Coastal Resilience Engineer - IRIS

University of Georgia; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university seeks a Coastal Resilience Engineer to support innovative coastal engineering projects. This role involves collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to develop resilient infrastructure solutions. Candidates will engage in research, design, and mentoring, contributing to impactful projects in coastal systems. Full-time position with competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

Benefits Eligible

Qualifications

• Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field.
• Preferred candidates will have 1 or more years of industry experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as project engineer for coastal engineering projects.
• Lead and mentor students for partnerships focused on natural infrastructure.
• Co-author journal manuscripts and research reports.

Skills

Coastal-based natural infrastructure

Resilient infrastructure engineering design

Hydraulic modeling

Hydrologic modeling

CAD

GIS

Education

Baccalaureate degree

Job description

Posting Details

Posting Details

Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia's oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly formed School of Medicine.

IRIS is a group of researchers from over a dozen disciplines at the University of Georgia, including engineering, ecology, landscape architecture, geography, anthropology, economics, and policy and law. We work toward a more equitable, resilient future by discovering innovative ways to combine natural and conventional infrastructure. IRIS expands the definition of infrastructure to include natural systems, including the forests that purify our air and drinking water, barrier islands and natural shorelines that protect our communities from storms, and marshes that store carbon and buffer against erosion.

Full-time position. 40 hours per week.

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ([e-mail]).

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Posting Number	S13585P
Working Title	Coastal Resilience Engineer - IRIS
Department	ENGR-Resilient Infrast Systems
About the University of Georgia
About the College/Unit/Department
College/Unit/Department website	https://www.iris.uga.edu/
Posting Type	External
Retirement Plan	TRS or ORP
Employment Type	Employee
Benefits Eligibility	Benefits Eligible
Full/Part time	Full Time
Work Schedule
Additional Schedule Information
Advertised Salary	$65,000-$77,000: based on experience
Posting Date	05/13/2025
Open until filled	Yes
Closing Date
Proposed Starting Date	08/01/2025
Special Instructions to Applicants	In addition to your UGA Jobs application, please also upload the following documents: Resume/CV Cover Letter List of 3 professional references with contact information Design portfolio or project example(s)
Location of Vacancy	Athens Area
EEO Policy Statement
USG Core Values Statement

Position Information

Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field. Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.

The College of Engineering wishes to appoint a Coastal Resilience Engineer to support funded research and implementation projects in coastal-based natural infrastructure and nature-based solutions.

This Staff position will be within the Engineering Services Team (EST) under the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), at the College of Engineering's School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering (ECAM).

The successful incumbent(s) will join a multidisciplinary team of scientists and designers at the University of Georgia who are engaged in collaborations between IRIS and the Department of Defense, other universities, and public/private sector partners.

These projects are highly specialized due to the incorporation of natural infrastructure systems and nature-based solutions. Candidates will collaborate in an interdisciplinary environment and will conceptualize and implement high quality/high impact engineering research and/or design projects through extensive knowledge and experience of civil/environmental engineering related project delivery processes.

This is a grant funded position and continuation of employment is contingent on continuation of funding.

Standard for office/lab and coastal field environments.

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Classification Title	Institutional Research Professional
FLSA	Exempt
FTE	1.00
Minimum Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications	Engineer-in-Training license or the ability to obtain licensure within a year of start date. Preferred candidates will have 1 or more years of industry experience or experience as an undergraduate research assistant. Preference will also be given to candidates with demonstrated expertise in coastal-based natural infrastructure, resilient infrastructure engineering design, CAD/Civil3D, GIS, and hydraulic modeling and hydrologic modeling of coastal systems.
Position Summary
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies
Physical Demands
Is driving a responsibility of this position?	No
Is this a Position of Trust?	No
Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?	No
Does this position require a P-Card?	No
Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position?	No
Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?	No
Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications)	No
Credit and P-Card policy
Background Investigation Policy

Duties/Responsibilities

Serve as project engineer to support development and design of coastal engineering projects. Projects include, but are not limited to, coastal processes, living shorelines/shoreline stabilization, beneficial use of dredge material (thin layer placement), wetland protection, etc. The scope of work includes the development of hydrological/hydrodynamic models, conceptual designs, alternatives analysis, basis of design reports, construction documents, technical reports, and cost estimates.

Duties/Responsibilities
Percentage of time	50

Lead and mentor natural infrastructure planning and engineering students for external practitioner partnerships focused on coastal-based natural infrastructure and nature-based solutions, including opportunities for Engineering with Nature projects inside coastal U.S. military installations, adjacent communities, and other public/private partners.

Duties/Responsibilities
Percentage of time	15

Assist in the development of scopes, fees, and schedules for a variety of coastal engineering projects.

Duties/Responsibilities
Percentage of time	10

Connect Engineering-With-Nature lessons to training and education opportunities and working with government, industry, and NGO partners to understand practitioner training needs. Along with co-develop and deliver coastal natural infrastructure training, curriculum modules, and workforce development (e.g. short courses and for practitioners)

Duties/Responsibilities
Percentage of time	10

Co-author journal manuscripts, research reports, factsheets, and other written / video resources and materials.

Duties/Responsibilities
Percentage of time	5

Communicate regularly and in a timely fashion with project PIs regarding research and other issues relevant to the operation of the laboratory.

Duties/Responsibilities
Percentage of time	5

Other duties as assigned

Duties/Responsibilities
Percentage of time	5