Senior Coastal Engineer

Hatch; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Hatch is seeking a Senior Coastal Engineer in Cape Town to lead coastal modelling, data processing, and design for marine infrastructure. You will guide multi-disciplinary teams across regions, oversee metocean campaigns, and contribute to business development while delivering innovative, sustainable coastal solutions.

The role emphasizes ownership, collaboration, and expertise in coastal engineering, with the Cape Town office focusing on regional projects and client relationships.

Qualifications

• Specialised in coastal modelling and coastal processes.
• 12+ years of experience in planning and design of coastal infrastructure; 15+ preferred.
• Professional registration with ECSA or equivalent international body.
• Strong communication and collaboration across disciplines and regions.

Responsibilities

• Lead coastal engineering and modelling work packages and projects.
• Define metocean data collection campaigns based on scope.
• Provide coastal design inputs for marine and port structures.
• Oversee data processing of environmental datasets (hindcast, measured data).
• Lead and mentor coastal engineers and support business development.

Skills

Coastal modelling

Coastal processes

Verbal and written communication

Collaborative worker

Project management

Team leadership

Climate change risk assessments

Data analysis

Education

B.Sc./B.Eng./M.Sc./M.Eng. in Civil/Coastal/Ocean Eng

Professional registration with ECSA

Tools

Delft3D

Mike by DHI

Job description

Location: Cape Town, Western Cape, ZA

Location:Cape Town,Western Cape,South Africa

Company: Hatch

Join a company that is passionately committed to the pursuit of a better world through positive change. With more than 70 years of business and technical expertise in mining , energy , and infrastructure ,our 10,000 colleagues in 150 countries tirelessly work toward bettering the industries in which we operate. With practical solutions that are safe, innovative and sustainable, we think globally while acting locally.Are you looking for an opportunity to join a diverse group of professionals who are committed to remaining exceptional? We look forward to hearing from you.

Our expertise in infrastructure includes aviation, highways and bridges, planning and advisory services, ports, rail and transit, tunnels, and water. Want to be part of the creation and construction of our cities? Then the infrastructure team is for you!

We are looking to building on our success in the realm of coastal engineering and are seeking a highly motivated Senior Coastal Engineer to join the Ports and Terminals team in our Cape Town office.

You will join a dynamic and expanding team working across a diverse coastal project portfolio, including coastal structure design, metocean assessment and numerical modelling, port and marine infrastructure inputs, dredging, climate adaptation planning, and coastal management.

We are seeking a passionate senior coastal engineer who is eager to take ownership, contribute to technically challenging projects, and play a key role in shaping and expanding our coastal offering in the region. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives on innovation, collaboration, and making a tangible impact on complex coastal environments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead coastal engineering and modelling work packages and projects, which includes:
• Defining metocean in-situ data collection campaigns based on project scope requirements.
• Studying, defining and providing coastal engineering related design basis inputs to structural basis of design for the domains of marine and port structural engineering.
• Sound knowledge on data processing of vast environmental data sets, including but not limited to, hindcast data, measured data, statistical analysis methods, etc.
• Coastal protection design based on hard engineering (breakwater, groins, revetment), and alternative soft engineering solutions (beach nourishment or habitat creation).
• Dredging: design, methodologies, and material disposal.
• Spectral wave, Boussinessq Wave, Hydrodynamic, and sediment transport numerical modeling.
• Understanding of the overall port development and planning phases and aspects, including navigation, and weather dependent downtime.
• Climate change hazard and risk assessments on coastal assets, including adaptation option development
• Act as coastal Subject Matter Expert (SME) on large multi-disciplinary marine infrastructure projects
• Work collaboratively with other disciplines and regions
• Lead and contribute to coastal engineering business development efforts in region
• Actively engage and manage client relationships, leveraging positive relationships, enhancing our reputation which results in repeat work
• Coach and mentor other coastal engineers

Qualifications & Experience

• Specialised in the field of coastal modelling and coastal processes
• Passionate about leading an expert team and driving technical excellence within Ports and Coastal engineering
• An exceptional communicator (verbal and written)
• A collaborative worker (with other disciplines and regions) who thinks laterally and innovatively to solve problems
• Driven and achievement orientated
• Someone who finds satisfaction in creating positive change
• B.Sc., B.Eng., M.Sc., or M.Eng. degree in Civil, Coastal, Ports and Coastal or Ocean Engineering and Ocean Science
• Minimum 12 years of experience in the planning and design of coastal infrastructure, with 15+ years preferable
• Professional registration with ECSA (or similar international bodies)
• A commitment to professional development of others and remaining up to date with the latest advancements and guidance in coastal engineering and science
• Experience in oversight and responsibility of modelling work using software packages such as Delft3D, Mike by DHI, or similar.
• Familiarity with relevant international codes and standards in the marine and coastal environment
• Experience in the design of coastal structures such as revetments and breakwaters from concept to detailed engineering phases.
• Experience in management of data acquisition campaigns, including hydrographic, metocean, and meteorological data sets.
• Experience in data analysis and manipulation skills for relevant data sets within the Coastal field.
• Project management capabilities
• Project team leadership and resource management skills
• Technical reviews and verification of others’ designs

Preferred

• Experience with physical modelling, design implementation and construction
• Execution of coastal processes modelling (hands-on experience)
• Hands-on field and instrumentation experience
• Mooring analysis based on static and dynamic numerical models
• Nature-based solutions experience
• Track record in project delivery of complex coastal projects
• Business development and networking skills
• Team leadership and resource management experience
• Climate change hazard and risk assessments on coastal assets, including adaptation option development
• Collaborate on exciting projects to develop innovative solutions

Don't meet every single requirement? You don't need to. At Hatch, we are building a diverse, inclusive workplace that fosters innovation.

We're committed to fostering a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we operate and serve. Hatch is an Equal Opportunity Employer that considers applicants without regard to age, race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other protected status. If you have any accommodation requirements, please let us know. We'll do our best to meet your needs in accordance with applicable local legislation.

In order to consider any application for employment, we will have to process your personal information.

A law, known as the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA) provides that when one processes another's personal information, such collection, retention, dissemination and use of that person's personal information must be done in a lawful and transparent manner.

In order to give effect to this right, we are under a duty to provide you with a number of details pertaining to the processing of your personal information. These details are housed under the HatchHR Processing Noticewhich can be accessed and viewed on the Hatch website: https://www.hatch.com/About-Us/Privacy-Statement-South-Africa , whichHR Processing Noticewe request you kindly download and read.