Senior Water Resources and Restoration Engineer

Title:  Senior Water Resources and Restoration Engineer 

Location:  San Francisco or Irvine, CA 

Job Type:  Regular Full-time  

What’s the Opportunity?

Anchor QEA is seeking a full-time senior water resources and restoration engineer for our San Francisco or Irvine, CA offices to help lead project teams across the West Coast delivering river restoration, sediment management, flood resiliency, and nature-based infrastructure projects. We are interested in candidates who are quick learners, detail-oriented, committed team players, and who possess strong written and verbal communication skills.

Applicants will have between 10 to 15 years of experience in water resources, river restoration, or related engineering disciplines, including hydrologic and/or hydraulic modeling experience. Experience with restoration and resilience concepts such as sediment management and beneficial re-use of dredged material, floodplain reconnection, habitat restoration, and engineering with nature or nature-based solutions is preferred, with projects potentially including river and floodplain restoration, sediment management planning, habitat enhancement, and nature-based resilience projects throughout California and the western United States.

Responsibilities:

• Serves as the lead engineer supporting planning and design for projects involving river restoration, sediment management, flood resiliency, and nature-based solutions, including channel and floodplain restoration, habitat enhancement, beneficial use of dredged material, and engineering with nature concepts.


• Leads engineering planning and design including, but not limited to, conceptual restoration alternatives, geomorphic or hydraulic assessments, basis of design development, construction drawings, technical reports and specifications, and construction cost estimates.


• Provides technical guidance and mentoring to junior engineers and technical staff.


• Manages project teams and coordinates with client project managers and technical staff.


• Develops client relationships, leads proposals, and contributes to the sales process.


• Analyzes complex engineering and environmental problems and develops value-engineered solutions.


• Leads preparation and coordination of project deliverables, including technical reports, design documents, and construction packages.


• Ensures that work products are prepared in accordance with Anchor QEA’s quality management program.


• Ability and willingness to travel for field site visits and project meetings in various U.S. locations.

What Are We Looking For? 

Ideal candidates will have the following:

• BS or MS (preferred) degree in Civil, Environmental, or Water Resources Engineering, or a related field


• 10 to 15 years of experience in water resources engineering, river restoration, or related disciplines


• Experience with river restoration, sediment management, flood resiliency, or nature-based infrastructure projects


• Experience with hydrologic, hydraulic, hydrodynamic, sediment transport, and/or water quality numerical modeling


• Proficiency in MS Office


• AutoCAD Civil 3D experience a plus


• ArcGIS experience a plus


• Strong written and verbal communication skills


• A Professional Engineering (PE) license or ability to obtain one within two years


• 40-hour HAZWOPER certification (preferred; will be provided by Anchor QEA upon hire if not certified)

What Can You Expect?  

A collaborative work environment where we encourage everyone to bring their authentic self. We offer competitive compensation and benefits which are detailed below.   

Who Are We?  

Anchor QEA is an environmental science and engineering consulting firm that is focused on improving the environment and our communities by solving challenging problems. We employ more than 400 people in offices around the United States. Our vision is for a growing company that is our clients’ first choice for solving their most challenging problems and our employees’ first choice as a company where they want to work.  Learn more about Anchor QEA at www.anchorqea.com 

How to Apply?  

Apply online through Anchor QEA’s Open Positions page at https://www.anchorqea.com/careers/careers-open-positions/.  Veterans are encouraged to apply. 

Additional Information  

We work hard to embrace diversity and inclusion. As an equal opportunity employer, Anchor QEA is committed to a diverse, multi-cultural work environment. Anchor QEA does not discriminate in employment based on age, race, creed, gender, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national origin, disability or sexual orientation.  

Salary and Other Compensation:  

• Salary Range:  $141,000 - $159,000  

• Annual Bonus 

• Other potential bonus types:  Billable Time Bonus, Spot Bonus, Milestone Anniversary Bonus, Receiving Professional License/Certification Bonus, Peer-reviewed Publication Bonus, Employee Referral Bonus.  

Base Level Benefits for Regular Full-Time Positions:  

• Healthcare:  Medical, dental, vision, basic life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability programs. 

• Paid Company and Floating Holidays:  7 paid company and 2 floating holidays annually 

• Vacation:  2 weeks accrued paid vacation based on length of service.  Vacation may vary by level.  

• Sick and Safe Time:  80 hours annually 

• Retirement Plan:  401k plan with an employer match 

• Further information on benefits: https://anchorqea.com/careers/benefits/