Engineering Director

WRA is seeking an Engineering Director to lead the Engineering Group within our interdisciplinary Riverscapes and Shorelines Team. The desired candidate will collaborate both internally and externally to deliver a diverse range of design projects focused primarily on ecological restoration, with the capability to support a variety of environmental projects across our firm.

About the Role

You will join a team of restoration design professionals and scientists, including engineers, landscape architects, fluvial geomorphologists, hydrologists, and ecologists. Our projects span ecosystems across California, including:

• San Francisco Bay tidal marshes and living shorelines
• Sierra Nevada meadow restoration
• Northern California Coast floodplain and salmonid restoration
• California Central Coast estuary restoration
• Bay Area and Southern California urban stream rehabilitation

The team is also actively growing and pursuing restoration work in Oregon. We are passionate about restoring riverine and coastal systems that support healthy and resilient natural and human communities, invested in the entire restoration process from initial site selection, design, and construction to performance monitoring and adaptive management. We collaborate with our community resilience team to address challenges such as sea-level rise, wildfire resiliency planning, and post-fire recovery.

WRA has a diverse portfolio of projects and clients, including private entities, public agencies, and non-profit organizations. In addition to technical expertise, we help clients meet their goals through grant fund cultivation, financial modeling, investor partnerships, and stakeholder engagement.

This role may be based in-person at one of our San Francisco Bay Area offices, in a hybrid arrangement, or remotely within this region of California. Other locations may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Regardless of work arrangement, you will collaborate with staff across many technical disciplines.

Areas of Impact

Technical Skills

• Provide technical expertise and strategic input for complex restoration projects
• Oversee production of conceptual plans, construction plan sets, technical specifications, and cost estimates for all design phases
• Provide construction support and observation services

Leadership

• Provide technical oversight of restoration conceptual plans, construction drawings, specifications, cost estimates, and hydrologic/hydraulics analyses
• Supervise, manage, and direct engineering staff and other technical support staff
• Mentor and train engineering staff
• Oversee project managers and design staff to ensure work quality, budget adherence, and deadline compliance
• Foster collaboration within an interdisciplinary team
• Assist with strategic planning for the Riverscapes and Shorelines Team

Management

• Develop project work plans and scopes of work
• Provide project oversight and schedule monitoring
• Manage project budgets and invoicing
• Collaborate with VP of Finance, CEO, and Director of Project Delivery to ensure productive and profitable staff deployment and assess performance metrics

Business Development

• Develop regional recognition through networking and events, such as attending and presenting at conferences
• Advise clients on project issues to build business
• Collaborate with senior staff to lead proposal efforts with existing and new clients
• Participate in business development events and present at conferences
• Partner across WRA teams and market segments to assist on multi-disciplinary project pursuits

Requirements

• Currently licensed as a Professional Civil Engineer in the state of California
• Minimum of 15 years of applicable professional experience
• Bachelor’s degree in civil or environmental engineering, or related field with an emphasis on water resources from an accredited university
• Graduate degree in engineering or physical sciences preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities
• Passion for ecological restoration
• Familiarity with California ecosystems and regulatory environment
• Experience developing and managing a portfolio of work
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation (WRA has fleet vehicles for field use, but availability may be limited during busy seasons)

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with FEMA Floodplain Development (CLOMR/LOMR) permitting; Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) certification a plus
• Advanced training in river mechanics and restoration
• General understanding of geomorphology, including coastal and riverine sediment dynamics

Pay

The salary range for this position is $167,000–$193,500.

About WRA

WRA is an employee-owned environmental consultancy. We are a team of planners, engineers, and scientists dedicated to leaving the lands we love better than we found them. Our clients and partners rely on us to navigate challenging projects involving wildlands, parks, community spaces, and infrastructure. With over four decades of expertise, long-standing relationships, and deep community connections, we ensure projects are pursued responsibly for the benefit of both people and the environment.

We believe independence and interdependence are not mutually exclusive. We invest in systems, processes, and employee programs to support collective engagement and success while encouraging an ownership mindset. Our vision is to cultivate a sustainable future where people and the environment thrive, starting with our staff.

We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment with flexible policies and programs that prioritize learning and sustainability. We aim to create conditions where employees can prioritize their families, lead healthy and balanced lives, and bring their authentic selves to work every day.