Senior Coastal Engineer

Mott MacDonald; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 148,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid in-office schedule (three days/

Comprehensive benefits package

401(k) with company match

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Mott MacDonald seeks a Senior Coastal Engineer in Seattle to lead coastal and shoreline design for waterfront, port, and maritime projects. You will apply coastal processes knowledge, numerical modeling, and practical design experience to develop resilient solutions.

We value collaboration, client engagement, and mentoring junior staff while delivering complex projects across the Pacific Northwest and North America.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Coastal/Ocean Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of coastal engineering and design experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Strong coastal processes knowledge and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead coastal engineering analyses and design for waterfront, port and shoreline projects.
• Define technical approaches, criteria, and engineering solutions.
• Model waves, hydrodynamics, sediment transport, sea level rise, and coastal hazards.
• Prepare technical studies, reports, and calculations for clients and regulators.
• Mentor junior engineers and support technical development.
• Coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams and support project delivery.

Skills

Coastal engineering

Shoreline design

Numerical modeling

Project leadership

Proposal development

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Coastal Engineering, Ocean Engineering, or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

ADCIRC

SWAN

Delft3D

CMS

MIKE21

Job description

At Mott MacDonald, we are driven by purpose and powered by brilliant people. As a trusted engineering, management, and development consultancy, we work with clients to solve complex challenges and deliver sustainable outcomes that make a meaningful difference for the communities we serve.

When you join us as an experienced professional, you will bring your expertise to work that matters while continuing to grow your career. You will collaborate with talented colleagues across disciplines and geographies, contribute your perspective, and help shape better outcomes through technical excellence, innovation, and integrity.

Build on your experience while helping shape what comes next. At Mott MacDonald, you'll work alongside talented people on complex and rewarding projects that make a real difference. We value fresh perspectives, encourage collaboration, and provide opportunities to expand your skills, take on new challenges, and grow your career. Whether you're deepening your technical expertise, broadening your leadership experience, or exploring new opportunities across our business, you'll be supported by a team that is committed to helping you succeed.

About Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy committed to improving society through excellence and innovation. Our Seattle team supports the planning, design, and delivery of resilient coastal, waterfront, maritime, and climate adaptation infrastructure throughout the Pacific Northwest and across North America.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a technically strong and client-focused Senior Coastal Engineer with a minimum of 8 years of coastal engineering and design experience. You will contribute to the planning, analysis, and design of coastal, waterfront, maritime, and shoreline infrastructure projects while supporting project delivery, client relationships, and the development of junior staff.

This role is well suited for an engineer who combines strong knowledge of coastal processes and numerical modeling with practical design experience and a passion for developing resilient infrastructure solutions.

Technical Responsibilities

• Lead and support coastal engineering analyses and design for waterfront, port, maritime, and shoreline projects.
• Define technical approaches, design criteria, and engineering solutions.
• Evaluate coastal processes, including waves, storm surge, sediment transport, shoreline change, and coastal flooding.
• Develop solutions for shoreline stabilization, living shorelines, coastal resilience, and climate adaptation.
• Perform numerical modelling of waves, hydrodynamics, sediment transport, sea level rise, and coastal hazards.
• Support the design, rehabilitation, and assessment of ports, terminals, marine structures, and waterfront infrastructure.
• Prepare technical studies, engineering reports, and calculations.
• Present technical findings and recommendations to clients, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies.

Project Delivery Responsibilities

• Support project management activities, including scope development, budgeting, scheduling, and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Coordinate with structural, geotechnical, environmental, civil, and maritime engineering teams.
• Conduct field investigations, site inspections, monitoring, and condition assessments.
• Provide construction-phase engineering support and field review.
• Develop construction drawings, specifications, and design documentation.
• Perform QA/QC reviews of deliverables, engineering analyses, and design calculations.

Leadership & Business Responsibilities

• Mentor junior engineers and support technical development.
• Contribute to proposal development, client engagement, and technical leadership within the Ports, Coastal & Offshore practice.
• Provide technical leadership to project teams and support successful delivery of complex coastal and waterfront projects.

Desired Technical Experience

• Coastal engineering and shoreline design
• Dredging and navigation projects
• Coastal resilience and climate adaptation planning
• Wave, hydrodynamic, and sediment transport modeling
• Sea level rise and coastal flood risk assessments
• Waterfront and maritime infrastructure projects
• Port and terminal development
• Shoreline stabilization and erosion mitigation
• Nature-based and living shoreline solutions
• Coastal permitting and environmental compliance
• Numerical modeling software such as ADCIRC, SWAN, Delft3D, CMS, MIKE21, or similar platforms
• Federal, state, and local agency projects
• Construction support and engineering services during construction

Required Qualifications

• The ability to work out of the Seattle office a minimum of 3 times a week. Hybrid working schedule.
• Bachelor’s degree in Coastal Engineering, Ocean Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience in coastal engineering and design.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Demonstrated experience delivering coastal engineering projects from concept development through final design and construction support.
• Strong understanding of coastal processes, shoreline dynamics, and coastal resilience strategies.
• Experience preparing technical reports, engineering calculations, specifications, and construction documents.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers and technical staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Coastal Engineering, Ocean Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience working with ports, waterfront developers, municipalities, federal agencies, or resource agencies.
• Experience supporting projects for USACE, NAVFAC, NOAA, FEMA, state departments of transportation, or local port authorities.
• Project management experience on coastal infrastructure projects.
• Established professional relationships within the Pacific Northwest coastal and maritime market.

Why Join Us?

At Mott MacDonald, you will work alongside experienced professionals on projects that help communities adapt to a changing climate, strengthen maritime infrastructure, and improve coastal resilience. We offer opportunities for technical growth, leadership development, and collaboration across our global coastal and maritime practice.

Bring your expertise, curiosity, and drive to make a difference. If you are ready to join a collaborative consultancy where your perspective is valued, your growth is supported, and you are empowered to lead with integrity, we would love to hear from you.

Benefits & Rewards

The expected salary for this position is $148,000 - $181,000

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

In addition to base salary, Mott MacDonald offers performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package, giving employees a direct connection to our success.

Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support the health, wellbeing, financial security, and professional growth of our employees. Eligible employees have access to medical, dental, and vision coverage, FSA and HSA accounts, company-paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, and a competitive 401(k) plan with company matching. We also provide paid time off, paid holidays, caregiver leave, employee referral bonuses, professional registration and membership reimbursements, and tuition assistance to support continued learning and career development.

Collaboration at Our Core

At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we're together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet clients, team, and personal commitments.

Equal opportunity is the law.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

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