Assistant Staff Water Resources Engineer

SWCA Environmental Consultants; Jacksonville (FL); Hybrid; USD 39,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consulting & Engineering seeks an Assistant Staff Water Resources Engineer with an interest in hydrology, hydraulics, flood modeling, and water resources engineering. Recent graduates or soon-to-be grads are encouraged to apply for a role based in Raleigh, NC with hybrid work options within driving distance of Raleigh, Charlotte, Jacksonville, FL, and other cities.

The position supports flood modeling, watershed planning, and restoration projects nationwide and offers

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Biological, Civil, Environmental, Coastal).
• Experience or willingness to learn HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, SWMM, ArcGIS, Python.
• Relevant internship or co-op experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supports development of water resources engineering designs and restoration projects.
• Performs field investigations to collect data and verify design compliance.
• Supports preparation of technical reports aligning with standards.
• Assists in permitting and regulatory approvals with project teams.
• Contributes to construction oversight and review of contractor work.
• Evaluates site viability and informs plans and methods.
• Assists with construction drawings and specifications.
• Supports modeling and calculations to inform designs and evaluate scenarios.
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to integrate environmental engineering principles.
• Engages in professional development and stays updated on industry trends.
• Follows all applicable regulations, standards, and specs.

Skills

Hydrology

Hydraulic modeling

HEC-RAS

ArcGIS

Python

H&H modeling

Field data collection

Regulatory understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

HEC-HMS

SWMM

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consulting & Engineering is seeking an Assistant Staff Water Resources Engineer with an interest in hydrology, hydraulics, flood modeling, and water resources engineering. We are looking for a recent or soon-to-be college graduate with a degree in civil, environmental, biological, or coastal engineering who is eager to learn and contribute to flood modeling, watershed planning, and water resources projects. Relevant coursework in hydrology and hydraulics is preferred, and exposure to GIS, R, or Python is a plus. Internship, co-op, or undergraduate research experience is also desirable.

This position will support the growth of SWCA's ecological restoration practice and watershed planning projects throughout the United States. The position will be based in Raleigh, NC, with the flexibility to work in a hybrid environment, provided the employee is within driving distance of Raleigh, NC; Charlotte, NC; Jacksonville, FL; Pittsburgh, PA; or Denver, CO. Occasional travel to project sites for field assessments, data collection, and client meetings is required, approximately 5% of the time.

This is a full-time, regular position with benefits and an hourly, non-exempt classification.

Recent college graduates and candidates graduating soon are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be scheduled as qualified candidates are identified. This position may close without prior notice once a strong candidate pool is established.

What you will accomplish

• Supports the development of engineering designs for assigned water resources projects. Collaborates with senior engineers to refine concepts and ensure feasibility. Responsible for discrete tasks or small components of restoration projects, making decisions on limited technical matters within defined procedures.
• Performs field investigations to support assigned water resources projects. Collects data and verifies compliance with design plans and regulatory requirements.
• Supports preparation of technical reports summarizing findings from inspections, analyses, and fieldwork. Ensures documentation supports project goals and aligns with industry and regulatory standards.
• Assists in permitting and other regulatory approvals by preparing required documentation and collaborating with project teams. Ensures plans comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Performs construction oversight activities to monitor the performance of contractors and ensure adherence to project specifications. Identifies issues and recommends corrective actions under supervision.
• Assists in evaluating potential project sites and measures to determine technical and financial viability. Provides input to plans and methods.
• Assists in the preparation of construction drawings and specifications for assigned projects. Ensures documentation accurately reflects project designs and complies with regulatory standards.
• Supports modeling and calculations to inform designs and evaluate scenarios. Uses modeling software to optimize solutions and ensure accuracy.
• Assists with multidisciplinary teams to integrate environmental science and engineering principles into project designs. Contributes to team discussions and supports project planning activities.
• Engages in professional development activities to build expertise in restoration engineering principles and tools. Stays informed about industry trends and emerging technologies relevant to assigned projects.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities

• Supports the development of engineering analysis for projects, including hydrologic & hydraulic modeling, floodplain permitting, watershed planning, stream and wetland restoration, coastal resiliency, land development, solar and transmission, and wildfire planning.
• Develop project management skills
• Represent SWCA and continue your professional development at industry conferences
• Work independently in a fast-paced and remote environment; work under pressure with high level of detail and ability to meet tight deadlines

Experience and qualifications for success

We are looking for someone with a strong technical foundation who is interested in developing their career in water resources engineering. A willingness to learn, work through technical challenges, and develop expertise in new tools and methods is important.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Biological Engineering, Civil, Environmental, or Coastal Engineering)
• Experience or a willingness to learn HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, SWMM, ArcGIS, Python, and other hydrologic/hydraulic modeling
• Relevant summer internship or co-op experience is preferred.