Coastal Scientist or Engineer – Staff Level

We are Natural Systems Design, a Washington-based, and focused, environmental consulting firm with a mission to understand, protect, and restore aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Founded in 2003, we are an interdisciplinary team with over 50 people with office locations in Seattle, Bellingham, and Port Angeles, Washington. Our company was founded and grown with the intention of being a different kind of consulting company that prioritizes its people, values science and the environment, and works collectively to make a positive impact.

Position Summary: 

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

Position Location: (Seattle, Bellingham, or Port Angeles, Washington)  

We are currently using a hybrid model of in-office and remote work. For this position, our preferred candidate is located near one of our three office locations and a commutable distance to field work in the Puget Sound region. However, the days you come into the office and the days you work from home are always up to you.

General Responsibilities: 

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, that include 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 project schedule, and proactively and clearly communicate 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. 

Discipline Specific Responsibilities: 

For Engineers:  

• 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. 

For Geologists or Geomorphologists:  

• 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.  

Required Qualifications: 

• B.S. in coastal, civil, environmental or ocean engineering; or geology; or directly related discipline. 

• 1 year of professional experience in engineering or coastal geology or related field; including research work.  

• Engineer In Training (EIT) or Geologist In Training (GIT) registration or ability to obtain within one year of employment.  

• Proficiency or interest in coastal restoration design, beach nourishment, inlet processes, and soft-shore protection. 

• Proficiency with ArcGIS platform for spatial analysis, mapping, and data visualizations.  

• Strong technical writing and communication skills, including the ability to develop clear reports and deliver effective presentations to clients and agencies on complex coastal and estuarine topics. 

• Experience or interest in coastal flooding risk analysis and sea level rise resilience and adaptation approaches. 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience using data analysis tools (e.g., R, Coastal Engineering Manual, Coastal Engineering Design and Analysis System, excel spreadsheets, Visual Basic, MATLAB, or other programing languages) to process and interpret datasets. 

• Willingness and ability to conduct site investigation and field measurements at coastal and estuarine sites in varying weather conditions. 

• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to project sites through the Puget Sound region. 

• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an on-going basis without sponsorship. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Advanced degree in coastal, civil, environmental, ocean engineering, oceanography, geology or related discipline. 

• Coastal engineering or geomorphology experience in Puget Sound or similar estuarine/coastal environments.  

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

• Engineering with nature/nature-based design/living shorelines, and habitat enhancement project design experience.  

• Demonstrated understanding of and sensitivity to a range of perspectives on relationships and interconnections with the natural world and traditional cultures, such as Tribal Ecological Knowledge. 

• Familiarity with field data collection, such as topographic survey (total station, RTK GPS, or drone-based mapping (UAS)), pebble count, documentation of vegetation conditions and field mapping. 

• Eagerness to grow technical skills and take on increasing responsibility in project delivery.  

For Engineers: 

• 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.  

For Geologists or Geomorphologists: 

• Experience supporting coastal geomorphology analyses, including shoreline change, sediment transport, and erosion/accretion processes in estuarine or nearshore environments. 

• Field experience conducting coastal data collection such as beach profiling, sediment sampling, and site assessments. 

• Experience supporting shoreline restoration, living shorelines, or nature-based solutions projects. 

Compensation: 

We offer a competitive salary and benefits, including up to a 4% match on 401(K), 7 paid holidays plus a day of service, and 4 weeks of paid time off accrued annually. For candidates that meet our qualifications, the salary ranges are: for engineers $85k - $90k, and for geologists and geomorphologists $70k - $80k.     

Start Date: 

The position's start date is flexible and will be negotiated with the selected candidate based on their availability. 

Hours: 

We trust each other as professionals and respect each other as people. For us, this means staff have the autonomy to manage when they come into the office and when they work from home. Our staff have flexibility with hourly positions. Hourly means when needed you could work less than a 40-hour week and conversely additional hours worked beyond 40 hours are compensated at a 1.5x hourly rate.   

Closing Date: 

Applications will be accepted until the right candidate is found.

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.  

Why NSD? 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. 

Challenging Projects with Rewarding Clients: 

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

Culture: 

We strive to be an inclusive, welcoming, and understanding group of individuals who are proud of our culture, passionate about our clients, and dedicated to the impact-driven purpose of our work. We’re clear on who we are, why we’re here, and what we want most to experience in our daily lives.  

Flexibility: 

How, when, and where you work best - works best for us. We invest in 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 ecological, geomorphic, hydrological, 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. 

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 encourage initiative and openness to learning new things. 

Knowledge of Washington Waters: 

We know the waters of Washington State. 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: 

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