Coastal Engineer

Halff; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, prescription and life

PTO and holidays

401(k) Traditional and Roth

ESOP

HSA

529 College Savings Plan

FSA

Employee Assistance Plan

Job summary

Halff seeks an experienced Coastal Engineer for our Houston, TX office. The role emphasizes leadership in coastal design/modeling (waves, currents, sediment transport), mentoring junior engineers, and serving as the technical lead with clients on Gulf Coast projects.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years of coastal experience, a Texas PE license, and strong communication skills for reports and client meetings; travel is occasional.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree in civil/coastal/ocean engineering or related field.
• 8+ years coastal design and modeling experience; proven track record.
• Active Texas PE license required.
• Strong written and verbal communication; report writing and client presentations.
• Experience leading analyses and design on coastal projects.
• Experience mentoring or managing junior engineers; travel occasionally.
• Valid U.S. Driver's License.

Responsibilities

• Lead coastal design and modeling (waves, currents, sediment transport).
• Apply coastal processes knowledge and USACE criteria to solutions.
• Mentor and supervise junior/mid-level engineers.
• Coordinate work across multiple engineers and disciplines.
• Manage project scope, schedule, and budget; act as PM or technical lead.
• Serve as client-facing technical resource in meetings and coordination.
• Prepare/review technical reports, calculations, drawings, specs; ensure quality.
• Identify discrepancies; propose innovative approaches to design challenges.
• Support business development including proposals and client relations.
• Work within budgets and schedules with independent professional judgment.

Skills

Coastal engineering

Hydrodynamics

Sediment transport

Project management

Mentoring

Client communication

Independent analysis

Education

Bachelor's in Civil/Coastal/Ocean Engineering

MS/PhD in Coastal Engineering (preferred)

Tools

GIS

AutoCAD

USACE CEM

PIANC guidelines

ADCIRC

HEC-RAS 2D

Delft3D

SWAN

CSHORE

SBEACH

Python/MATLAB

Job description

Halff is seeking a Coastal Engineer for our Houston, TX office. This position is suited for an experienced coastal engineer with 8+ years of professional experience and a demonstrated record of success in H&H and coastal engineering design and modeling. Candidates should bring hands-on expertise in hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and coastal processes, along with the ability to work independently on complex technical problems while mentoring junior engineers. This role also carries project management responsibilities, including leading multidisciplinary teams, managing scope and schedule, and serving as a technical point of contact for clients on coastal engineering projects along the Texas Gulf Coast and beyond.

At Halff, we believe infrastructure should do more than function - it should serve people, strengthen communities, and stand the test of time. As an employee-owned firm, every team member has a direct stake in the quality of our work and the success of our clients. Our Coastal and Water Resources team partners with federal, state, and local agencies across the Gulf Coast to plan, model, and design shoreline protection, flood risk reduction, navigation, and ecosystem restoration projects. We're growing our team and seeking an experienced Coastal Engineer who wants to lead challenging projects, drive technical excellence, and help shape the future of coastal infrastructure. This opportunity offers an excellent career development opportunity for someone looking to grow with Halff, with potential for not only business and personal growth, but ownership in the firm.

What You Will Do

• Leads H&H and coastal design and modeling efforts, including waves, currents, sediment transport, and coastal flooding for shoreline protection, beach and dune restoration, and coastal structure projects.
• Apply advanced knowledge of coastal processes, coastal structures, hydrology and hydraulics (H&H), and USACE planning and design criteria to develop sound, defensible engineering solutions.
• Mentor, train, and supervise junior and mid-level engineers, reviewing their technical work and supporting their professional development.
• Coordinates the work of multiple engineers and disciplines to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Manages project scope, schedule, and budget; serves as project manager or technical lead on coastal engineering projects.
• Serves as a client-facing technical resource, participating in client meetings, agency coordination, and stakeholder engagement.
• Prepares and reviews technical reports, engineering calculations, design drawings, and specifications, ensuring quality and consistency with applicable codes and standards.
• Identifies and resolves technical discrepancies, proposing innovative approaches to complex or first-of-a-kind design challenges.
• Supports business development efforts, including proposal preparation and client relationship building.
• Performs work in accordance with agreed-upon budgets and schedules, exercising independent professional judgment.

What You Will Need

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil, Coastal, Ocean, or related Engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of related coastal engineering experience, with a proven track record of successful coastal design and modeling work.
• Active Texas Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with experience preparing technical reports and presenting to clients and agencies.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading technical analyses and design on coastal engineering projects.
• Experience mentoring, supervising, or managing junior engineers and project teams.
• Able and willing to travel occasionally (typically one to three days) for project or client needs.
• Valid U.S. Driver's License.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Coastal Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Strong working knowledge of GIS, AutoCAD, the USACE Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM), PIANC guidelines, and other coastal planning, design, and analysis tools.
• Proficiency in coastal, hydrodynamic, wave, and sediment transport modeling software, such as ADCIRC, HEC-RAS 2D, Delft3D, SWAN, CSHORE, SBEACH, or similar numerical modeling platforms.
• Experience with data analysis, model automation, and programming/scripting languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB, R, VBA, or similar).
• Demonstrated project management experience, including scope, schedule, and budget management.
• Experience delivering coastal engineering projects for Federal, State, and local government agencies, including familiarity with agency coordination, permitting, grant-funded projects, and public infrastructure programs.

The Halff Coastal Engineering Advantage

• Expertise Across Disciplines: A team with expertise in coastal engineering and resilience, environmental management, and urban planning delivers comprehensive, integrated solutions across all project phases.
• Proven Sustainability and Innovation: Every project is driven by a commitment to ecological preservation and innovative, forward-looking designs that adapt to evolving environmental challenges.
• Collaborative Partnerships: Strong partnerships with clients and stakeholders create shared goals and successful outcomes built through open communication and collaboration.
• Technological Leadership: Advanced tools, from machine learning to predictive modeling, enhance decision-making and deliver precision at every stage of a project.

Halff Coastal Engineering Services

• Coastal engineering design and adaptation
• Coastal planning, study and assessment
• Coastal processes and modeling
• Dredging and beneficial use of dredged material
• Grant funding strategies
• Hydraulics, sediment transport and geomorphology
• Inlet and beach management plan
• Nature-based solutions
• Ports, harbors, and waterways
• Wetlands, beach and dune restoration

Learn more about Halff's Coastal Engineering services, check out some of our projects, and meet our team.

Company Overview

Halff is a full-service infrastructure consulting firm planned, designed, engineered, constructed - and purposed - for people. Since 1950, we've been creating smart solutions that improve lives and communities by turning ideas into reality.

Halff was founded on a core tenet: Focus on people, treat them well, and success will follow. It’s no wonder, then, that our employees and the culture they create result in our firm consistently being named a Top Workplace in America.

Our industry-leading professionals collaborate to meet tough challenges in creative ways. You can view Halff's full complement of services here

We Offer Excellent Benefits, Including But Not Limited To

• Medical, dental, prescription and life insurance
• Long-term and short-term disability insurance
• Paid time off (PTO) and 8 company paid holidays (and Veteran's Day for our veterans)
• Traditional and Roth 401(k) plans
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• 529 College Savings Plan
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Click here for a more comprehensive list of Halff's benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

Halff is a drug-free workplace. This offer of employment is contingent upon the receipt of a clear drug screen and background check prior to your first day of employment. This position may be subject to random drug testing pursuant to federal regulations.