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Coastal Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Kimley-Horn

Sr. Coastal Engineer

Oakland, CA · On-site

$160K - $190K/yr

Overview Kimley-Horn's Oakland office is seeking a Senior Coastal Engineer with 15+ years of experience to join their Coastal and Waterfront team! This is not a remote position. Responsibilities This ...

Kimley-Horn

Sr. Coastal Engineer

Oakland, CA

$160K - $190K/yr

Kimley-Horn's Oakland office is seeking a Senior Coastal Engineer with 15+ years of experience to join their Coastal and Waterfront team! This is not a remote position. This position leads business ...

Kimley-Horn

Sr. Coastal Engineer

Oakland, CA · On-site

$160K - $190K/yr

Overview Kimley-Horn's Oakland office is seeking a Senior Coastal Engineer with 15+ years of experience to join their Coastal and Waterfront team! This is not a remote position. Responsibilities This ...

Kimley-Horn

Sr. Coastal Engineer

Oakland, CA · On-site

$160K - $190K/yr

Overview Kimley-Horn's Oakland office is seeking a Senior Coastal Engineer with 15+ years of experience to join their Coastal and Waterfront team! This is not a remote position. Responsibilities This ...

COWI

Structural Engineer

Oakland, CA · On-site

$103K - $159K/yr

Structural engineering experience should be in at least one of marine infrastructure (ports, harbors), coastal engineering, bridges, tunnels, other heavy civils * The ability and willingness to ...

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Coastal Engineer information

See California salary details

$36K

$105.9K

$135.7K

How much do coastal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for coastal engineer in California is $105,877.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $87,300.00 and $134,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a coastal engineer do?

A Coastal Engineer designs, constructs, and maintains structures and systems that protect coastal environments from erosion, flooding, and other environmental impacts. They analyze wave dynamics, sediment transport, and shoreline stability to develop solutions for coastal resilience. Their work often includes seawalls, breakwaters, beach nourishment projects, and harbor design to mitigate the effects of climate change and rising sea levels.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a coastal engineer?

To thrive as a Coastal Engineer, you need a solid background in civil or environmental engineering principles, with strong competencies in coastal processes, hydrodynamics, and shoreline management, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree and licensure such as a Professional Engineer (PE) certification. Familiarity with modeling software (e.g., MIKE21, Delft3D), GIS, and coastal monitoring tools is critical for project analysis and design. Strong analytical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills help in effectively collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders. These skills and qualifications are essential to design safe, sustainable solutions that protect coastal environments and infrastructure.

What are the most commonly searched types of Coastal Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Coastal Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Coastal Engineer jobs in California?

For Coastal Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Coastal Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Coastal Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Coastal Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Coastal Engineer job openings:

Coastal Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Coastal Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 74% Full Time, and 26% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $105,877 per year, or $50.9 per hour.

Coastal Engineer - Waterfront, Climate Resilience

Oakland, CA • On-site

Jobtailor
See more jobs at Jobtailorexternal

$90 - $130/hr

Other

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

Responsibilities
  • Prepares coastal climate impact and risk assessments for coastal infrastructure and develops technical solutions to address those risks
  • Prepare Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plans (RSAP) through analysis, coordination of figures, and writing
  • Supports design of nature-based solutions, such as living shorelines
  • Participate in community presentations and technical team workshops
  • Interact with regulatory agencies or support team leader that is managing the regulatory process
  • Assists project manager, or acts as project manager, to prepare/review engineering scopes of work and budgets/estimates for proposals and track budget and schedule status throughout the course of each project
  • Interface with clients as needed for successful project delivery. Address client requirements and manage client expectations regarding scope, schedule and quality on projects
  • Communicate with staff and subconsultants to establish work priorities for projects
  • Supports marketing through research of upcoming opportunities and preparing proposals. Tracking SB1 grant applications for various communities throughout the region
  • Familiar with permitting requirements for San Francisco Bay and northern California regulatory agencies, and is able to provide engineering solutions that comply with federal, state, and local legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation; anticipating future legislation; enforcing adherence to requirements; and advising management on needed actions
Requirements
  • Bachelor's in Coastal, Civil or Environmental Engineering from an accredited university degree program; required
  • Master's in Coastal or Civil Engineering; preferred
  • Successful completion of Fundamentals of Engineering (F.E.) exam or Engineer-in-Training Certification; required
  • California Professional Engineer (P.E.) license or ability to obtain via reciprocity; preferred
  • 5 - 10 years of experience in general coastal engineering, climate adaptation and resilience, or similar focus
  • Experience working with basic coastal principles, such as tides, wave mechanics, sea level rise, wind assessment, and sediment transport
  • Ability to plan, schedule work and complete work assignments within established budgets and timelines
  • General awareness of the San Francisco Bay Area regulatory agencies that oversee waterfront projects
  • Software capabilities: ArcGIS (familiar) Microsoft Word and Excel (proficient)
  • Availability and willingness to travel throughout the Bay Area and occasionally throughout Central California.
  • All new hires will be required to successfully complete and pass a pre-employment (post offer) background check in compliance with NIST 800-171.
  • Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in Coastal Engineering, Climate Adaptation, and Resilience, with a strong focus on developing technical solutions and managing project scopes, budgets, and schedules. Proficient in regulatory compliance and community engagement for waterfront projects.

Highest-signal resume keywords
  • Coastal Engineering
  • Climate Adaptation
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Project Management
  • ArcGIS
Hard Skills
  • Coastal Engineering
  • Climate Adaptation
  • Risk Assessment
  • Engineering Solutions
  • Budget Management
  • Proposal Preparation
  • Coastal Principles
  • Permitting Requirements
  • Technical Writing
  • Data Analysis
Soft Skills
  • Communication
  • Client Management
  • Team Collaboration
  • Presentation Skills
  • Work Prioritization
Certifications & Qualifications
  • Bachelor's in Coastal Engineering
  • Fundamentals of Engineering (F.E.) Certification
  • California Professional Engineer (P.E.) License
Industry Keywords
  • Coastal Infrastructure
  • Nature-Based Solutions
  • San Francisco Bay Area
  • Regulatory Agencies
  • Waterfront Projects
Tools & Technologies
  • ArcGIS
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Excel
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