Full-Time
Lead Restoration Engineer
Posted on 9/9/2026
SWCA Environmental Consultants
1,001-5,000 employees
Environmental planning, permitting, and sustainability consulting
Compensation Overview
$111k - $142.5k/yr
Houston, TX, USA + 1 more
More locations: Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Hybrid
Hybrid-eligible from the Houston or Baton Rouge offices; highly qualified distributed candidates may work remotely. Domestic travel and short-term overnight field efforts are required.
Bachelor's, Master's
 Architecture & Civil Engineering (1) |
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- A bachelor's degree in civil or environmental engineering.
- An active Professional Engineer license in Texas or Louisiana, or the ability to obtain one through reciprocity.
- Six years of relevant, progressively responsible experience in ecological restoration engineering, including some experience managing others.
- Prior work experience in Texas or Louisiana.
- Willingness to participate in drug and alcohol screening when required by project or client requirements.
- A valid driver's license and compliance with SWCA's driver requirements.
- Ability to obtain and maintain valid travel documents and identification required for work-related domestic travel.
- Ability to hike over uneven terrain, lift and carry equipment weighing 25–50 pounds, and work in varying or extreme weather conditions while following safety procedures.
- Consult strategically on and lead complex projects in pursuit of client objectives, overseeing the technical approach and quality assurance and quality control.
- Lead by example in technical and interpersonal skills while navigating client and team priorities to deliver projects meeting professional and oversight agency standards.
- Innovate standards and practices to improve the quality and efficiency of client projects and outcomes in alignment with industry and regulatory standards.
- Serve as a technical expert and consultant, developing project strategies and applying technical expertise to meet project requirements and client needs.
- Guide projects, remain accountable for project or delegated-task performance, and ensure milestones and outcomes align with client expectations.
- Assess risks and implement problem-solving strategies; revise or suggest revisions to project scopes, schedules, and budgets as project requirements evolve.
- Drive business growth and client success through technical excellence, innovation, and development of methods and standards that advance SWCA's technical reputation.
- Contribute to SWCA's strategic planning.
- Champion cross-disciplinary collaboration with specialists to provide comprehensive technical project support.
- Mentor staff, coach others in technical excellence, leadership, and strategy, and develop specialized programs and protocols.
- Foster team development and cross-training while promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration.
- Establish and grow consultative relationships with clients, agency regulators, and industry partners when applicable.
- Execute and deliver moderately complex engineering projects under the guidance and oversight of senior leads or project managers.
- Apply established standards and practices to project work and refine technical approaches to improve project efficiency and quality.
- Follow applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
- Perform related work as assigned.
- Drive compliance with safety policies and report requirements to support overall team safety.
- A master's degree in civil or environmental engineering.
- Eight years of related experience in ecological restoration engineering, or an equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and education.
- Completion of Wildland Hydrology Short Courses.
SWCA Environmental Consultants提供环境与管理咨询，覆盖环境规划、文化资源管理、生物与生态服务、水资源管理、空气质量与可持续发展咨询等多学科领域。它通过现场调查、数据分析、影响评估、建模和监管规划等工作，帮助客户完成项目审批、合规并实现长期可持续目标。与竞争对手不同之处在于其跨学科、以科学为基础的实地执行方式，以及整合资源管理、生态保护、以及可持续性服务的综合能力。公司的目标是成为最佳工作场所与行业在可持续性方面的领导者，帮助客户满足环境要求并推动可持续实践。
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Phoenix, Arizona
Founded
N/A
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- SWCA won a March 17, 2026 FWS flycatcher assessment contract worth $245,237.
- July 2026 hires for Power and Energy and Construction Services target high-demand infrastructure markets.
- The 2026 Whitefish CWPP marked SWCA's 100th wildfire plan, proving recurring public-sector demand.
What critics are saying
- SWCA's NLRB bargaining fight with Teamsters Local 222 remains active in 2026.
- Acquisitions and new C-suite layers can strain integration, culture, and margin discipline.
- A regulated-project slowdown in NEPA, CEQA, or transmission pipelines would hit utilization fast.
What makes SWCA Environmental Consultants unique
- 100% employee-owned since 2000, aligning retention, client service, and long-term decision-making.
- Breadth across permitting, cultural resources, water, restoration, and engineering reduces single-service dependence.
