Restoration Engineer

SWCA, Incorporated; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants seeks an Associate Project Restoration Engineer to advance ecological restoration and water resource engineering in NC and the Southeast. The role offers hybrid work in the Charlotte area or full remote work within SW USA, with field visits as needed.

The ideal candidate has experience in stream, wetland, and coastal restoration design, strong hydraulics, hydrology, and geomorphology skills, and proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D and modeling tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Civil, Environmental, Agricultural, or Coastal) required.
• EI certification (Engineering Intern) required.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% for field data collection and client meetings.
• Experience with HEC-RAS and hydraulic/hydrologic modeling software.
• Experience developing restoration design construction plans in AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Responsibilities

• Oversee technical tasks, schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
• Develop engineering designs for stream/wetland restoration and living shorelines.
• Conduct field investigations and analyses to optimize solutions.
• Prepare construction drawings, specs, and contract documents.
• Coordinate permitting with regulatory agencies and prepare regulatory documentation.
• Perform modeling to support design optimization and environmental impact assessment.
• Mentor junior staff and support team safety and training.

Skills

Hydraulic modeling

Hydrology

Geomorphology

Project coordination

Field investigations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

EI certification (Engineering Intern)

Tools

AutoCAD Civil 3D

HEC-RAS

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking an Associate Project Restoration Engineer with a passion for ecosystem restoration and water resource engineering. This role will focus on advancing our ecological restoration practice in North Carolina and the Southeast, while also supporting projects across the U.S. Reporting into SWCA’s Charlotte, North Carolina, this position offers flexibility to work hybrid within the Charlotte Metro area, or be fully remote (distributed) within the SW USA. The ideal candidate will have experience in stream, wetland, and coastal/living shoreline design, with strong skills in applied hydraulics, hydrology, and geomorphology, as well as proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D and hydrology/hydraulic modeling. Responsibilities will include occasional travel to project sites for field assessments, data collection, and client meetings. This is a full-time, regular (with full benefits), salaried, exempt position.

Individuals with an EIT and are working toward a PE license are also highly 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

• Leads management activities by overseeing technical tasks, schedules, budgets, and deliverables to ensure successful completion of assigned projects. Manages various aspects of project execution, including client communication, team coordination, and quality assurance. Responsible for preparation of design reports and plans that make up elements of design deliverable packages.
• Develops engineering designs for assigned projects, including stream and wetland restoration, living shorelines, and nature-based infrastructure. Applies advanced technical expertise to refine designs and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Conducts field investigations and detailed analyses for assigned restoration projects, ensuring designs minimize environmental impacts while meeting project requirements. Provides technical guidance to optimize solutions.
• Prepares comprehensive construction drawings, specifications, and contract documents to guide project implementation. Ensures all documentation adheres to industry and regulatory standards. Supports quality assurance reviews for analyses and deliverables.
• Oversees permitting processes by preparing regulatory documentation for reviews and approvals. Collaborates with agencies to address compliance requirements.
• Performs modeling and calculations to support design optimization and assess environmental impacts. Uses modeling tools to simulate project conditions and optimize solutions.
• Coordinates with multidisciplinary teams to integrate environmental science and engineering principles into project designs. Facilitates collaboration among scientists, planners, and engineers to achieve project objectives.
• Provides construction-phase services by monitoring progress, ensuring adherence to specifications, and addressing on-site challenges. Communicates with contractors to resolve issues and maintain project quality.
• Engages with clients and stakeholders to communicate project goals, progress, and outcomes. Builds and maintains relationships to support business development and client satisfaction.
• Mentors junior staff by providing technical guidance, training, reviewing work products, and fostering professional growth. Encourages knowledge sharing and collaboration within the team.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities

• Develop construction plans within AutoCAD Civil 3D. Typically restoration plans but occasional site civil support may be required.
• Perform hydraulic, hydrologic, and water quality assessments, modeling, and analysis in support of the above listed projects.
• Communicate and work with project managers to keep projects on schedule and on budget.
• Attend and participate in annual internal design training meetings to support personal-skills growth and career planning.
• Work independently and multi-task regularly in a fast-paced environment; work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Take responsibility for team safety, develop safety plans (when applicable), and anticipate potential safety hazards.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Agricultural, Biological, Civil, Environmental, or Coastal Engineering)
• EI certification (Engineering Intern)
• Ability to travel on short-term overnight efforts to collect field data and meet with clients, up to 25% of the time.
• Experience with HEC-RAS and other hydraulic and hydrologic modeling and analysis software.
• Experience developing ecological restoration design construction plans in AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience managing primary tasks and small to medium sized projects with limited oversight.
• Experience mentoring and successfully delegating tasks to junior team members.
• Experience with urban stream restoration projects
• Experience with mitigation banking projects.