Project Restoration Engineer

SWCA Environmental Consultants•Lombard, IL

1d•$86,465 - $126,192•Hybrid

About The Position

SWCA Environmental Consultants is hiring a Project Restoration Engineer to support the growth of its ecological restoration practices throughout the Great Lakes and contribute to restoration projects across the United States. The role focuses on stream, wetland, coastal and living shoreline restoration, and nature-based infrastructure. It requires expertise in applied hydraulics, hydrology, and geomorphology, along with experience using AutoCAD Civil 3D and hydrologic and hydraulic modeling tools. This is a full-time, regular, benefits-eligible, salaried/exempt position reporting to SWCA’s Lombard, Illinois office. The position may be performed in a hybrid or distributed (remote) arrangement. Candidates near the Chicago or Michigan offices are preferred, though highly qualified applicants elsewhere may be considered. Occasional travel to project sites is required for field assessments, data collection, and client meetings; short-term overnight travel may be needed, and travel may be by commercial airline. The role may be hired at the Associate Project Restoration Engineer level, for which four years of relevant experience is required and six preferred, or the Project Restoration Engineer level, for which five years is required and seven preferred. The position leads project management and technical work, develops restoration designs and construction documents, conducts field investigations and analyses, supports permitting and construction, coordinates multidisciplinary teams, communicates with clients and stakeholders, and mentors junior staff. SWCA is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm providing environmental services across the United States. Its stated values include collaboration, continuous learning, pursuing high standards, and giving back to communities. The company describes a collaborative, team-focused environment and offers career development resources.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering; listed disciplines include Agricultural, Biological, Civil, Environmental, or Coastal Engineering.
Active Professional Engineer (PE) license.
At least four years of relevant, progressively responsible experience; the posting also specifies four years of ecosystem restoration design experience.
Experience with HEC-RAS and other hydraulic and hydrologic modeling and analysis software.
Experience developing ecological restoration design construction plans in AutoCAD Civil 3D.
Ability to travel for short-term overnight field data collection and client meetings, up to 20% of the time.
Ability to obtain and maintain valid travel documents and identification required for work-related domestic travel.

Nice To Haves

Seven years of professional experience in ecosystem restoration design; the posting also identifies seven years as preferred for the Project Restoration Engineer level and six years for the Associate level.
Experience managing primary tasks and small to medium-sized projects with limited oversight.
Experience mentoring and successfully delegating tasks to junior team members.
Location near SWCA’s Chicago or Michigan offices.

Responsibilities

Lead project management activities, overseeing technical tasks, schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
Manage project execution, including client communication, team coordination, and quality assurance.
Prepare design reports and plans as part of design deliverable packages.
Develop engineering designs for stream and wetland restoration, living shorelines, and nature-based infrastructure.
Conduct field investigations and detailed analyses for restoration projects, and provide technical guidance to optimize solutions and minimize environmental impacts.
Prepare construction drawings, specifications, and contract documents that meet industry and regulatory standards.
Support quality assurance reviews of analyses and deliverables.
Prepare regulatory documentation and coordinate with agencies through permitting and approval processes.
Perform modeling and calculations to optimize designs and assess environmental impacts.
Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate environmental science and engineering principles into designs.
Provide construction-phase services, monitor progress, check adherence to specifications, and communicate with contractors to address on-site challenges.
Communicate project goals, progress, and outcomes to clients and stakeholders, and maintain relationships that support business development and client satisfaction.
Mentor junior staff through technical guidance, training, review of work products, and delegation of tasks.
Follow applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
Conduct geomorphic surveys and assess reference reach conditions for restoration planning and design.
Develop restoration and site civil construction plans using AutoCAD Civil 3D.
Perform hydraulic, hydrologic, and water quality analyses for restoration design and project evaluation.
Participate in annual internal design training programs.
Perform related work as assigned.