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River Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Red River

Cybersecurity Engineer

College Park, MD · On-site

Red River Technology is seeking a highly skilled and mission-driven Cybersecurity professional to ... This engineering-focused position is responsible for designing, implementing, and hardening secure ...

Forest River

Corporate Engineer

Middlebury, IN · On-site

Forest River, Inc., the Nation's largest manufacturer of Recreational Vehicles, Cargo Trailers, Transit Buses, and Boats has an immediate opening. * Responsibilities: * Durability Engineer will ...

Red River

$108K - $148K/yr

S. Navy's PEO IWS-X initiative, the Senior Security Engineer designs, implements, and tests ... S. Citizenship Required Red River offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits and an ...

Cross River

Full Stack Engineer

Fort Lee, NJ · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

Who We Are Cross River builds the infrastructure behind the world's most innovative financial ... What We're Looking For Cross River Bank is seeking a Senior Full Stack Engineer who thrives at the ...

Cross River

Senior AI/ML Engineer

Fort Lee, NJ · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

Who We Are Cross River builds the infrastructure behind the world's most innovative financial ... Engineer and refine prompts to enhance AI performance and output quality * Deploy and scale AI ...

Red River

Sr. Wireless Deployment Engineer

The Senior Wireless Deployment Engineer is a critical technical role responsible for the design ... S. Citizenship Required Red River offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits and an ...

Cross River

Engineer II, IT Infrastructure

Fort Lee, NJ · On-site

$80K - $110K/yr

Who We Are Cross River builds the infrastructure behind the world's most innovative financial ... You will collaborate with security, engineering, and operations teams to ensure reliability ...

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River Engineer information

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$18K

$77.4K

$166.5K

How much do river engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 10, 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 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 river engineers?

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 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:
What job categories do people searching River Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for River Engineer jobs are:
River Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various River Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 76% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 93% In-person, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $77,385 per year, or $37.2 per hour.
Project Ecosystem Restoration Engineer | Arkansas | Headway Environmental Central

Project Ecosystem Restoration Engineer | Arkansas | Headway Environmental Central

Chronicle Heritage

Little Rock, AR • On-site

$76K - $105K/yr

Full-time

Posted 28 days ago

Job description

Company Profile
Headway Environmental is a specialized environmental consulting firm focused on ecological restoration engineering, watershed resilience, and environmental compliance.
Our team works at the intersection of engineering, ecology, and hydrology, delivering innovative solutions that restore ecosystems while improving community resilience.
As a growing firm, we provide opportunities for engineers to take on meaningful responsibility, work directly with senior experts, and help shape the future of our ecological restoration engineering practice.
About the Opportunity
Headway Environmental is a growing environmental consulting firm specializing in ecological restoration engineering, watershed resilience, and nature-based drainage and flood risk reduction infrastructure.
As demand for nature-based solutions (NBS) continues to grow, we are expanding our Ecological Restoration Engineering practice and seeking a Project Ecosystem Restoration Engineer to join our team.
This position is ideal for an engineer who is passionate about engineering with nature, restoring streams, reconnecting floodplains, and designing resilient watershed systems that improve both ecosystem function and community flood resilience.
Headway Environmental is a small but nationally recognized firm, and this role offers the opportunity to work closely with senior restoration engineers while helping scale and shape a rapidly growing practice area.
We are looking for someone who enjoys working in an entrepreneurial environment, taking ownership of design work, mentoring junior staff, and contributing to innovative ecological engineering projects across the United States.
Location: Arkansas (preferred)
Company: Headway Environmental
Position Type: Full Time
What You Will Do
As a Project Ecosystem Restoration Engineer, you will contribute to the design and delivery of ecological restoration and nature-based solutions projects.
Responsibilities include:
  • Lead engineering design for ecosystem restoration and nature-based infrastructure projects, including:
    • Stream and river restoration
    • Natural channel design
    • Floodplain reconnection
    • Wetland and riparian restoration
    • Green infrastructure and nature-based stormwater systems
    • Ecologically enhanced drainage and flood mitigation systems
  • Develop and prepare engineering calculations, technical design documentation, and construction drawings
  • Perform watershed hydrologic analysis and hydraulic modeling, including:
    • HEC-HMS
    • HEC-RAS
    • SWMM or comparable modeling tools
  • Develop Civil 3D models and construction plans for restoration projects
  • Conduct watershed and river assessments, including evaluation of channel stability, sediment transport considerations, and floodplain connectivity
  • Coordinate with interdisciplinary teams including environmental scientists, geomorphologists, and permitting specialists
  • Provide technical guidance to CADD technicians and junior engineers
  • Assist project managers in maintaining project schedules and budgets
Required Qualifications
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license required in at least one U.S. state
  • Bachelor’s degree in:
    • Civil Engineering
    • Environmental Engineering
    • Water Resources Engineering
    • Biological and Agricultural Engineering
    • Or closely related discipline
  • 5+ years of experience in water resources engineering with emphasis on ecological restoration, river engineering, or nature-based infrastructure
  • Experience designing stream restoration or natural channel projects
  • Strong experience with:
    • AutoCAD Civil 3D
    • HEC-HMS
    • HEC-RAS
    • SWMM or equivalent hydrologic/hydraulic modeling tools
  • Experience preparing engineering construction plans and design documentation
  • Ability to work independently in a collaborative, fast-moving consulting environment
Preferred Qualifications
  • Master’s degree in civil engineering or environmental engineering
  • Training in:
    • Fluvial geomorphology
    • Natural channel design
    • Stream restoration design (Rosgen or equivalent)
  • Experience in the development of FEMA CLOMR/LOMRs
  • Experience with GIS software
  • Experience supporting projects involving environmental permitting or ecosystem restoration planning
Who Will Thrive Here
We are looking for engineers who are excited about designing systems that restore and enhance natural processes, rather than traditional grey infrastructure.
Ideal candidates are motivated by:
  • River and watershed restoration
  • Nature-based solutions and green infrastructure
  • Climate resilience and flood mitigation
  • Interdisciplinary environmental engineering
Additional Information   
Headway Environmental is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.
Headway Environmental complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and considers reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants/employees to perform essential functions. EEO/AA/M/F/Veteran/Disabled. If you require assistance with submitting the application, please contact accommodations@headwayenviro.com.

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