Senior Coastal Engineer

Environmentalscienceassociates; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 187,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan with company match

Performance-based bonuses

Tuition reimbursement

Conference attendance

Job summary

Environmental Science Associates is seeking a Senior Coastal Engineer to lead its coastal engineering and resilience practice. This role focuses on coastal hazards analysis and adaptation planning for sustainable shoreline solutions.

The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of coastal engineering experience, a valid Professional Engineers license, and demonstrated ability to manage complex engineering projects. ESA offers a supportive work environment and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in coastal engineering projects including nature-based solutions.
• Ability to manage complex coastal engineering projects from concept to construction.
• Experience in leading multidisciplinary design and engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to strategic planning for coastal engineering practice.
• Identify opportunities and link resilience planning with coastal sciences.
• Manage workflow and develop engineering QA/QC protocols.

Skills

Coastal hazards analysis

Adaptation planning

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in coastal engineering or related discipline

Professional Engineers license in California, Washington, or Oregon

Job description

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee‑owned environmental consulting firm that plans, designs, permits, mitigates, and restores projects across communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. With 50 years of experience and 21 offices in California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeast United States, we offer a dynamic environment for environmental professionals.

ESA seeks a Senior Coastal Engineer to lead the coastal engineering and resilience practice across California and beyond. This leadership role focuses on coastal hazards analysis, adaptation planning, and implementation, delivering high‑impact solutions for shoreline communities.

Who You Are

• You are a professionally licensed engineer with 15+ years of experience leading coastal engineering projects, including expertise in nature‑based solutions, coastal resilience planning, coastal hazards analysis (waves, runup, erosion, and flooding) as well as flood management along the U.S. Pacific Coast.
• You have led and managed complex coastal engineering projects from concept through construction, including coastal hazards and vulnerability assessments, engineering evaluations, erosion/flooding studies, technical reports, design plan sets, specifications, cost estimates (PS&E packages), construction schedules, and/or construction support.
• You are adept in the engineering steps required to move projects from concept to construction bid package, including coordination with multidisciplinary teams such as geotechnical, structural, and hydraulic engineers, coastal planners, and landscape architects.
• You have provided senior engineer review and oversight on large‑scale coastal engineering projects, with emphasis on Living Shorelines, nature‑based solutions and multi‑benefit flood and erosion protection, and have experience integrating coastal engineering with planning, economics, and resilience strategy development.
• You have led, managed, mentored, and/or supervised multi‑disciplinary design and engineering teams including delegating and guiding engineers through simple to complex tasks. You are an effective communicator who fosters teamwork and inclusion, and shares knowledge and expertise with more junior staff through mentoring and direct supervision.
• You have a Bachelor’s degree or higher in coastal engineering or a closely related discipline and a Professional Engineers license in California, Washington, and/or Oregon.

What You Will Do for ESA

• As a senior leader, contribute to annual and long‑term strategic planning for our coastal engineering and coastal resilience practice. Cultivate best practices, facilitate knowledge sharing and technical training, mentor and manage more junior staff, develop and oversee implementation of engineering QA/QC protocols specific to coastal engineering and analysis, help manage workflow and workplans, and make staffing and recruitment recommendations.
• Identify opportunities, track markets and clients and lead strategy to link and leverage resilience/sea‑level rise planning with ESA’s coastal sciences and engineering expertise.
• Leverage ESA’s multi‑disciplinary practices across regions to help connect, integrate, drive and expand our teams’ demonstrated capabilities in coastal hazards analysis, coastal resilience planning, and sea‑level rise adaptation firm‑wide.
• Collaborate with other engineers, coastal planners, hydrologists, geomorphologists, landscape architects, ecologists, biologists, economists, and other specialists in advancing coastal engineering, resilience planning and habitat restoration approaches and other project solutions from concept to implementation.
• Help plan, design and/or manage a wide array of important, challenging and exciting projects – leading efforts from coastal risk assessment through implementation – including coastal hazards assessments (wave runup, flooding, erosion), sea‑level rise vulnerability analyses, adaptation planning, Living Shorelines design, ecosystem restoration, climate change resilience/sea‑level rise adaptation, fisheries habitat enhancement, and engineering with nature.
• Thrive in a fast‑paced, challenging environment and be able to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines, while working on a team or independently.
• Be located in one of ESA’s CA Regions (Northern or Southern California).

What’s Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close‑knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future. We provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (70% paid for you and your family), annual allocations of company shares through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, performance‑based bonuses, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and conference attendance.

Our Coastal Engineering Group

Our Coastal Engineering team leads efforts throughout the West and Gulf Coasts, applying coastal hazards analysis, sea‑level rise modeling, erosion and flood studies, and nature‑based solutions such as Living Shorelines, oyster reefs, marsh creation, and managed shoreline retreat projects. We collaborate with planners, economists, and stakeholders to develop actionable, fundable solutions that enhance resilience while protecting ecosystems.

Pay Range

$187,000 — $210,000 USD

Who We Are

We are 100% employee‑owned, value diversity and inclusion, and celebrate differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, with varied backgrounds that foster innovative solutions and continued success for our employee‑owners and clients.

Equal Opportunity

ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOEM/V/F/D)