Senior Coastal Engineer (PE)

HDR; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Senior Coastal Engineer in Austin, Texas, to join our team dedicated to restoring and protecting coastlines. You will lead complex dredging and coastal restoration projects, utilizing your expertise and mentoring teams to achieve sustainable results.

The ideal candidate will hold a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, have a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, and possess strong project management skills. HDR values an inclusive workplace and seeks engineers passionate about water resource management.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of Water Resources experience.
• Professional engineering license (PE or P.Eng) is required.
• Ability to work independently and in teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead analysis and design for dredging and navigation projects.
• Develop channel layouts and alignments for coastal projects.
• Serve as Project Manager on larger efforts.

Skills

Coastal engineering

Project management

Hydraulic modeling

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Master's or PhD in Coastal, Ocean, or Civil Engineering

Tools

Artificial intelligence software

High-performance computing (HPC)

Job description

HDR is an employee-owned company committed to a welcoming environment where every individual is valued and respected. We foster inclusion across our organization and communities, and we continually reflect on our impact on the world.

We believe water is more than a resource—it's a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you’ll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come, from delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control. Our team brings together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. This isn’t just a job; it’s a chance to lead change and make a lasting impact.

HDR is seeking a Senior Coastal Engineer (PE) to join our nationally ranked team of coastal and waterfront professionals across the United States. We’re looking for individuals passionate about restoring and protecting coastlines through innovative, resilient, and sustainable solutions.

About The Role

As a Senior Coastal Engineer, you’ll play a key leadership role in delivering complex dredging, navigation, beach nourishment, and coastal restoration projects. You’ll bring deep technical expertise and project leadership to initiatives that create lasting environmental and economic impact, while mentoring teams and collaborating across disciplines.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead analysis and design for:
• Dredging and navigation projects
• Coastal processes and beach nourishment design
• Coastal restoration and resilience initiatives
• Develop:
• Channel layouts and alignments
• Borrow area design and dredging production estimates
• Placement area and beneficial use designs
• Provide project and task management on complex assignments
• Perform and oversee:
• Advanced wave, sediment transport, and hydraulic and hydrologic modeling
• Coastal project and channel development design
• Lead preparation of:
• Engineering plans, specifications, and design calculations
• Technical reports, memos, and client deliverables
• Collect, analyze, and present data to clients, stakeholders, and in public forums
• Manage and mentor multidisciplinary teams on medium to large projects
• Serve as Project Manager on larger efforts, as needed
• Support business development by preparing:
• Proposals
• Scopes of work
• Cost estimates

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters or PhD degree in Coastal, Ocean, or Civil engineering preferred
• Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) environments
• Experience with the application of artificial intelligence software to coastal and marine modeling
• Experience with wave growth and transformation, coastal and estuarine hydrodynamics, littoral processes, sediment transport, marine dredging, and basic geotechnical or structural systems
• Experience in coastal project and channel planning design and specification development
• Experience preparing scope, schedule and fee estimates to support proposal development
• Experience preparing technical reports

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent field
• A minimum of 10 years Water Resources experience
• Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered (e.g., PE or P.Eng)
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a project team
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other’s life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust, and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected, and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location: United States-Texas-Houston Other Locations: United States-Texas-Corpus Christi, United States-Mississippi-Flowood, United States-Florida-Doral, United States-Texas-Austin, United States-Florida-Tampa, United States-Louisiana-Metairie, United States-Florida-Pensacola, United States-Florida-Fort Lauderdale, United States-Louisiana-Lafayette, United States-Florida-Jacksonville

Industry: Water Schedule: Full-time Employee Status: Regular BusinessClass: Coastal Engineering Job Posting: Jun 24, 2026

HDR is committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.