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River Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description As a Staff River Engineer, you will be part of a multi-disciplinary team and play a key role in the design of water resource projects, which include river and habitat restoration, fish ...

Staff River Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$71K - $96K/yr

Job Type Full-time Description As a Staff River Engineer, you will be part of a multi-disciplinary team and play a key role in the design of water resource projects, which include river and habitat ...

Staff River Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$71K - $96K/yr

As a Staff River Engineer, you will be part of a multi-disciplinary team and play a key role in the design of water resource projects, which include river and habitat restoration, fish passage design ...

Staff River Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$71 - $96/hr

Description As a Staff River Engineer, you will be part of a multi-disciplinary team and play a key role in the design of water resource projects, which include river and habitat restoration, fish ...

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REQUIREMENT_CITY - Newark, NJ (No Remote - 3 days in office) Role Name - Charles River Developer ROLE_DESCRIPTION - A Charles River Developer (often associated with Charles River Development, a State ...

A Charles River Developer (often associated with Charles River Development, a State Street company) specializes in configuring, customizing, and integrating the Charles River Investment Management ...

Charles River API Experience Charles River Batch Processing Experience developing trading systems Charles Rive 9X (specifically portfolio management and trading) experience .Net and C# Java Experiene ...

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River Engineer information

See salary details

$18K

$77.4K

$166.5K

How much do river engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for river engineer in the United States is $77,385.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $36,000.00 and $106,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a river engineer?

River engineers are professionals who specialize in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of river systems. Their work focuses on managing river flow, preventing flooding, protecting ecosystems, and supporting navigation and infrastructure projects. They use engineering principles to address challenges like erosion, sediment transport, and water quality, often collaborating with environmental scientists and government agencies. River engineers play a key role in balancing human needs with the health of river environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a river engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a River Engineer, you need strong expertise in hydrology, civil engineering, and environmental science, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree and professional accreditation. Familiarity with hydraulic modeling software (such as HEC-RAS), GIS tools, and CAD systems is commonly required. Excellent problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and teamwork are valuable soft skills in this role. These competencies are crucial for designing effective river management solutions, ensuring regulatory compliance, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders to protect communities and ecosystems.

What are some common challenges river engineers face when working on river restoration projects?

River Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing ecological concerns with flood control and infrastructure needs. Coordinating with diverse stakeholders—including environmental agencies, local governments, and communities—can be complex. Additionally, river systems are dynamic, so engineers must design solutions that can adapt to changing flow patterns and sediment loads. These challenges require strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively across disciplines.

What is the difference between River Engineer vs Hydrologist?

AspectRiver EngineerHydrologist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Civil, Environmental, or Hydraulic EngineeringBachelor's or Master's in Hydrology, Geosciences, or Environmental Science
Work EnvironmentDesigning and managing river projects, working outdoors and in officesAnalyzing water data, modeling, and research, mostly in labs and offices
Industry UsageConstruction, infrastructure, flood control projectsWater resource management, environmental consulting, research

River Engineers focus on designing and managing river-related infrastructure and projects, often working outdoors. Hydrologists analyze water systems, conduct research, and model water flow, primarily working in labs and offices. While both roles involve water and environmental expertise, their daily tasks and work environments differ significantly.

More about River Engineer jobs

What cities are hiring for River Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most River Engineer job openings:

What states have the most River Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for River Engineer jobs include:

Infographic showing various River Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $77,385 per year, or $37.2 per hour.

$71K - $96K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

Description

As a Staff River Engineer, you will be part of a multi-disciplinary team and play a key role in the design of water resource projects, which include river and habitat restoration, fish passage design, FEMA studies, natural channel conveyance design, and other water resource-related projects. This role can be based out of our Tacoma, Redmond, Seattle, WA or Boise, ID offices.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Designing water resource projects, which include river and habitat restoration, fish passage design, FEMA studies, natural channel conveyance design, and other water resource-related projects.
  • Responsible for the collection of field data and providing construction observations. 
  • Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling.
  • Completion of engineering analyses and calculations.
  • Support of natural channel restoration designs.
  • Preparation of design drawings; support in developing plans, specifications, and engineers cost estimates.
  • Responsible for preparing technical reports.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent with an emphasis in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, ecological, and/or natural systems engineering required; Master's degree preferred.
  • Engineer-In-Training (EIT) certification required.
  • Previous internship or relevant professional experience preferred.
  • Basic understanding of standard 1-dimensional hydraulic models (e.g., HEC-RAS) and 2-dimensional (2-D) hydraulic modeling experience (e.g. SRH-2D or HEC-RAS 2D).
  • Basic understanding of flow analysis, scour assessment and countermeasure design, and application of fish and wildlife habitat enhancement in channel design.
  • Experience with AutoCAD/Civil 3D, MicroStation/InRoads, ArcGIS, SMS/SRH-2D, and standard hydrologic data analysis software preferred.
  • Basic knowledge of fluvial geomorphology, geology, and biology in the Pacific Northwest preferred.
  • Professional-level verbal and written communication skills.
  • Must be willing to travel domestically as needed.
  • Valid driver's license is required.
  • One year of driving experience in the United States. Consideration will be provided for international driving experience.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

  • All candidates are subject to completing a background check, and reference check.
  • All candidates are required to participate in our medical surveillance program.
  • Ability to perform a wide range of physical activities and do heavy work including exerting up to 50 pounds of force on occasion.
  • Ability to perform consistent work on a PC with prolonged sitting and view of a monitor/screen.
  • Ability to travel for short-term and long-term assignments as needed.
  • All employees are responsible for conducting their work in a safe manner. This includes identifying potential safety hazards and reporting them to the designated project manager in a timely manner and participating in project safety briefings. This also includes wearing appropriate safety equipment when working in the field and completing all required health & safety training prior to beginning field work.

Our best estimate of the salary range for Staff River Engineer, located in Boise, ID is $67,000 - $91,000. Our best estimate of the salary range for Staff River Engineer, located in Tacoma, WA is $71,000 - $96,000. Our best estimate of the salary range for Staff River Engineer, located in Seattle and Redmond, WA is $73,000 - $91,000. Compensation offered will be based on a variety of individual factors, including education and experience, as well as internal equity. GeoEngineers' salary ranges are reviewed and updated each year and employees are eligible for pay increases based on individual performance. As part of our competitive total rewards package, employees in this role may also be eligible for our annual year-end bonus offering, subject to program eligibility requirements.


At GeoEngineers, investing in our people is a top priority. In addition to competitive and equitable pay, we are proud to offer a wide range of benefits to support employees and their families, including healthcare (with travel benefit for care not locally available), 401(k) with company match, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, paid vacation and sick time and paid holidays, among others. View our full listing of benefits here.


Our Commitment to Belonging at GeoEngineers


When people feel they can bring their whole selves to work, that they have a voice and are supported and respected, it creates trust and a feeling of belonging- employees then flourish, grow their careers, and do the best work of their lives. A culture of belonging allows our employees to thrive and our company to prosper. This is a journey, and we are committed to doing the work, learning and evolving as we go.


GeoEngineers is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.


GeoEngineers is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or accommodation while seeking employment, please contact Human Resources at hr@geoengineers.com or by phone at (425) 861-6000. We will then make a determination regarding your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.


We welcome and encourage individuals from all backgrounds and experiences to apply for openings on our team. We would love for you to join us!


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