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Senior Coastal Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

HDR

Senior Coastal Engineer (PE)

Houston, TX · On-site

$96K - $130K/yr

HDR is seeking a Senior Coastal Engineer (PE) to join our nationally ranked team of coastal and waterfront professionals across the United States. We're looking for individuals passionate about ...

Kimley-Horn

Sr. Coastal Engineer

Oakland, CA

$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

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 ...

HDR

Senior Coastal Engineer (PE)

Houston, TX · On-site

$96K - $130K/yr

HDR is seeking a Senior Coastal Engineer (PE) to join our nationally ranked team of coastal and waterfront professionals across the United States. We're looking for individuals passionate about ...

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 ...

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Senior Coastal Engineer information

See salary details

$59.5K

$126.6K

$183.5K

How much do senior coastal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior coastal engineer in the United States is $126,557.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,500.00 and $143,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior coastal engineer?

Senior Coastal Engineers are experienced professionals who design, plan, and manage projects related to coastal and shoreline environments. Their work includes developing solutions for erosion control, flood protection, harbor and port design, and habitat restoration. They use specialized knowledge of hydrodynamics, geology, and environmental regulations to ensure sustainable and resilient coastal infrastructure. Senior Coastal Engineers often lead project teams, provide technical expertise, and coordinate with stakeholders to deliver successful outcomes.

What are some common challenges faced by senior coastal engineers in managing multi-disciplinary project teams?

Senior Coastal Engineers often lead teams that include specialists in hydrodynamics, geology, ecology, and construction. One common challenge is ensuring effective communication and coordination among these diverse disciplines to achieve project goals within deadlines and budget constraints. Additionally, balancing technical design requirements with environmental regulations and stakeholder input can require strong project management and negotiation skills. Successfully navigating these challenges can enhance leadership abilities and open pathways to higher management roles.

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

To thrive as a Senior Coastal Engineer, you need an advanced degree in civil or coastal engineering, strong analytical skills in hydrodynamics, and significant experience in coastal project design and management. Proficiency with modeling software such as MIKE21, SWAN, or HEC-RAS as well as familiarity with GIS tools and relevant certifications like Professional Engineer (PE) are typically required. Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities help you effectively lead teams and collaborate with stakeholders. These skills ensure successful design, implementation, and sustainability of coastal infrastructure projects while mitigating environmental and safety risks.

What is the difference between Senior Coastal Engineer vs Coastal Engineer?

AspectSenior Coastal EngineerCoastal Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Civil/Environmental Engineering, PE license often preferred, experience in coastal projectsBachelor's in Civil or Environmental Engineering, entry-level or junior role, some positions may require PE license
Work EnvironmentDesign, project management, overseeing complex coastal projects, team leadershipAssist in coastal project planning, data collection, basic design tasks, fieldwork
Employer & Industry UsageConsulting firms, government agencies, environmental organizationsEngineering firms, government departments, construction companies

The main difference between a Senior Coastal Engineer and a Coastal Engineer lies in experience, responsibilities, and project scope. Senior Coastal Engineers typically have more advanced credentials, oversee complex projects, and lead teams, while Coastal Engineers are often in entry-level roles supporting project tasks. Both roles are essential in coastal engineering projects, but the senior position involves greater leadership and expertise.

What do senior coastal engineers make?

Senior coastal engineers typically earn between $80,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and employer. They often have specialized skills in hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and use tools like GIS and modeling software, with many holding professional engineering licenses.

What cities are hiring for Senior Coastal Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Senior Coastal Engineer job openings:

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

The most popular types of Coastal Engineer jobs are:

What states have the most Senior Coastal Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Senior Coastal Engineer jobs include:

Senior Coastal Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Coastal Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $126,557 per year, or $60.8 per hour.

Senior Coastal Engineer (PE)

HDR

Houston, TX • On-site

$96K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

HDR rating

9.2

Company rating: 9.2 out of 10

Based on 59 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

32nd of 449 rated engineering

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
We believe water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you'll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people's lives. This isn't just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.
HDR is seeking a Senior Coastal Engineer (PE) to join our nationally ranked team of coastal and waterfront professionals across the United States. We're looking for individuals passionate about restoring and protecting coastlines through innovative, resilient, and sustainable solutions.
About the Role
As a Senior Coastal Engineer, you'll play a key leadership role in delivering complex dredging, navigation, beach nourishment, and coastal restoration projects. You'll bring deep technical expertise and project leadership to initiatives that create lasting environmental and economic impact, while mentoring teams and collaborating across disciplines.
Key Responsibilities
  • Lead analysis and design for:
    • Dredging and navigation projects
    • Coastal processes and beach nourishment design
    • Coastal restoration and resilience initiatives
  • Develop:
    • Channel layouts and alignments
    • Borrow area design and dredging production estimates
    • Placement area and beneficial use designs
  • Provide project and task management on complex assignments
  • Perform and oversee:
    • Advanced wave, sediment transport, and hydraulic and hydrologic modeling
    • Coastal project and channel development design
  • Lead preparation of:
    • Engineering plans, specifications, and design calculations
    • Technical reports, memos, and client deliverables
  • Collect, analyze, and present data to clients, stakeholders, and in public forums
  • Manage and mentor multidisciplinary teams on medium to large projects
  • Serve as Project Manager on larger efforts, as needed
  • Support business development by preparing:
    • Proposals
    • Scopes of work
    • Cost estimates

Preferred Qualifications
  • Masters or PhD degree in Coastal, Ocean, or Civil engineering preferred
  • Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) environments
  • Experience with the application of artificial intelligence software to coastal and marine modeling.
  • Experience with wave growth and transformation, coastal and estuarine hydrodynamics, littoral processes, sediment transport, marine dredging, and basic geotechnical or structural systems
  • Experience in coastal project and channel planning design and specification development
  • Experience preparing scope, schedule and fee estimates to support proposal development
  • Experience preparing technical reports

Qualifications
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent field
  • A minimum of 10 years Water Resources experience
  • Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
  • Excellent writing and communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a project team
  • An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

What HDR employees say

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About HDR

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists.

Industry

Specialized design services

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Omaha, NE, US

Year founded

1917

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