Lead Waterfront Engineer

Foth • Detroit, MI

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Foth is seeking a Lead Waterfront Engineer to help strengthen and grow its Ports, Harbors, and Waterfront practice in Detroit, Michigan. The role offers a mix of technical engineering work and client relationship development, contributing to significant waterfront and Great Lakes infrastructure projects while helping expand Foth’s presence in Michigan.

The engineer will serve as a local connection between clients and Foth’s multidisciplinary waterfront team, contributing to engineering and project delivery while building trusted client relationships. Projects may involve ports, terminals, marine facilities, shoreline infrastructure, and other waterfront assets in Michigan, throughout the Great Lakes, and across the country. The position offers flexibility to build on existing strengths, expand experience, and contribute to regional business and team growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Structural, Ocean, Environmental, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 10 or more years of relevant engineering experience, ideally involving waterfront, marine, civil infrastructure, industrial, transportation, or related projects.
• Experience contributing to engineering design, project delivery, and/or construction-related activities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, project teams, and other stakeholders.
• Interest and ability to develop client relationships and represent Foth in a client-facing capacity.
• Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and offices.

Nice To Haves

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or interest and ability to pursue licensure.
• Experience with waterfront, port, harbor, marine, coastal, or Great Lakes infrastructure.
• Experience in project or task management.
• Familiarity with the Michigan/Great Lakes engineering or infrastructure market.
• Experience developing proposals, supporting business development, or cultivating client relationships.
• Existing relationships with public agencies, port authorities, industrial clients, terminal operators, or other waterfront stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong client relationships in Detroit and throughout the Great Lakes region, serving as a visible and trusted local representative.
• Contribute to the planning, design, analysis, and delivery of waterfront, marine, port, and coastal infrastructure projects.
• Partner with clients to understand their needs and connect them with appropriate technical resources and expertise across Foth.
• Support project management activities, including scope, schedule, budget, coordination, and overall project delivery.
• Develop and review engineering deliverables, including plans, specifications, technical reports, and calculations appropriate to the engineer’s area of expertise.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across coastal, structural, civil, geotechnical, environmental, and construction disciplines.
• Support construction-phase activities such as submittal and RFI reviews, field observations, inspections, and project coordination.
• Identify opportunities to expand client relationships and contribute to proposals, pursuits, and business development efforts.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior