Senior Coastal H & H Engineer

GFT • Chicago, IL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

GFT is seeking a Senior Coastal Engineer - Technical Lead to join our Geotechnical Dams & Hydraulics Team in Chicago, IL! This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at our Chicago Office. Joining the dams and hydraulics team at GFT means contributing to innovative solutions for sustainable water management and infrastructure. Our team excels in dams and levees, advanced water and wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and conveyance, collection, and transmission. With a focus on integrating technology, sustainability, and compliance, we consider each water resources and environmental remediation project a chance to innovate and evolve to protect public health and enhance quality of life. What you'll be challenged to do: We are seeking a Senior Coastal Engineer – Technical Lead with 20+ years of experience in coastal engineering, hydraulics, and water resources to lead and grow our coastal engineering capabilities. This is a highly technical leadership position for an accomplished engineer who can provide technical direction on complex coastal, waterfront, and hydraulic projects while mentoring engineering staff and helping establish best practices across the organization. The position offers a flexible work environment with a combination of in-office and remote work. In this capacity, you will be responsible for the following: Serve as the technical lead for coastal and hydraulic engineering projects. Lead engineering analyses, modeling, design, and technical decision-making for complex coastal and waterfront projects. Provide expertise in coastal processes, waves, tides, currents, storm surge, flooding, sediment transport, erosion, scour, and hydraulics. Lead or review hydrodynamic, wave, coastal, and hydraulic modeling. Lead the development and design of shoreline protection, seawalls, revetments, breakwaters, waterfront facilities, dredging/navigation improvements, flood protection, drainage, and coastal resilience projects. Establish design criteria, technical approaches, and engineering standards. Provide senior-level QA/QC and technical review of calculations, models, reports, plans, and specifications. Mentor engineers and develop the technical capabilities of the coastal engineering team. Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients and represent the firm in technical meetings and design reviews. Support project pursuits, technical proposals, and development of coastal engineering opportunities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Coastal, Ocean, Water Resources Engineering, or a related engineering discipline; advanced degree preferred.
• 20+ years of relevant engineering experience, with significant coastal and hydraulic engineering experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Recognized technical expertise in coastal engineering and hydraulics.
• Strong understanding of hydrodynamic, wave, hydraulic, and coastal-process modeling.
• Experience with tools such as Delft3D, ADCIRC, SWAN, MIKE, HEC-RAS, XBeach, or comparable modeling platforms.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex engineering analyses and designs.
• Strong engineering judgment with the ability to evaluate modeling results, challenge assumptions, and develop practical and constructible solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor technical staff and communicate effectively with clients, agencies, and multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead for coastal and hydraulic engineering projects.
• Lead engineering analyses, modeling, design, and technical decision-making for complex coastal and waterfront projects.
• Provide expertise in coastal processes, waves, tides, currents, storm surge, flooding, sediment transport, erosion, scour, and hydraulics.
• Lead or review hydrodynamic, wave, coastal, and hydraulic modeling.
• Lead the development and design of shoreline protection, seawalls, revetments, breakwaters, waterfront facilities, dredging/navigation improvements, flood protection, drainage, and coastal resilience projects.
• Establish design criteria, technical approaches, and engineering standards.
• Provide senior-level QA/QC and technical review of calculations, models, reports, plans, and specifications.
• Mentor engineers and develop the technical capabilities of the coastal engineering team.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients and represent the firm in technical meetings and design reviews.
• Support project pursuits, technical proposals, and development of coastal engineering opportunities.

Benefits

• Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

What This Job Offers

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