Water Resources Engineer III - Ecological Restoration

At RES, we’re looking for purpose-driven individuals who are passionate about restoration and sustainability, and who want their work to make a lasting environmental impact. Our team members go above and beyond, bringing initiative, integrity, and a strong work ethic to every project. Collaboration is key—we thrive on teamwork, open communication, and diverse perspectives. In a field that constantly changes, we value those who are resilient, adaptable, and resourceful in the face of challenges. If you're intellectually curious, eager to learn, and ready to help restore ecosystems and protect natural resources, you’ll find your place here.

We’re looking for an experienced Water Resources Engineer III to help us deliver ecological restoration, stormwater, and nature-based infrastructure projects from concept through construction. This is a technical leadership role—ideal for a licensed engineer with advanced ecological and stormwater design skills, hydrology and hydraulics modeling proficiency, and the ability to work across multi-disciplinary teams to ensure high-quality project delivery. You’ll be based out of one of our regional offices or work remotely within the Gulf Coast Region (Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, or Arkansas) and work closely with engineers, scientists, and project managers across disciplines. You’ll spend most of your time focused on design, modeling, and technical analysis, with occasional travel for site assessments, field data collection, construction oversight, and stakeholder meetings. See some of the projects our engineers work on here.

Why You’ll Love This Job

• You’ll apply advanced design skills to ecological restoration, stormwater, and nature based infrastructure projects
• You’ll contribute directly to permittable, buildable, field-tested solutions
• You’ll work with a collaborative team of subject matter experts who values science, innovation, and restoration
• You’ll lead the technical delivery of real-world ecological solutions
• You’ll engage with regulators and clients to help shape successful outcomes

A Day in the Life

As an Engineer III, you’ll lead the technical design and plan development for ecological restoration, stormwater, and nature-based infrastructure projects. Your day may include desktop analysis of prospective restoration sites, reviewing survey data, developing HEC-RAS or TR-55 models, creating grading plans in Civil 3D, or coordinating with permitting specialists and PMs.

This role will require you to be in the office at least 3 days a week unless you are in the field on a project.

You’ll work to produce high-quality plan sets, run QA/QC reviews, and communicate with clients and agencies to support approval processes. In the field, you’ll perform site assessments and support QA/QC during construction to ensure plans are implemented as designed. Whether it’s creating concept plans or overseeing agency submittals, your work will help deliver real restoration on the ground.

We would love to talk to you if you have many of the following:

• A Bachelor’s degree in civil, environmental, or ecological engineering
• A PE license in an applicable state
• 5+ years of professional experience in ecological restoration, stormwater design, nature based infrastructure, or a related field
• Advanced design capabilities including feasibility studies, concept design, H&H analysis, and construction plans development
• Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D and advanced capabilities with hydrologic and hydraulic modeling tools (e.g., HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, TR-55, FlowMaster, Rivermorph, GIS)
• Strong understanding of stream geomorphology, hydrology, hydraulics, sediment transport, and/or stormwater BMP design
• Ability to communicate directly with clients and regulatory agencies
• Comfort leading design work with minimal oversight and supporting QA/QC in the field
• Ability to support occasional fieldwork, including site assessments, QA/QC, and construction observation
• Experience coordinating work within multi-disciplinary teams

What will make you stand out?

• Master’s degree in civil, environmental, or ecological engineering
• Successfully navigated multiple permitting processes across state, federal, and local agencies
• Ability to mentor and guide junior engineering staff in design and plan production
• Previous experience with Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting 2.0

Please note that the “Day in the Life” section is not intended to be an exhaustive list of job duties, but rather a representative snapshot of typical responsibilities and work experiences at RES.

RES is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.