Coastal Engineering Technical Lead

Coastal Engineering Technical Lead

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States; Orlando, Florida, United States

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.

As a Coastal Engineering Technical Lead at RES, you'll bring deep technical expertise and leadership to coastal resilience projects in Florida. You'll serve as a subject matter expert in your discipline—leading and assisting projects through innovative coastal resilience projects requiring regulatory approvals, project delivery, and implementation. You'll play a key role in leading the coastal design pursuits and projects, mentoring junior staff, driving quality across multiple projects, and guiding our clients through technically and logistically challenging resilience efforts.

Why You'll Love This Job

• RES is a leader in innovative nature-based solutions, including coastal adaptation – you will be at home.
• You will be a go-to expert. Your experience and insights will guide some of our most critical technical decisions.
• You'll get to lead and grow others. You'll manage projects and mentor junior engineers—shaping not only deliverables but the next generation of RES leaders.
• Your work will be built. You'll see your designs come to life on the ground.
• You'll have client-facing influence. You'll help build partnerships, manage contracts, and ensure that our technical solutions meet real-world needs.
• You'll work at the intersection of ecology and engineering. Whether you're restoring an eroding shoreline in response to degradation including climate change or designing coastal resilience projects, your work will make a measurable environmental impact.

A Day in the Life

You may start your day by reviewing a design or plan sets for an artificial reef project headed for agency review. Tacos for lunch. Midday, you're on a call with a client to walk through design revisions, balancing technical needs with site constraints and budget. Later, you're reviewing erosion and sediment control details submitted by a junior engineer for a coastal shoreline project in Miami—offering feedback and making sure it aligns with regulatory standards.

Depending on the project phase, you might lead a shoreline conditions assessment, design a nature based coastal enhancement, evaluate value engineering for a permitted project, develop permit plans or verify construction matches the plans as the Engineer of Record. Throughout the day, you will lead conversations with marine scientists, engineers, clients, and regulators who are part of the RES Team—turning complex challenges into clear solutions and ensuring projects stay on track and consistent with permits.

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

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Coastal, Civil or Marine Engineering field
• Licensed Professional Engineer in Florida, or the ability to become licensed within six months through reciprocity if licensed in another state
• 10+ years of progressive engineering experience designing nature-based coastal resilience and waterfront projects such as artificial reefs, living seawalls, breakwaters, mangrove shorelines
• Construction management experience
• Experience leading coastal proposal pursuits
• Advanced proficiency with design tools such as AutoCAD Civil 3D, GIS, coastal modeling software or similar platforms
• Demonstrated ability to manage large, complex design projects from concept through construction as design lead
• Experience leading coastal permitting and coordination with federal, state, and county agencies

What will make you stand out?

• Direct experience with coastal permitting in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe Counties
• Experience securing water quality improvement "credits" for nutrient reductions (TN, TP, TSS) for living shorelines projects
• Experience involving innovative stormwater designs (BMP sizing, regional stormwater standards)
• Direct experience with Federal/State/Local environmental regulations and understanding of the Federal Clean Water Act, State Stormwater Rule, and other state and federal environmental regulations, and permitting processes.
• Presentation and public speaking experience

You Will Thrive in This Position If You:

• Are recognized as a subject matter expert in your area of design and enjoy solving challenging technical problems, many times with innovative solutions
• Lead with confidence and clarity—whether managing a field team, mentoring junior staff, guiding a client or negotiating with a regulator
• Balance technical precision with project deadlines, scope, and cost considerations
• Can lead multiple projects and teams simultaneously without losing sight of quality
• Care deeply about ecological function, water quality, and making a measurable environmental impact

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.