Coastal 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 is seeking a highly motivated Coastal Engineer to join our growing team of engineers and scientists in the Southeast. This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate professional with experience in coastal processes and restoration who is eager to contribute to meaningful projects along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. This is a full-time, hybrid role, with the expectation of working on-site at least three days per week. This role is ideally based near ESA’s Tampa or Boynton Beach offices, with availability for occasional travel to project sites, conferences, and team collaboration events.

Who You Are 

You are a coastal engineer with 5+ years of professional experience supporting and leading coastal analysis and restoration projects, such as:

• 
  

  Living shorelines

  
  


• 
  

  Beach nourishment

  
  


• 
  

  Inlet management

  
  


• 
  

  Natural systems and shoreline restoration

  
  

You also bring the following qualifications:

• 
  

  Bachelor’s degree or higher in coastal, civil, environmental, ocean engineering, or a related field

  
  


• 
  

  Professional Engineer (PE) license required (Florida PE preferred)

  
  


• 
  

  Experience designing moderately complex coastal projects, including beaches, dunes, shorelines, inlets, creeks, and restoration systems

  
  


• 
  

  Knowledge of state and federal permitting, regulatory compliance, implementation, and monitoring of coastal projects

  
  


• 
  

  Strong technical skills in data collection, analysis, reporting, and communication

  
  


• 
  

  Proficiency with tools such as AutoCAD, ArcGIS, MATLAB, and Microsoft Office

  
  


• Able to conduct fieldwork that involves being in and around water, walking long distances with gear, and lifting up to 50 pounds.

You are also an effective collaborator and communicator who:

• 
  

  Builds inclusive, high-performing teams

  
  


• 
  

  Mentors and supports junior staff through supervision and knowledge-sharing

  
  


• 
  

  Presents complex technical information clearly to clients, agencies, stakeholders, and the public

  
  


• 
  

  Works independently while contributing proactively to team success

  
  

  Strong preference will be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:

  
  
  
  
  • 
    

    Construction observation for coastal projects (dredging, nourishment, structures, reefs, wetlands creation, living shorelines)

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Field data collection (waves, currents, sediment sampling, beach profiles, geotechnical/geophysical surveys)

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Coastal structure assessments following ASCE underwater investigation standards

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Scientific diving or snorkeling experience

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Certified or trained boat operator

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Scope and fee proposal development

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Leadership or supervision of multidisciplinary project teams

    
    
  
  
  
  

   

  
  

What You Will Do for ESA

As a Coastal Engineer at ESA, you will play a key role in advancing coastal resilience and restoration solutions. Responsibilities include:

• 
  

  Leading and supporting coastal process analyses, engineering design, and technical reporting

  
  


• 
  

  Preparing permit applications, construction drawings, specifications, and project documentation

  
  


• 
  

  Participating in hydrographic, topographic, geologic, and natural resource field data collection

  
  


• 
  

  Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, ecologists, modelers, and landscape architects

  
  


• 
  

  Mentoring junior staff through technical review, feedback, and professional development

  
  


• 
  

  Applying project management principles to deliver work on schedule and within budget

  
  


• 
  

  Supporting business development efforts through proposal writing, scope/budget development, client meetings, interviews, and conference participation

  
  

You will thrive in a fast-paced environment managing multiple responsibilities while contributing to impactful coastal projects across Florida, Alabama, and beyond.

What’s Special About Our Team

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. You will have the opportunity to be exposed to projects nationwide and learn from well-respected technical leaders.

 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: Sebastian Inlet District, Philippe Park Living Shoreline, Fowl River, Surfers Point Shoreline Management, Ocean Beach Master Plan,  Lemon Bay Preserve, Balm-Boyette Stallion Creek Restoration 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. 

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: [email protected] 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)