Coastal Engineer and/or Coastal Scientist

(Senior to Principal Level)

We are excited to announce an opportunity for a Senior or Principal level professional to join our team at NSD + CGS, a team of scientists and engineers who strive to have a positive impact through landscape scale restoration of ecosystems. We are looking for a mission driven and experienced individual to lead and grow our coastal program. Founded in 2003, we are an interdisciplinary team of over 50 people with office locations in Seattle, Bellingham, and Port Angeles, Washington. 

Position Summary:  

We are looking to expand our Coastal Group leadership team as we have a backlog of innovative coastal and nearshore analysis and restoration projects. This position is an excellent opportunity to grow your coastal analysis and design practice with the support of a group of engineers and scientists who are focused on ecosystem restoration. We work primarily with agencies, non-profits, and tribal clients looking to provide them with coastal and nearshore projects to restore a more functional and resilient nearshore. Our current coastal services include: 

• Coastal, nearshore, beach, lake shore, and estuary restoration 

• Coastal structure design  

• Coastal engineering and monitoring 

• Sea level rise analysis 

As a Senior or Principal, you will: 

• Manage and deliver coastal and nearshore analysis and design projects. 

• Provide leadership and strategic direction within our Coastal Group. 

• Lead business development efforts to maintain our existing relationships and position for new clients and projects. 

• Mentor and develop junior staff, fostering a culture of growth and excellence. 

Qualifications: 

• Minimum 10+ years of experience in coastal engineering or science-related field. 

• Proven track record of project delivery for coastal and nearshore design projects. 

• Management experience within an organization. 

• Experience with project management on large scale complex projects.  

• Excellent communication, leadership, and business development skills. 

• A commitment to restoration and innovation in science-led engineering solutions. 

• Experience with nature-based design solutions.  

• Familiarity with gravel and mixed gravel-sand beach dynamics and beach design.  

• Registered Washington PE, LG, or LEG or ability to receive within 6 months. 

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Puget Sound region professional experience in coastal engineering. 

• MS. or Ph.D. in coastal, civil, or ocean engineering, oceanography, or related science. 

• Preferred candidates will have more than 15 years of coastal design project and management experience. 

• Proficiency with analysis of aerial imagery data and other coastal mapping, LiDAR data, and long-term MetOcean data. 

• Proficiency of developing design concepts/alternatives in ACAD or other drafting software. 

• Coastal modeling experience, including experience with SWAN, XBeach, Delft 3D, GenCade, USACE Coastal Modeling System, SMS, etc. 

• Basic understanding of ESRI ArcGIS Pro, including acquiring and importing geospatial and remote sensing data, geospatial analysis. 

• Demonstrated understanding of and sensitivity to a range of perspectives on relationships and interconnections with the natural world and traditional cultures, such as local indigenous knowledge. 

Position Location: 

(Seattle, Bellingham, or Port Angeles, Washington; and/or Remote) 

NSD + CGS is currently using a hybrid model of in-office and remote work from home. For this position, our preferred candidate is located near one of our three office locations, but we are open to a fully remote working location anywhere in the Puget Sound Region for the right candidate with the commitment of some travel, when needed, to one of our Washington office locations and field sites.  

Compensation: 

NSD + CGS offers competitive salary and benefits, including up to a 4% match on 401(K), 8 paid holidays, and a generous tiered paid time off policy. The salary range is $125,000 – $155,000.   

Start Date:  

Negotiable depending on the right candidate.  

Application Closing Date: 

September 30, 2024 

 
EEOC Statement: We are an equal opportunity employer. Candidates who identify with groups that are frequently underrepresented in the science, engineering, technology, and math fields are highly encouraged to apply. All candidates will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or protected veteran or disabled status or any other category protected under law. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.  
 
DEIJ Statement:  As a passionate and interdisciplinary team of environmental scientists, engineers, and administrators striving to enhance functional ecosystems and restore the balance of natural systems for communities in the Pacific Northwest, we recognize that equal justice and respect for people from all backgrounds is central to our mission.  We aspire to actively encourage and embrace diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in our workforce and project partners, seeking and including individuals from groups historically underrepresented in our field to create and sustain an innovative, accountable, and trusting culture that strives for equity and is welcoming to everyone. We aim for a flexible, inclusive and accommodating workplace where our employees experience a sense of belonging and are comfortable bringing their authentic whole selves to work and collectively contributing to making a BIG positive impact on the environment. 

Why work with us? 

We are deeply committed to the restoration and protection of natural processes and prioritize finding solutions that benefit both the ecosystem and the community. Simply put, we care about science, the environment, each other and you, both as a person and a professional. 

Here are a few reasons why you might want to work with us: 
 

Advocacy and Actions 

We take pride in our work to make the world a better place, and we advocate, with our clients for the actions needed to make that happen. We are diligent about achieving our clients’ goals and are dedicated to the impact-driven purpose of our work. 

Challenging Projects with Rewarding Clients 

We have a constant stream of challenging and interesting projects with great clients. We work on projects that benefit the environment and communities and select project partners for collaboration that align with our vision and values. 
 

Culture 

We strive to be an inclusive, welcoming, and accommodating group of individuals who thrive as a functioning team. We create space for new ideas and prioritize the learning and sharing of our knowledge.  We are passionate about our impact driven work, and we value the wellbeing of our team members and support their individual paths and pursuits.  

Flexibility 

How, when, and where you work best to get your job done well works best for us. We lead with honesty and integrity, with each of us holding personal responsibility. We are accountable to ourselves, each other and our clients.  

Innovation and Excellence 

We have developed a regional reputation for being purpose-driven and delivering innovative and excellent work. Our projects require holistic, innovative problem solving, and are often ones that don’t follow a linear development path. Here is where you will find us excel. 

Interdisciplinary Teams 

We work in highly interdisciplinary teams and aim to consider ecologic, geomorphic, hydrologic and engineering perspectives on every technical challenge. We rely on team values in all aspects of our work, and share knowledge and experience with, and across, project teams. Our team members lead by example, communicate clearly and kindly, help each other in need, and balance the give and take of teaching and receiving ideas.  

Investment in Growth 

We are invested in the wellbeing of our staff, and support professional growth in technical skills, soft skills, leadership opportunities and overall career advancement. We strongly encourage personal initiative and openness to learning new things. 
 

Knowledge of Washington’s Waters 

We specifically know and understand the waters of Washington State. Through aquatic and floodplain habitat restoration, watershed analysis and restoration planning and design, including integration of climate change risk and resiliency we help shape the landscapes and communities in the places we work and live in.   
 

Restoration and Resiliency 

We work exclusively on aquatic and floodplain habitat restoration, watershed analysis, and restoration planning and design, including integration of climate change risk and resiliency. 

Trust and Respect 

We trust each other as professionals and respect each other as people. Clear is kind. We communicate with empathy, active listening and timely follow up, and follow through on our deliverables.