- SWCA pairs GIS, Indigenous collaboration, and field science for defensible, regulator-ready project delivery.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
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Company News
Announcing new Senior directors to support Construction Services growth. Posted. July 24, 2026 SWCA, Incorporated is taking an important step forward in support of its construction clients with the establishment of a companywide Construction Services program. This initiative is designed to support growing client demand, improve consistency across the organization, and position SWCA, Incorporated for continued growth in an increasingly competitive and complex market. Construction Services has been part of SWCA's foundation since the beginning, built on decades of experience delivering field-based services, including large habitat restoration and environmental construction projects across the Southwest. While regional approaches have successfully supported growth over the years, the scale and complexity of today's opportunities require greater coordination, governance, and operational consistency. Market conditions, evolving regulations, competitive gaps, and its strong client relationships have created a significant opportunity to expand its presence in Construction Services. As project opportunities continue to grow in size, scope, and complexity, SWCA, Incorporated is investing in the structure, processes, and leadership needed to scale this work in a way that is sustainable, consistent, and people supported. The new Senior Director - Construction Services roles were created to provide strategic leadership across regions and business groups, strengthen operational consistency, support complex financial and client accountabilities, and help ensure quality and risk management remain at the forefront as the program expands. These roles will also help advance its ability to pursue new opportunities, support project teams, and deliver exceptional outcomes for clients. To support this next phase of growth, SWCA, Incorporated is pleased to announce the promotions of Michelle Logut and Chad Baker to Senior Director - Construction Services.
Gretchen Taylor joins SWCA as Vice President - Power and Energy. Posted. July 7, 2026 Gretchen Taylor joins SWCA as Vice President - Power and Energy. In this role, she will lead strategic growth initiatives, strengthen key client relationships, and partner across the Client Services Group to advance complex energy infrastructure projects and expand SWCA's presence in the power and energy sector. Gretchen brings more than 25 years of experience supporting utilities, developers, and infrastructure clients in delivering some of North America's most complex energy projects. Her expertise spans planning and permitting, environmental compliance, regulatory strategy, and large-scale project management across diverse "pipes and wires" initiatives. She began her career with Essex Environmental in Half Moon Bay, California, where she built a strong foundation in environmental planning, monitoring, and permitting. Over the course of her career, Gretchen has led client service, business development, and multidisciplinary technical teams supporting electric transmission and distribution, utility-scale solar, wind, battery storage, clean hydrogen, nuclear, lithium mining, and natural gas infrastructure projects. Prior to joining SWCA, Gretchen held senior leadership roles at TRC, ERM, and most recently Anchor QEA. In these positions, she drove growth across key utility and energy accounts while leading high-performing teams focused on planning, permitting, and licensing. Her work has supported projects throughout the United States and Canada, with a consistent focus on helping clients navigate complex regulatory environments and deliver critical infrastructure on time and at scale.
SWCA Environmental Consultants has appointed Dan Kieny as chief digital information officer and George Mekitarian as chief financial officer to support long-term growth and operational excellence. Mekitarian brings over 20 years of finance and accounting experience, including leadership in employee-owned and public companies. He will lead SWCA's financial strategy, focusing on sustainable growth and aligning financial planning with business goals. Kieny will oversee technology strategy and enterprise systems, aiming to improve operational efficiency through practical, people-centred digital solutions. His background includes experience in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. CEO Joseph J. Fluder, III said the appointments reflect SWCA's continued investment in its people and employee ownership model whilst maintaining client service quality.
Dan Kieny joins SWCA as Chief Digital Information Officer. Posted. May 15, 2026 Dan Kieny has joined SWCA as Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO). In this role, Dan will lead the next phase of technology evolution across its employee-owned organization, advancing SWCA's long-term strategic goals through innovative digital solutions that strengthen internal operations, enhance client experiences, and create enduring value. The CDIO is a strategically important role designed to strengthen SWCA's digital and data infrastructure, drive enterprise system modernization, and advance the use of emerging technologies to enhance operational excellence, employee experience, and client service. Dan brings AEC industry experience and a strong track record leading enterprise platforms and business-facing technology initiatives. He has served as President of Consulting and Technology Solutions and as CTO at Michael Baker International, and previously as Global CIO at Black & Veatch. