Water Resource Engineer

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.

ESA seeks a highly motivated Water Resource Engineer to join our team of engineers and scientists in the Southeast region . We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic team member with 5+ years of work experience, a passion for water resources and restoration, and the desire to learn and grow. This is a full-time, salaried, overtime-exempt role Strong preference given to candidates within a 1-hour commutable distance to one of these ESA Office locations : Tampa or Orlando. Qualified candidates located elsewhere in Florida (or willing to relocate to Florida at their own expense) will also be considered.


This role will involve some travel and field work as needed for in-person team collaborations and site visits as-needed. This is an in-office role, with the potential for hybrid flexibility with proven performance and supervisor approval. Qualified Florida remote candidates may be considered.

Who You Are

• Water resources engineer with 5+ years of professional experience with an emphasis on freshwater restoration design within the southeastern United States, preferably Florida.
• You hold a bachelor's degree or higher in civil or environmental engineering or a closely related discipline and are a professionally licensed engineer (PE) . A Florida Professional Engineer's license is desirable. If not licensed in Florida, expected to be willing and able to obtain FL licensure within 12 months of hire.
• You are enthusiastic and experienced in designing moderately complex freshwater restoration projects, including water control structures, ditch blocks, low water crossings, weirs, seepage swales, and grading, as well as rehabilitation/repair of water control structures.
• You have prepared design plans for a variety of projects and have knowledge of state and federal regulations related to implementation, permitting or monitoring of water resource projects.
• You have experience with preparing technical specifications, engineer opinion of probable costs, and construction bid packages
• You are experienced in performing field inspections of existing water control structures and evaluation of existing water control system designs in freshwater, riverine, or tidal systems (Florida experience preferred).
• You are highly familiar with steps to gather data, perform analyses, prepare reports, and communicate results, including working closely with colleagues in related fields.
• You possess strong skills and experience using Microsoft tools, design and mapping software such as AutoCAD, ArcGIS, or others.
• You have experience with stormwater hydrology and hydraulic modeling (i.e. SWMM, WWHM, TRUST, HEC-RAS, ICPR etc.).
• You are an effective communicator who fosters teamwork and inclusion, and shares knowledge and expertise with more junior staff through mentoring and direct supervision.
• You are an effective team member who proactively identifies and contributes constructively to address project or team issues to foster collaboration.
• You present information clearly and speak persuasively about complex topics to clients, agency staff, teaming partners, other project stakeholders and the general public.
• You can work independently from our Florida offices and are able to perform field visits through the state of Florida, Alabama, and others as project needs arise. Hybrid remote working may be considered after onboarding and job training, with proven performance and supervisor approval.
• You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 50 pounds . You are confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, work in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in vegetated environments, agricultural fields, arid lands, and along stream banks. You may be exposed to inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. Some early morning, late night and/or weekend work, as well as long hours may be required.
• Must hold a valid driver's license with a clean DMV record.
• Preference given to qualified candidates with any of the following skillsets:
  • Proficiency in hydrodynamic and water quality numerical simulation modeling and analyses (Princeton Ocean Model, EFDC, CH3D, WASP, CE-QUAL-ICM, CE-QUAL-W2, QUAL2K) in rivers, lakes, estuaries, and/or coastal areas
  • Highly skilled in AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Proficiency in ArcGIS Pro and Hydro Tools
  • Familiar with Florida ecosystem
  • Experience with performing construction observations
  • Experience with surveying and field data collection
  • Experience in performing drainage design for Department of Transportation projects
  • Skilled in identification of vegetation and/or soils
  • Knowledge of preparing scope and fee proposals.
  • You have led, managed, mentored, and/or supervised multidisciplinary teams including delegating and guiding junior-level staff through simple to complex tasks
  • Comfortable working in and around freshwater, are able to walk long distances carrying a backpack, and able to lift at least 50 pounds
  • Certified/Trained Boat Operator

What You Will Do for ESA

• You will lead, manage, and assist with the preparation of freshwater resources analyses, reports, designs, permit applications, construction drawings, technical specifications and other project documentation.
• You will have the opportunity to lead, manage, or participate in topographic, geologic, natural resource and related field data collection to support engineering analysis and design.
• You will collaborate with engineers, ecologists, hydrologists, geomorphologists, numerical modelers, landscape architects, biologists, and other specialists in advancing restoration approaches and other project solutions from concept to implementation.
• Provide mentorship and support for more junior staff, including reviewing their work for accuracy and clarity and providing constructive feedback and career development guidance while working on projects together.
• Demonstrate your understanding of project management principles and practices and be responsible for the development of design and permitting documents in accordance with applicable guidelines and requirements, while delivering assignments within budget and schedule.
• Consistently demonstrate your solid writing skills and excellent oral and presentation skills while participating in and/or leading client and agency meetings, and marketing tasks including having the responsibility for preparing scopes of work and budgets for proposals or contract negotiations, providing technical input, and participating in interviews or industry conferences.
• You will thrive in a fast-paced, challenging environment and be able to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines, while working as a team or independently.
• Live in Florida and be available for occasional travel to project sites, industry conferences and team collaboration events.
• Other ad hoc tasks as needed

What's Special About Our Team in the Southeast

By joining our team in the Southeast, you'll become part of the local region's strong culture where we value creative thinking, teamwork, and multi-disciplinary integration and have ample opportunities for cross-disciplinary engagement and project exposure. You'll also benefit from the expertise of our national Engineering Hydrology & Design (EH&D) group. Our EH&D team includes engineers, hydrologists, geomorphologists, scientists and water quality specialists who provide expertise for many municipalities in the Southeast, Pacific Northwest, Southern and Northern California.


Locally and nationwide, ESA's work matters because it helps communities shape a positive future for their citizens.


To read about some of our exciting projects check out these links: Lemon Bay Preserve, Balm-Boyette Stallion Creek Restoration, Surface Water Improvement Plans, Rock Creek Ponds Ecosystem Restoration, Tidal Creeks Water Quality Assessment Framework and Florida RESTORE Act

What's Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company share through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.

We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.

Who We Are

We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients.


In accordance with ESA's duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards, any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies.


Please note: We do NOT accept unsolicited resumes from agencies

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability-or unable to use-the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Human Resources Department via email: View email address on click.appcast.io for assistance.

Please include the following in your message so we can promptly address your request:

• Full name
• The best method to contact you (phone number and/or email address)
• Title of Job Position Applied
• Description of your accommodation request

ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D)