Senior Marine/Coastal Project Engineer - Business Development Focus

Baird, Inc.; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Marine/Coastal Project Engineer to lead innovative projects in water resources and coastal engineering. This role emphasizes business development and client relationship management, requiring a blend of technical expertise and strategic vision. The successful candidate will mentor junior staff and collaborate across disciplines to deliver impactful solutions. If you're passionate about marine engineering and eager to contribute to exciting projects both locally and globally, this opportunity is perfect for you. Join a diverse and inclusive team that values your unique perspective and skills.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in marine and coastal engineering.
• Proven track record in securing projects with sales targets of $500K-$1M.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of marine and water resource projects on time and budget.
• Build client relationships and pursue new business opportunities.

Skills

Project Management

Business Development

Marine Engineering

Coastal Engineering

Client Relationship Management

Technical Communication

Education

B.S. in Civil Engineering

M.S. or M.Eng in related field

Job description

Senior Marine/Coastal Project Engineer - Business Development Focus

• Full-time

W.F. Baird & Associates (Baird) was founded in 1981 and is a 120-person engineering firm specializing in river, lake, and coastal engineering, with offices in Canada, the U.S., Barbados, Chile, and Australia. We are one of the few firms in the world dedicated exclusively to marine and coastal projects.
Please visit www.baird.com for insight into our company.

Baird has an opportunity for a Senior Marine/Coastal Project Engineer with technical expertise and business development experience in water resources and coastal engineering.

Responsibilities:

1. Lead Project Delivery: Plan, execute, and deliver technically sophisticated marine and water resource projects with precision—on time, on budget, and beyond expectations.
2. Expand Business Horizons: Build and strengthen client relationships, pursue new opportunities, and play a key role in Baird’s business development efforts.
3. Collaborate Across Disciplines: Partner with functionally diverse teams to develop innovative, integrated solutions to complex engineering challenges.
4. Communicate with Purpose: Maintain open, consistent communication with team members, clients, contractors, and stakeholders.
5. Mentor Future Leaders: Support the growth of junior staff by providing guidance, technical oversight, and professional development opportunities.
6. Think Globally, Act Locally: While you’ll focus on projects in Canada, your expertise will also contribute to international initiatives and global best practices.
7. Stay Ahead of the Curve: Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and emerging technologies to keep Baird at the forefront of innovation.
8. Shape the Future: Help define and implement business strategies, align on objectives, and represent Baird at industry events and conferences.

What You Bring:

You have a B.S. (M.S. or M.Eng preferred) in civil, ocean, coastal, or related area of engineering from an accredited institution, and either hold or can obtain your P.Eng in BE within six months of hire.

With 10+ years of relevant engineering experience, you bring a comprehensive background in coastal and marine structures, ecosystem restoration, or navigation and dredging, along with a solid understanding of the codes and standards that guide coastal engineering work.

You have a proven track record of pursuing and securing projects with annual sales targets between $500K and $1M, along with demonstrated project management skills—able to lead complex efforts, meet deadlines, and adjust to shifting scopes.

You're experienced in project design and construction specific to marine and coastal projects and have a genuine enthusiasm for marine and coastal engineering.

You communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, thrive in collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams under tight deadlines, hold a valid passport and are open to travel 1–2 weeks every other month, both domestically and internationally.

We have offices in Ottawa and Oakville, but we welcome candidates from other locations across Canada who have the right experience to excel in this role. We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted.

Baird is employee-owned. We offer competitive compensation and benefits.

Baird welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.

Baird is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, genetics, or citizenship status (when otherwise legally authorized to work) and will not be discriminated against based on such characteristics or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where Baird operates.

We thank all candidates for their interest. Baird is a diverse and inclusive workplace that is welcoming to all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you don't match all of our job requirements!

Disclaimer:The above information in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees with this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this position.

Please note applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada, without requiring sponsorship to be considered.