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Creighton University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Project Spotlights Preserving the past & future of Oregon's Coquille Watershed. Posted. March 26, 2026 The Coquille Watershed Association (CoqWA) has long been committed to protecting the natural resources and communities of Coos County, Oregon. Supporting native fish species, agriculture, industry, and the people who call this valley home, the Coquille River and its watershed also serve as a living historical record that preserves the stories of past inhabitants. As part of its efforts to restore ecological balance, CoqWA launched the Beaver Slough Restoration Initiative to improve fish passage and habitat connectivity. SWCA's Portland, Oregon-based cultural resources team joined the effort to document the historical and cultural significance of the area while contributing to the initiative's ecological goals. In partnership with the Coquille Indian Tribe, who lived on and stewarded this land for centuries, SWCA helped set a new precedent for how restoration can respectfully integrate Indigenous knowledge, archaeology, and environmental science. Restoring ecological balance in Beaver Slough. Part of the Coquille Tidal Wetland Conservation Project, the Beaver Slough Restoration Initiative aims to improve access for native salmonid species, particularly the Oregon coast coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) to floodplain habitats of Beaver Slough. This project seeks to restore natural ecological processes to support the health of local fish populations and the surrounding watershed. However, the project area is also within a culturally sensitive region for the Coquille Indian Tribe, requiring a careful balance between ecological restoration and the preservation of cultural heritage. SWCA's cultural resources team supported Indigenous relations throughout the project, coordinating archaeological monitoring, engaging in active discussions with the Coquille Indian Tribe, and maintaining a flexible and creative approach. Drained and graded section of Beaver Slough near the new tide gate. This is the northern extent of the archaeological site. Indigenous knowledge offers insight into the Coquille Watershed's past. Recognizing the importance of collaboration, SWCA facilitated meetings with the Coquille Indian Tribe to foster open communication and mutual understanding. Through these discussions, SWCA worked alongside the Tribe to identify potential cultural impacts and develop creative mitigation strategies that honored the Tribe's heritage while enabling the ecological restoration project to move forward. "During the shovel probe survey (an early phase of the project), a Tribal member joined us through the day-to-day," shares Caelie Butler, associate project archaeologist at SWCA. "Their interpretation and stories of the landscape were vital to this project." The inclusion of Indigenous knowledge played a key role, not only in understanding the cultural significance of the project area, but also in enriching the ecological restoration process. Generational knowledge about local waterways, salmon behavior, and traditional fishing practices like the use of fish weirs added essential context that might otherwise have been overlooked. Artifacts from the site include a piece of transfer printed ceramic, likely dating to the late nineteenth century. While on-site, the SWCA team remained alert to the possibility of identifying pre-contact river constructions known as fish weirs - vertical wooden posts historically installed to direct and trap fish during tidal changes. Recognizing their importance to the Coquille Indian Tribe, SWCA took proactive steps to ensure proper identification and treatment of these archaeological resources. Following guidance from Tribal members, SWCA's cultural resources team received training at the Coquille Indian Tribe's Archaeological Laboratory on how to detect potential weir evidence within subsurface deposits. The team also visited intact fish weirs with the Tribe, to see them in their original context - examples of how Indigenous perspectives can shape field methodologies and elevate cultural stewardship. "We are committed to understanding the concerns and the context of where we are," shares Amanda Carrol, Cultural Resources Director - Pacific Northwest. "Listening to the Tribe's concerns and learning how to do the best we can if we identify anything significant, was integral to our approach." Ultimately, no fish weirs were found, but incorporating Indigenous knowledge led to more culturally sensitive outcomes that strengthened the overall project. By weaving traditional ecological understanding into modern restoration practices, the team helped ensure that both natural and cultural systems could thrive. An unexpected collection reflects the history of the valley's post-contact landscape. The team prepared for the possibility of finding significant Indigenous archaeological resources, but they were surprised by the extent of their actual discoveries. While monitoring the dredging of Beaver Slough, the team found 160 artifacts in its sediments, ranging from 1840s-era bottles and ceramics to items from the 1970s, including shoe leather and domestic goods. The breadth and depth of the collection intrigued the team, providing a glimpse into the cultural and historical layers of the area while ensuring these findings were appropriately documented and preserved. A blueprint for future ecological restoration efforts. This collaboration between SWCA, CoqWA, and the Coquille Indian Tribe demonstrates what's possible when ecological restoration is guided by both scientific expertise and cultural respect. Thanks to early and consistent engagement, the Tribe was able to shape the project's implementation. Careful consideration of culturally sensitive areas helped ensure that the Coquille Indian Tribe's heritage is protected for future generations. These outcomes reflect a meaningful step toward honoring the Tribe's longstanding connection to the land and water. For CoqWA, the project was a success on multiple fronts. By working with reviewers from the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the State Historic Preservation Office, and the Coquille Indian Tribe, SWCA's cultural resources team ensured compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and enabled CoqWA to advance its ecological goals. The removal of tide gate infrastructure and restoration of tidal wetlands have opened fish passages and reconnected floodplain habitats - supporting native salmon populations and enhancing the long-term resilience of the watershed. SWCA views projects as an opportunity to listen, learn, and grow. This initiative exemplified that mindset, not just internally, but in practice and with real impact. By building trust, honoring heritage, and delivering results, the team helped set a precedent for how restoration work can uplift both ecosystems and the communities who depend on them.