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Coastal Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Stantec

Coastal Engineering Leader

Houston, TX · On-site

Your Opportunity Stantec Consulting Services Inc., seeks a Senior Coastal Engineering Leader in the rapidly growing Coastal and Flood Protection Engineering Practice. Our Texas team leads and ...

Stantec

Coastal Engineering Leader

Houston, TX · On-site

Your Opportunity Stantec Consulting Services Inc., seeks a Senior Coastal Engineering Leader in the rapidly growing Coastal and Flood Protection Engineering Practice. Our Texas team leads and ...

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How much do coastal engineering jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for coastal engineering in the United States is $31.55, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.19 and $37.98 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Coastal Engineering vs Hydraulic Engineering?

AspectCoastal EngineeringHydraulic Engineering
FocusDesigning and managing coastal structures, shoreline protection, and erosion controlDesigning water flow systems, dams, and flood control infrastructure
Work EnvironmentCoastal areas, shoreline projects, marine environmentsRivers, dams, urban water systems
CredentialsCivil or environmental engineering degrees, coastal engineering certificationsCivil or hydraulic engineering degrees, hydraulic engineering certifications
Industry UsageConstruction, environmental protection, marine projectsWater resource management, infrastructure development

Coastal Engineering primarily focuses on shoreline and marine environment projects, while Hydraulic Engineering deals with water flow systems like dams and flood control. Both fields require similar credentials and often overlap in water-related infrastructure projects, but their specific applications and environments differ.

What does a coastal engineer do?

A coastal engineer designs and manages projects related to shoreline protection, erosion control, and the development of coastal infrastructure. They analyze environmental conditions, use modeling tools, and often work with geotechnical and environmental data to ensure sustainable and resilient coastal systems.

What are some common challenges faced by coastal engineers when working on shoreline protection projects?

Coastal engineers often encounter challenges such as adapting designs to dynamic and unpredictable natural forces like tides, storms, and erosion. Balancing environmental concerns with the need for infrastructure protection requires close collaboration with environmental scientists, local communities, and regulatory agencies. Additionally, securing permits and funding can be complex due to the sensitive nature of coastal ecosystems. Successful projects typically involve multidisciplinary teamwork and adaptive management strategies to address these evolving challenges.

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

To thrive as a Coastal Engineer, you need a strong background in civil or environmental engineering, hydrodynamics, and coastal processes, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree and professional licensure (such as PE). Proficiency in modeling software like MIKE21, AutoCAD, GIS, and familiarity with coastal zone management regulations is essential. Strong analytical thinking, teamwork, and effective communication skills help in collaborating with stakeholders and addressing complex environmental challenges. These skills ensure sustainable, resilient coastal infrastructure and effective protection of communities from erosion, flooding, and climate change impacts.

What is coastal engineering?

Coastal engineering is a specialized branch of civil engineering focused on managing and protecting coastlines, harbors, and other nearshore environments. Professionals in this field design and implement structures such as seawalls, breakwaters, and jetties to prevent erosion, manage sediment, and safeguard communities from flooding and storm surges. They also work to balance human activities with the preservation of natural habitats along the coast. Coastal engineers often collaborate with environmental scientists, urban planners, and government agencies to promote sustainable coastal development.

What jobs can you get with a coastal engineering degree?

A coastal engineering degree can lead to jobs such as coastal engineer, oceanographer, environmental consultant, or project manager. These roles involve designing and managing shoreline protection, harbor development, and marine infrastructure, often requiring knowledge of hydrodynamics, GIS tools, and environmental regulations.
More about Coastal Engineering jobs
What cities are hiring for Coastal Engineering jobs? Cities with the most Coastal Engineering job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Coastal Engineering jobs? The most popular types of Coastal Engineering jobs are:
What states have the most Coastal Engineering jobs? States with the most job openings for Coastal Engineering jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Coastal Engineering jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Coastal Engineering jobs are:
Coastal Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Coastal Engineering job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $65,624 per year, or $31.6 per hour.

