Engineering Manager (Water Resources)

At RES, we’re looking for purpose-driven individuals who are passionate about restoration and sustainability, and who want their work to make a lasting environmental impact. Our team members go above and beyond, bringing initiative, integrity, and a strong work ethic to every project. Collaboration is key—we thrive on teamwork, open communication, and diverse perspectives. In a field that constantly changes, we value those who are resilient, adaptable, and resourceful in the face of challenges. If you're intellectually curious, eager to learn, and ready to help restore ecosystems and protect natural resources, you’ll find your place here.

RES is looking for an experienced Engineering Manager (Water Resources) to lead the technical delivery of stream, wetland, and stormwater restoration projects—from early feasibility through final design and construction support. This is a senior technical leadership role for a licensed PE who can guide complex design efforts, uphold strong QA/QC standards, and manage teams delivering multiple projects at once.

You’ll be based out of one of our regional offices and partner closely with project managers, scientists, construction teams, and clients. Expect a mix of design leadership and coordination, with periodic travel for site visits, stakeholder meetings, and construction oversight.

Why You’ll Love This Job

• Lead work that matters. Your designs will turn into real restoration in the field—streams reconnected, wetlands rebuilt, water quality improved.
• Own technical excellence. You’ll shape plan quality, modeling approaches, and QA/QC processes across multiple projects.
• Build and grow a team. Mentor engineers, delegate effectively, and strengthen technical depth across the department.
• Partner externally. Work directly with clients, agencies, and stakeholders to advance permits and move projects forward.

A Day in the Life

As an Engineering Manager, your day will blend technical leadership with people and project oversight. You may:

• Oversee development of stream, wetland, and stormwater design plans, ensuring they are permittable, constructible, and aligned with field conditions.

• Lead or implement QA/QC processes, including plan reviews, design standards, and continuous improvement across the team.

• Provide technical guidance during early-stage feasibility, concept development, and construction planning—helping teams identify constraints and solutions early.

• Support teams navigating Section 401/404 (Clean Water Act) and applicable state/local regulations, coordinating with internal permitting and compliance partners.

• Manage multiple concurrent projects—balancing priorities, staffing needs, schedules, and technical risk.

• Participate in agency and stakeholder engagement, including meetings, submittal support, and responses to comments.

• Offer construction oversight support (hands-on experience preferred), helping resolve field challenges and verifying design intent during implementation.

• Coach engineers through technical challenges while strengthening skills in communication, documentation, and client-facing collaboration.

We’d love to talk to you if you have many of the following:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Engineering
• PE license in most states within the region (or ability to obtain quickly as needed)
• 10–15 years of progressive engineering experience
• 5 years of staff and project management experience

Technical Skills & Experience

• Proven experience managing stream, wetland, and stormwater design plans
• Deep knowledge of QA/QC processes (led and/or implemented)
• Strong understanding of Clean Water Act Section 401/404 and relevant state/local regulations
• Construction oversight understanding; hands-on experience preferred
• Ability to guide technical decisions in feasibility and early construction planning
• Strong client management experience and ability to support business outcomes through excellent delivery
• Experience overseeing multiple projects simultaneously with competing priorities
• PM experience including long-term planning, department budgeting, and resource scaling
• Experience engaging agencies and stakeholders to support approvals and successful delivery

Soft Skills (how you lead)

• Team leadership with a steady, practical approach
• Strong task delegation and prioritization across multiple workstreams
• Mentorship and training mindset—developing others while keeping quality high
• Clear writing and communication, especially for client- and agency-facing work

What Will Make You Stand Out

• Track record leading complex restoration designs across multiple regulatory environments
• Demonstrated success improving QA/QC systems, design standards, or team delivery performance
• Strong construction-phase problem solving—bridging design intent with field realities
• Experience scaling a team or function through growth (workload forecasting, hiring input, resource planning)

Please note that the “Day in the Life” section is not intended to be an exhaustive list of job duties, but rather a representative snapshot of typical responsibilities and work experiences at RES.

RES is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.