Senior Coastal Engineer

RINA•Fort Lauderdale, FL

8d•$140,000 - $198,000

About The Position

RINA is recruiting a Senior Coastal Engineer for its Environmental and Engineering Geoscience Division, with office locations in Houston, Texas; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; or Chicago/Lisle, Illinois. The role leads the maritime discipline for a strategic project from design basis through construction close-out, with responsible charge for marine engineering and an agency-facing role involving the USACE Galveston District, the non-federal sponsor (Port Victoria), and the Coast Guard. The Senior Coastal Engineer owns the maritime design basis and leads marine design, permitting, construction engineering, commissioning, and close-out. The position serves as Engineer of Record during construction and is available for on-site presence during marine construction. Travel to the project site may be up to 50%.

Requirements

Master's degree in coastal, environmental, or civil engineering; a bachelor's degree with relevant years of experience may be considered in lieu of education.
At least 15 years of experience in coastal, port, or waterway engineering, including at least one project taken from concept to construction.
Experience with shallow-draft navigation channels, berth dredging, and dredged material placement.
Active Texas Professional Engineer license in civil engineering.
Ability to travel up to 50% to the project site and be present on site during marine construction.
Valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Gulf Coast barge or liquid bulk terminals.
Former USACE experience.
Diplomate Coastal Engineering (D.CE).
Demonstrated Section 408 and Section 10/404 work, preferably with USACE Galveston District.

Responsibilities

Own the maritime Design Basis, berth concept, dredge footprint, and engineering content of the Section 408 request and Section 10/404 application; lead the pre-application meeting.
Direct marine detailed design, incorporate permit conditions, and coordinate structural, geotechnical, dredging, and transfer systems into an issued-for-construction package.
Define marine work packages, write scopes of work, and lead technical bid evaluations and clarifications.
Serve as Engineer of Record during construction, including reviewing method statements, managing design changes and field queries, accepting surveys and works, and ensuring compliance with permit conditions.
Support first berthing and trial operations, as-built certification, USACE completion notification, and operation and maintenance input.
Develop marine planning and navigation criteria, including vessel and barge selection, tow configurations, underkeel clearance criteria, light-loading rules, and berth and approach layouts.
Develop coastal, metocean, and hydraulic engineering criteria and assessments, including water levels, wind/current/wave criteria, scour, propwash, bank stability, shoreline and bank protection, and hydraulic effects on the federal channel as required for Section 408 review.
Prepare and coordinate Section 408 requests and Section 10/404 applications, including engineering analyses, drawings, alternatives analysis coordination, non-federal sponsor statement of no objection, and agency review meetings.
Review construction method statements, temporary works, marine traffic management, and quality plans; establish survey control and acceptance criteria for dredging, pile positions, and structure tolerances.
Conduct site inspection and handle non-conformances, field design changes, as-built records, permit compliance, environmental windows, monitoring requirements, progress measurement, and support for payment certification.
Support pre-commissioning, first vessel or barge call, trial berthing and mooring checks, as-built surveys and drawings, USACE completion notification, and handover of maintenance dredging and inspection plans and operating limits to the terminal operator.
Travel to the project site up to 50% and be available on site during marine construction.