Project Ecosystem Restoration Engineer | Arkansas | Headway Environmental Central

Company Profile

Headway Environmental is a specialized environmental consulting firm focused on ecological restoration engineering, watershed resilience, and environmental compliance.

Our team works at the intersection of engineering, ecology, and hydrology, delivering innovative solutions that restore ecosystems while improving community resilience.

As a growing firm, we provide opportunities for engineers to take on meaningful responsibility, work directly with senior experts, and help shape the future of our ecological restoration engineering practice.

About the Opportunity

Headway Environmental is a growing environmental consulting firm specializing in ecological restoration engineering, watershed resilience, and nature-based drainage and flood risk reduction infrastructure.

As demand for nature-based solutions (NBS) continues to grow, we are expanding our Ecological Restoration Engineering practice and seeking a Project Ecosystem Restoration Engineer to join our team.

This position is ideal for an engineer who is passionate about engineering with nature, restoring streams, reconnecting floodplains, and designing resilient watershed systems that improve both ecosystem function and community flood resilience.

Headway Environmental is a small but nationally recognized firm, and this role offers the opportunity to work closely with senior restoration engineers while helping scale and shape a rapidly growing practice area.

We are looking for someone who enjoys working in an entrepreneurial environment, taking ownership of design work, mentoring junior staff, and contributing to innovative ecological engineering projects across the United States.

Location: Arkansas (preferred)
Company: Headway Environmental
Position Type: Full Time

What You Will Do

As a Project Ecosystem Restoration Engineer, you will contribute to the design and delivery of ecological restoration and nature-based solutions projects.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead engineering design for ecosystem restoration and nature-based infrastructure projects, including:
  • Stream and river restoration
  • Natural channel design
  • Floodplain reconnection
  • Wetland and riparian restoration
  • Green infrastructure and nature-based stormwater systems
  • Ecologically enhanced drainage and flood mitigation systems
• Develop and prepare engineering calculations, technical design documentation, and construction drawings
• Perform watershed hydrologic analysis and hydraulic modeling, including:
  • HEC-HMS
  • HEC-RAS
  • SWMM or comparable modeling tools
• Develop Civil 3D models and construction plans for restoration projects
• Conduct watershed and river assessments, including evaluation of channel stability, sediment transport considerations, and floodplain connectivity
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary teams including environmental scientists, geomorphologists, and permitting specialists
• Provide technical guidance to CADD technicians and junior engineers
• Assist project managers in maintaining project schedules and budgets

Required Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license required in at least one U.S. state
• Bachelor's degree in:
  • Civil Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Water Resources Engineering
  • Biological and Agricultural Engineering
  • Or closely related discipline
• 5+ years of experience in water resources engineering with emphasis on ecological restoration, river engineering, or nature-based infrastructure
• Experience designing stream restoration or natural channel projects
• Strong experience with:
  • AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • HEC-HMS
  • HEC-RAS
  • SWMM or equivalent hydrologic/hydraulic modeling tools
• Experience preparing engineering construction plans and design documentation
• Ability to work independently in a collaborative, fast-moving consulting environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in civil engineering or environmental engineering
• Training in:
  • Fluvial geomorphology
  • Natural channel design
  • Stream restoration design (Rosgen or equivalent)
• Experience in the development of FEMA CLOMR/LOMRs
• Experience with GIS software
• Experience supporting projects involving environmental permitting or ecosystem restoration planning

Who Will Thrive Here

We are looking for engineers who are excited about designing systems that restore and enhance natural processes, rather than traditional grey infrastructure.

Ideal candidates are motivated by:

• River and watershed restoration
• Nature-based solutions and green infrastructure
• Climate resilience and flood mitigation
• Interdisciplinary environmental engineering

Additional Information

Headway Environmental is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.
Headway Environmental complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and considers reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants/employees to perform essential functions. EEO/AA/M/F/Veteran/Disabled. If you require assistance with submitting the application, please contact [click to reveal email address] View email address on us.fitly.work .

Pay Range: $76,000 - $105,000 per year