Coastal Engineering & Flood Risk Design Lead

Jacobs; Cork; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs in Ireland is seeking a Coastal Engineering & Flood Risk Design Lead to deliver nationally significant projects across Ireland. You’ll lead multidisciplinary teams to develop sustainable flood risk and coastal engineering solutions that protect communities and strengthen resilience.

You’ll work with Jacobs’ Water Catchment Management specialists on feasibility through delivery, ensuring designs meet Irish and UK standards, and mentoring colleagues in a collaborative, hybrid-working

Qualifications

• Degree or Master’s in Civil Engineering.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams.
• Experience in coastal engineering, flood risk management or related infrastructure sectors.
• Knowledge of flood defences, coastal structures, hydraulic structures, embankments, culverts, reservoirs or similar assets.
• Understanding of current Irish and UK design standards, guidance and engineering best practices.
• Experience delivering both traditional engineering and environmentally focused solutions.
• Strong commercial, programme and project management awareness.
• Chartered status (ICE, CIWEM or equivalent), or actively working towards chartership.
• Excellent communication, analytical and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to develop sustainable flood risk and coastal engineering solutions.
• Deliver high-quality technical designs in accordance with relevant standards and best practice.
• Integrate environmental considerations into project development from the earliest stages.
• Ensure solutions are practical, buildable and aligned with client objectives.
• Develop technical scopes and support successful project delivery.
• Identify, manage and communicate project risks and opportunities.
• Contribute innovative ideas that challenge conventional thinking and enhance project outcomes.
• Mentor and support colleagues while fostering a collaborative and engaged team culture.

Skills

Civil engineering lead

Multidisciplinary teams

Coastal engineering

Flood risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering

Chartered status (ICE/CIWEM) or working toward

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Dublin, Cork, Belfast.

Climate change, rising sea levels and increasing flood risk are transforming how we design and deliver infrastructure. At Jacobs, you'll help lead the development of resilient, sustainable solutions that protect communities, support economic growth and create a safer future.

As a Coastal Engineering & Flood Risk Design Lead, you'll play a pivotal role in delivering nationally significant projects across Ireland, helping clients tackle some of the most complex environmental and infrastructure challenges facing society today.

What's In It For You

This is an opportunity to take a leading role in shaping some of Ireland's most important flood risk and coastal resilience projects while continuing to develop your technical and leadership capabilities.

You'll benefit from

• Working on high-profile flood risk management and coastal engineering programmes across Ireland
• Opportunities to lead multidisciplinary teams and influence project outcomes from concept to delivery
• Exposure to innovative solutions, technologies and industry-leading expertise
• Clear career progression within a growing and highly respected practice
• A flexible and supportive working environment that enables you to thrive professionally and personally
• The chance to contribute to projects that create lasting environmental, social and economic benefits
• Opportunities to mentor, develop and inspire the next generation of engineering professionals

Your Impact

As a Design Lead, you'll help deliver practical, sustainable solutions that improve resilience and protect communities from flood and coastal risks.

Your work will

• Reduce flood risk and strengthen climate resilience across Ireland
• Support the delivery of critical environmental and infrastructure investment programmes
• Improve the long-term sustainability of communities and natural environments
• Drive innovative engineering approaches that balance technical excellence with environmental stewardship
• Influence how future flood risk management and coastal adaptation solutions are developed and delivered

About The Opportunity

Our Coastal Engineering and Flood Risk Management team is growing, creating exciting opportunities for experienced engineers and design leaders to join us.

You'll work alongside specialists from across Jacobs' Water Catchment Management business, supporting a diverse portfolio of projects that span the full project lifecycle, from feasibility studies and optioneering through to detailed design, construction support and delivery.

In this role, you'll

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to develop sustainable flood risk and coastal engineering solutions
• Deliver high-quality technical designs in accordance with relevant standards and best practice
• Integrate environmental considerations into project development from the earliest stages
• Ensure solutions are practical, buildable and aligned with client objectives
• Develop technical scopes and support successful project delivery
• Identify, manage and communicate project risks and opportunities
• Contribute innovative ideas that challenge conventional thinking and enhance project outcomes
• Mentor and support colleagues while fostering a collaborative and engaged team culture

Here’s what you’ll need

• Degree or Master's qualification in Civil Engineering
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams
• Experience in coastal engineering, flood risk management or closely related infrastructure sectors
• Knowledge of flood defences, coastal structures, hydraulic structures, embankments, culverts, reservoirs or similar assets
• Understanding of current Irish and UK design standards, guidance and engineering best practices
• Experience delivering both traditional engineering and environmentally focused solutions
• Strong commercial, programme and project management awareness
• Chartered status (ICE, CIWEM or equivalent), or actively working towards chartership
• Excellent communication, analytical and stakeholder engagement skills

Experience or interest in one or more of the following areas would be particularly valuable

• Coastal engineering
• River engineering
• Flood risk management
• Flood resilience and adaptation
• Natural Flood Management
• Surface water management and SuDS
• Catchment-based solutions

Ready to Lead the Future of Climate Resilience?

If you're passionate about creating innovative solutions that protect communities, enhance the environment and address some of the most pressing climate challenges of our time, we'd love to hear from you.

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we'll gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You'll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you'll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals - all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we're more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https//www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we're keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.