Environmental Scientist/Designer

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Environmental Scientist/Designer

McMillen Inc. is seeking a mid-level Environmental Scientist/Designer with approximately 2-7 years of professional experience to support ecological and watershed restoration design, planning, and scientific analysis in Southern California. The successful candidate will be integral in supporting major projects focused on the restoration of urban rivers, biodiversity, and nature-based infrastructure solutions. The multidisciplinary nature of these projects requires a strong foundation in design disciplines, such as landscape architecture, planning, or engineering, and science disciplines such as hydrology, geomorphology, biology, or ecology. The successful candidate will possess the ability to integrate scientific and technical information across these disciplines, strong graphics and writing capabilities, project management skills, and a passion for solving the world’s most pressing ecological and infrastructure challenges.

Responsibilities

• Support ecological design and planning projects ranging in scale from individual sites to regions. Emphasis will be on nature-based infrastructure solutions and ecological restoration of aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial ecosystems in Southern California.
• Support major planning and design projects focused on the restoration of urban rivers and wildlife and nature connectivity in urban Los Angeles.
• Support ecological restoration design projects from conceptual design phases through construction, emphasizing opportunities and constraints analyses, integration of scientific and technical data, development of design concepts, design feasibility analyses, and design refinement phases.
• Support watershed, conservation, and nature connectivity physical planning projects at local to regional scales including development of plan alternatives, integration of geospatial data, alternatives assessment, and plan mapping and documentation.
• Support project decision-making processes through communication of complex data and design information with clients and stakeholders through presentations, maps, graphics and diagrams, dashboards, and other presentation and engagement techniques.
• Collaborate with engineers, geomorphologists, hydrologists, biologists, and GIS specialists to prepare technical analyses to support the design and planning processes.
• Prepare high profile, public-facing presentations, documents, and supporting graphics.
• Perform project management activities including team coordination of large project teams of internal and external members, managing online project workspaces (e.g., Miro), and support billing, budget tracking and project reporting.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Environmental Science, Landscape Architecture, Planning, Engineering, or similar is preferred
• Strong graphics and document production capabilities is essential, including experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, and/or InDesign).
• Strong writing skills oriented toward both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Knowledge of the application of GIS and geospatial data in design and planning project contexts is essential. The ability to operate GIS software is preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial ecosystems and plant communities of home region. Knowledge of Southern California is preferred.
• Knowledge of biodiversity conservation analysis, planning, and design, and associated connectivity and habitat suitability models is preferred.
• Strong understanding of hydrologic, geomorphic, biological and ecological science and geospatial datasets, and their application in watershed, habitat, and infrastructure design and planning. Knowledge of Southern California science and datasets is preferred.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and convey technical concepts to varied audiences.

Compensation Package

• Pay Range: $74,000 – $130,000 (DOE)
• Benefits: McMillen provides a full Benefits Program consisting of Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, FSA, EAP, 401(k) and match, 9 Paid Holidays, generous PTO, opportunity for Stock Ownership and Wellness Reimbursement.

Company Bio

McMillen, Inc. designs and builds solutions that shape the future of water resources. As an employee-owned firm, we take pride in every project because we know our work truly matters. Our people thrive on solving complex challenges, pushing boundaries, and refining their craft. We don’t look for the complacent or the comfortable. We seek problem solvers, innovators, and experts who are always striving to be better. We support continuous learning, cutting-edge technology, and a balanced work-life environment so our employees can build careers they’re proud of.

We are focused in the dams, energy, fisheries, natural resources, and infrastructure markets. With staff across the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond, we bring global best practices to our clients. Our people integrate engineering, environmental, and construction expertise to deliver practical, results-driven outcomes. From concept to completion, projects are guided through feasibility studies, permitting, design, construction, and commissioning, ensuring technical precision and real-world functionality.

EEO

McMillen, Inc. is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and will make all employment related decisions without race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Visa sponsorship, including renewal during employment, will not be provided for this position.

No recruiters, please.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.