Coastal Engineer​/Geologist Shoreline Restoration

We are Natural Systems Design, a Washington‑based environmental consulting firm dedicated to understanding, protecting, and restoring aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Founded in 2003, our interdisciplinary team of over 50 employees is located in Seattle, Bellingham, and Port Angeles.

We are seeking a full‑time Staff‑level Coastal Engineer, Geologist, or Geomorphologist. Staff‑level engineers and scientists typically have 1–5 years of professional experience, and the successful candidate will have strong proficiency and interest in coastal processes analysis, nature‑based solutions, nearshore ecosystems, coasts, estuaries, and developed waterfronts.

(Seattle, Bellingham, or Port Angeles, Washington)

• Support site condition assessment, alternative analysis and feasibility studies, and related engineering and scientific investigation for restoration projects.
• Conduct sea level rise and climate change vulnerability analysis.
• Support engineering and scientific investigations for restoration project site analysis and related studies.
• Apply best available science and/or engineering practices to support innovative, cost‑effective approaches and optimal shoreline management solutions that meet project goals.
• Perform geospatial analysis using ArcGIS and related tools, including acquiring and processing geospatial and remote sensing data (e.g., LiDAR, coastal mapping).
• Organize data and manage datasets and analyses to be reproducible, clearly documented, and accessible to project teams.
• Assist in preparing technical reports, figures, and memos that clearly communicate methods, findings, and recommendations.
• Contribute to the project team by producing high‑quality deliverables on time and within budget, tracking the project schedule, and proactively and clearly communicating status updates to project teams.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams (engineers, ecologists, landscape architects) to incorporate technical insights into restoration and shoreline projects.
• Take increasing ownership of discrete project tasks and deliverables, with opportunities to grow into project management and technical leadership.

• Support design and analysis of engineering approaches to restoration and enhancement of natural coastal and estuarine ecosystems using nature‑based approaches.
• Assist with coastal modeling of existing and proposed conditions, including analysis of observational data and implementation of models and software that includes SWAN, XBeach, and HEC‑RAS.
• Calculate material, construction, earthwork quantities and impact areas to assist with permitting and cost estimating.
• Experience with development of project specifications in conformance with client and industry guidelines.
• Understanding of coastal modeling such as waves and/or sediment transport modeling using Delft3D, SWAN, XBEACH, CMS‑Wave or similar programs.
• Familiarity with Coastal Engineering Manual and other coastal design guidelines and design standards.
• Experience in developing design concepts/alternatives in AutoCAD or other drafting software.

• Support coastal geomorphology analyses, including shoreline change, sediment transport, and erosion/accretion processes in Puget Sound nearshore environments.
• Conduct fieldwork such as beach profiling, sediment sampling, subsurface soil characterization, and site assessments; assist with organizing and managing field data.
• Analyze and interpret geomorphic and monitoring data using GIS and other tools to support project evaluations and design.
• Support development and application of coastal models (e.g., waves, hydrodynamics, sediment transport) under guidance from senior staff.
• Assist with permitting support by compiling technical information and responding to agency comments.
• Contribute to literature reviews and stay current on regional coastal processes, sea level rise, and resilience strategies.
• Experience supporting shoreline restoration, living shorelines, or nature‑based solutions projects.

• B.S. in coastal, civil, environmental or ocean engineering; or geology; or…