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Water Resources Engineer III

West Coast

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.

RES is looking for a Water Resources Engineer III for our West Region with at least five (5) years of relevant work or educational experience. Work associated with this position will occur throughout the West Region including California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Colorado.   

The mission: Manage and/or lead design of stream and wetland restoration projects and stormwater management design plans.

You will be involved in all aspects of a successful mitigation restoration project including providing technical input into the land acquisition process, leading initial feasibility site visits, reviewing mitigation design plans, developing technical specifications and directing construction personnel in the field.

A Day in the Life

80-90% of the time you will be modeling and designing!

  • Using AutoCAD, GIS and/or other hydrologic and hydraulic modeling software, you will be developing models and interpreting results.
  • You will be responsible for various water resources tasks and projects associated with stream & wetland restoration design, stream crossings, scour analyses, stormwater systems, floodplain studies, and erosion/sediment control.
  • You will also be preparing mitigation, stormwater, and/or grading and construction plans and designing and sizing various BMPs according to jurisdictional design standards.

10-20% of the time you will be performing data site visits, site recon/assessment & construction oversight - occasional travel is required!

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

Qualifications

We would love to talk to you if you have the following qualifications:

  • Bachelors or master’s degree in engineering with a water resources or environmental focus
  • 5+ years of experience in ecosystem restoration design
  • Construction oversight experience
  • Experience with engineering tools such as AutoCAD Civil 3D, hydrodynamic modeling, and GIS
  • Advanced knowledge of watershed hydrology, stream geomorphology, physicochemical processes, stream hydraulics, aquatic ecology, & sediment transport.
  • Advanced knowledge of basic civil site design fundamentals.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills. Ability to not only produce accurate construction documents, but also explain to a variety of audiences with varying technical understanding why particular design approaches were chosen
  • PE license

What will make you stand out?

  • A non-engineering degree such as fisheries biology, watershed science, or restoration ecology, in addition to your civil engineering degree
  • Exposure to surveying techniques, stream natural channel design, and wetland restoration design.
  • Experience preparing floodplain analyses, hydraulic and hydrology (H/H) investigation, groundwater hydrology, as well as stream and wetland biological functionality
  • Direct experience with Federal/State/Local environmental regulations and staff and understanding of Clean Water Act, state, and federal environmental regulations and permitting processes.
  • Experience with mitigation banking

 

California Pay Range

$85,000 - $115,000 USD

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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