Water Resources Engineer 2

We’re looking for an Engineer II to support the design and implementation of stream and wetland restoration, stormwater, and nature-based infrastructure projects. This role is ideal for an engineer with strong fundamentals in hydrology, hydraulics, and ecological design who’s ready to contribute to meaningful, field-tested solutions—and grow into technical leadership. You can be based out of either RES’s Louisville or Frankfort, Kentucky office, working closely with our internal engineers, scientists, and project managers in both offices. You’ll spend most of your time focused on design, modeling, and technical analysis, with travel to project sites for assessments, construction support, and QA/QC review.

Why You’ll Love This Job

• You’ll help design and deliver real-world ecological solutions
• You’ll gain exposure to stream and wetland restoration, stormwater, and nature-based design
• You’ll work with a team that blends technical rigor with mission-driven values
• You’ll learn from engineers, PMs, and field staff across diverse projects and settings
• You’ll contribute to projects that get built—not just sit on a shelf

A Day in the Life

As an Engineer II, you’ll support the development of stream and wetland restoration, stormwater management, and ecological site design plans under the guidance of senior engineers and designers. Your day may include preparing grading and drainage designs in AutoCAD Civil 3D, modeling flows using HEC-RAS or TR-55, or compiling plan sets for regulatory review.

You may assist with field visits to collect site data, assess feasibility, or observe construction, ensuring designs are implemented as intended. You’ll help develop concept-level plans and detailed designs, support permitting-related document preparation, and contribute to the technical details that bring our restoration projects to life.

Whether you’re running models, drafting cross sections, updating plan sets, or performing technical writing, you’ll be an integral part of the project delivery team—helping restore degraded environmental systems while building your own professional skillset.

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

• A Bachelor’s degree in civil, environmental, biosystems, water resources, or ecological engineering
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification
• 2+ years of professional experience in an engineering-related field
• Experience in AutoCAD Civil 3D and familiarity with hydrologic and hydraulic modeling tools (e.g., HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, TR-55, FlowMaster, Rivermorph, GIS)
• Experience preparing or supporting erosion and sediment control, stormwater, or restoration designs and/or plan sets
• A solid understanding of watershed hydrology, stream geomorphology, hydraulics, and/or BMP sizing
• Familiarity with jurisdictional waters and basic regulatory permitting requirements
• Ability to support fieldwork, including site assessments, QA/QC, and construction observation
• Ability to work as part of a collaborative team under the guidance of senior staff

What will make you stand out?

• Master’s degree in civil, environmental, biosystems, water resources, or ecological engineering
• A PE license or active pursuit of licensure
• Hands-on experience with stormwater modeling, stream restoration, or wetland design
• Experience with earthwork volume calculations and feasibility planning
• Participation in the regulatory agency approval process for a stormwater or restoration project
• Comfort performing site assessments, writing technical memos, or supporting construction oversight
• Understanding reference reach data and regional curves to support design
• Ability to read and interpret restoration construction plans