Project Restoration Engineer

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Project Restoration Engineer with a passion for ecosystem restoration and water resource engineering We are looking for an Engineer who can contribute to the growth of our ecological restoration practices throughout the Great Lakes as well as support SWCA’s ecological restoration projects throughout the entire U.S. The ideal candidate will have experience/background in stream, wetland, and coastal/living shoreline design projects, and should have strong experience in applied hydraulics, hydrology, and geomorphology and as well as a working knowledge AutoCAD Civil 3D and hydrology/hydraulic modeling. Responsibilities will include occasional travel to project sites for field assessments, data collection, and client meetings.

This is a full-time, regular (benefits-eligible), salaried/exempt position reporting to our Lombard, Illinois office. This role is eligible for either a hybrid or distributed (=remote) work arrangement. While candidates located near our Chicago or Michigan offices are preferred, highly qualified applicants from other locations will also be considered.

This position can be hired at the following levels:

• Associate Project Restoration Engineer – Four (4) years of relevant experience and expertise; Six (6) years preferred
• Project Restoration Engineer – Five (5) years of relevant experience and expertise; seven (7) years preferred

Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.

About SWCA

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm providing full spectrum environmental services across the United States. Our North Star is to be the best place to work and a leader in sustainability, delivering sound science and creative solutions to complex environmental challenges.

 We are guided by our core values every day. We collaborate as #OneSWCA, we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack to our communities. With offices nationwide, SWCA offers a collaborative, team focused environment where employees can build meaningful and long-term careers.

What you will accomplish

• Leads management activities by overseeing technical tasks, schedules, budgets, and deliverables to ensure successful completion of assigned projects. Manages various aspects of project execution, including client communication, team coordination, and quality assurance. Responsible for preparation of design reports and plans that make up elements of design deliverable packages.
• Develops engineering designs for assigned projects, including stream and wetland restoration, living shorelines, and nature-based infrastructure. Applies advanced technical expertise to refine designs and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Conducts field investigations and detailed analyses for assigned restoration projects, ensuring designs minimize environmental impacts while meeting project requirements. Provides technical guidance to optimize solutions.
• Prepares comprehensive construction drawings, specifications, and contract documents to guide project implementation. Ensures all documentation adheres to industry and regulatory standards. Supports quality assurance reviews for analyses and deliverables.
• Oversees permitting processes by preparing regulatory documentation for reviews and approvals. Collaborates with agencies to address compliance requirements.
• Performs modeling and calculations to support design optimization and assess environmental impacts. Uses modeling tools to simulate project conditions and optimize solutions.
• Coordinates with multidisciplinary teams to integrate environmental science and engineering principles into project designs. Facilitates collaboration among scientists, planners, and engineers to achieve project objectives.
• Provides construction-phase services by monitoring progress, ensuring adherence to specifications, and addressing on-site challenges. Communicates with contractors to resolve issues and maintain project quality.
• Engages with clients and stakeholders to communicate project goals, progress, and outcomes. Builds and maintains relationships to support business development and client satisfaction.
• Mentors junior staff by providing technical guidance, training, reviewing work products, and fostering professional growth. Encourages knowledge sharing and collaboration within the team.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities

• Conduct geomorphic surveys and assess reference reach conditions to support restoration project planning and design.
• Develop restoration and site civil construction plans using AutoCAD Civil 3D.
• Perform hydraulic, hydrologic, and water quality analyses to support restoration design and project evaluation.
• Participate in annual internal design training programs to support technical development and career growth.

Minimum Qualifications

Four (4) years of relevant, progressively responsible experience. Seven years (7) of related experience is preferred; or any equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and/or education. Knowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree and active Professional Engineer (PE) license required.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Agricultural, Biological, Civil, Environmental, or Coastal Engineering)
• Four (4) years of ecosystem restoration design experience.
• E. certification (Professional Engineer)
• Ability to travel on short-term overnight efforts to collect field data and meet with clients, up to 20% of the time.
• Experience with HEC-RAS and other hydraulic and hydrologic modeling and analysis software.
• Experience developing ecological restoration design construction plans in AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Preferred Qualifications

• Seven (7) years of professional experience in ecosystem restoration design.
• Experience managing primary tasks and small to medium sized projects with limited oversight.
• Experience mentoring and successfully delegating tasks to junior team members.

Other Job Conditions

This position may require domestic travel, including travel by commercial airline. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain all valid travel documents and identification required for work-related travel throughout the duration of employment.  

Pay Range

SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. The expected pay range for this Chicago, IL-based position is:

• Associate Project Restoration Engineer - $86,464.56 to $111,011.80 per year
• Project Restoration Engineer - $98,148.96 to $126,191.52 per year

Actual pay may vary based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law. Eligible employees may also receive performance-based bonuses.  

As a 100% employee-owned company, we invest in your future. Our Total Rewards package includes an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, 401(k) with profit sharing, medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, wellness programs, and professional development opportunities. 

Closing

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact accommodations@swca.com or call 1 480 581 5378. If you require assistance with the application process, please contact recruiting@swca.com.

Use of Technology in Hiring 

SWCA may use approved technology, including AI-assisted tools, to support parts of the application and recruiting process. All selection and hiring decisions are made by SWCA employees, and candidates are not selected or rejected by automated systems. We are committed to a fair, transparent, and human-centered hiring experience. 

Candidate Use of AI 

Candidates may use AI tools to help prepare application materials and interviews. However, all application materials, assessments, and interview responses must accurately reflect their own experience, skills, and qualifications. AI must not be used to fabricate experience, complete assessments on their behalf, or otherwise misrepresent their background or abilities. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

SWCA Environmental Consultants is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees can thrive. 

SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.

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