Coastal Engineering Leader

Stantec

Houston, TX • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 18 days ago

Stantec rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 83 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

112th of 440 rated engineering

Job description


Communities everywhere share the need for clean water. And as they work to meet that need, they're facing new, more complex challenges every day. Our water professionals collaborate to contribute innovative ideas, guided by scientific rigor and a vision for sustainable growth. Every day, we're helping communities improve, reuse, and protect our world's most precious resource.
Join our team to deliver transformational projects that will benefit future generations. Grow with us, H2O+U.
Your Opportunity
Stantec Consulting Services Inc., seeks a Senior Coastal Engineering Leader in the rapidly growing Coastal and Flood Protection Engineering Practice. Our Texas team leads and supports a wide variety of large civil works and water resource projects in the Gulf Region and across the US. Team members are expected to be able to lead and build a growing team, develop clients, mange large civil works projects and contribute technically in several areas of engineering. Your experience and expertise should be in at least one of the following areas.
  • Large Civil Works Projects
  • Flood Mitigation Projects
  • Natural Hazards and Coastal Risk
  • Coastal Structures and Waterways
  • Coastal Management, Environmental Restoration, and Enhancement

Your Key Responsibilities
  • Manage key client relationships and bring in new clients including large coastal programs with a focus on Texas and the Gulf States.
  • Maintain and enhance our reputation with clients, approval agencies and industry professionals as an outstanding service provider.
  • Lead and support the business in decision making such as overall strategic direction, goal setting, identifying clients, market challenges and opportunities
  • Prepare proposals and lead technical aspects of marketing efforts.
  • Conduct or oversee personnel involved in coastal investigations and planning.
  • Track performance of projects, from client and Stantec perspectives. This includes cost, schedule and quality performance requirements
  • Support and mentor others within the group and help build Stantec's growing coastal team.
  • Enhance the reputation of Stantec through preparation and presentation of papers at professional society conferences and seminars.
  • Demonstrate understanding of principles and practices for coastal engineering, coastal protection, flood mitigation, coastal hydrodynamics, wave theory, and sediment transport mechanics.
  • Provide project leadership for on-going resiliency projects throughout the Gulf.
  • Plan, schedule, conduct or coordinate detailed phases of the coastal engineering work in marine related projects.
  • Perform coastal engineering design and modeling and/or review the design and drafting work of coastal engineers, designers or drafters.
  • Remain current on regulatory policy and rule changes and may establish working relationships with regulatory officials.
  • Maintain high standards of delivery, quality, flexibility, and innovation.
  • Conduct peer and quality reviews on all applicable projects.
  • Coordinate with Stantec leadership and client contacts routinely to explore future opportunities, budget planning, and staff resourcing needs.
  • Other duties or responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications
Your Capabilities and Credentials
  • Demonstrated project experience through professional publications and presentations.
  • Demonstrated successful experience in decision making, including making sound defensible business decisions; and identifying, assessing, evaluating and solving complex problems.
  • Strong project management credentials, including but not limited to scoping, establishing schedules, project plan development, and routine tracking/reporting throughout project implementation.
  • Performing or leading quality assurance reviews for coastal projects.
  • Demonstrated experience performing or managing a team in the preparation of design plans and specifications for bidding and construction purposes.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to conduct effective client and agency presentations, written technical report preparation, as well as effective skills working in diverse team environments with staff, clients, and stakeholders.
  • Ability to complete design calculations for coastal and civil engineering practice: including marine structures, rubble mound structures, geotechnical/foundation designs, hydrodynamics/fluid mechanics, drainage and flood control infrastructure, dredge/fill, and sediment disposal site designs.
  • Ability to perform coastal engineering analysis in support of coastal flood hazard studies under a predefined framework, specifically wave runup/overtopping analysis, and wave overland propagation analysis.
  • Application of numerical modeling tools for simulating circulation, waves, water quality, sediment transport, or mixing (e.g. ADCIRC, Delft3D, SWAN, Mike, CORMIX).

Education and Experience
  • Bachelor of Science degree in Civil, Coastal with 20+ years of experience in one of the areas of expertise listed above.
  • Current registration as Licensed Professional Engineer (PE).

Typical office environment working with computers and working at a desk for long periods of time. Field work may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather.
This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.
Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other's talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. Join us and redefine your personal best.
About the Team
Pay Transparency: In compliance with pay transparency laws, pay ranges are provided for positions in locations where required. Please note, the final agreed upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. At Stantec certain roles are bonus eligible. Actual compensation for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on the agreed number of working hours per week.
Benefits Summary: Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to medical, dental, and vision plans, a wellness program, health saving accounts, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase program, life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term/long-term disability plans, emergency travel benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave. Regular full-time and part-time employees will receive ten paid holidays in each calendar year. In addition, employees will be eligible to accrue vacation between 10 and 20 days per year and eligible for paid sick leave (and if more generous, in accordance with state and local law).
Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law.
The benefits information listed above may not apply to union positions because benefits for such positions are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements

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