and fluvial geomorphology 
  • Experience with HEC-HMS, TR-55, HydroCAD, HEC-RAS or other hydrologic and hydraulic software preferred.

 

What will make you stand out?

  • Ability to develop 2D hydraulic models and interpret results.
  • Experience developing floodplain studies and submitting FEMA CLOMR/LOMR applications.
  • Are a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM).
  • Experience with stream and / or wetland design.
  • Familiarity with the Clean Water Act, local, state, and federal environmental regulations and permitting processes

 

Ready to design with purpose and be part of a team that restores our natural world?

Apply now and help us engineer the future of ecological restoration—one project at a time.

 

Please note that the “Day in the Life” section is not intended to be an exhaustive list of job duties, but rather a representative snapshot of typical responsibilities and work experiences at RES.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor

RES is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

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