Freelance Water Resources Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving problems related to the earth and environment through specialization in geotechnical, geostructural, tunnel, and dam engineering. Schnabel’s high standards for quality, business ethics, and concern for the communities in which we live are a vital part of who we are. Schnabel is an ENR Top 500 Design Firm with 700+ employees in 31 offices throughout the United States.

Recognized by CE News as one of the Best Engineering Firms to Work for, Schnabel provides employees with a competitive benefits package including maternity leave, tuition reimbursement for continuing education, health, dental, life and disability insurance and a wellness program. As an employee-owned company, through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Schnabel employees directly benefit from the success of our growing firm.

Benefit options include:

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee life & ADD insurance (100% company-paid)
• Short-term disability (100% company-paid)
• Long-term disability
• Supplemental life insurance
• 401(k) and profit-sharing plan
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
• Bonus program
• Paid time off
• 9 Paid Holidays
• Wellness program
• Professional development and tuition reimbursement

Job Description:

Our Jersey City, NJ, office is seeking a Water Resources Engineering Manager to join our Northeast Region Water Engineering Practice. This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead technically challenging and nationally significant water resources projects while helping shape the future of our practice. You will leverage your technical expertise to deliver innovative solutions for dams and reservoirs, flood mitigation and resiliency, river and watershed systems, and critical water infrastructure programs across the Northeast and throughout the United States.

You will be part of an employee-owned team of nationally recognized experts at the forefront of water engineering innovation, working at the intersection of advanced hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, geospatial analytics, risk assessment, data science, programming, and emerging technologies to deliver meaningful, resilient solutions for our clients and communities.

Job Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will serve as Water Resources Engineering Manager within Schnabel’s Water Engineering Practice. Major focus areas for the role include:

• Develop and supervise hydrologic and hydraulic models, conduct risk and flood hazard analyses, and support the planning, design, and construction activities of water resources projects, including dams and levees, flood control, river restoration, and resiliency and climate adaptation efforts. 
• Provide technical leadership and quality oversight for modeling studies, engineering analyses, design calculations, technical reports, and client presentations on complex, multidisciplinary water resources projects.
• Lead project management activities including resource planning, work delegation, management of project budgets, invoicing, and backlog reporting.
• Lead and inspire multidisciplinary project teams while mentoring and developing junior engineers and scientists.
• Contribute to maintaining and developing Schnabel’s strong brand in the water engineering field through thought leadership embodied in published papers, white papers, collaboration with key partners and universities, and presentations at recognized conferences and workshops.
• Support the continued growth of the practice through business development, client relationship management, strategic pursuits, proposal development, and recruiting top talent.
• Ensure customer satisfaction and build strong client relationships.
• Domestic and occasional international travel, when necessary.

Required Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil, Water Resources Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in water resources engineering. (Candidates outside of this range who meet the core requirements may be considered.)
• Proficiency in hydrologic, hydraulic, and risk modeling using software such as HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS 2D, LifeSim, and PCSWMM.
• Effective time management, written communication skills, analytical skills, interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work independently or as part of a team, efficiently balance multiple concurrent tasks, responsibilities, and commitments.
• Collaborative leadership style with a passion for mentoring, continuous learning, and delivering technical excellence.

Preferred Skills/Experience:

• Master’s Degree in Civil, Water Resources Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with 3D numerical modeling a plus.
• Programming skills including Python, batch scripting, and command-line automation a plus

Other Requirements:

• Ability to pass a background check which may include criminal history, motor vehicle record, and credit check.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment screening.

The compensation range for this position is between $120,000 to $160,000. Compensation for this position may vary based on geographic location and other factors. We remain committed to providing competitive and equitable compensation to all employees, regardless of their location.