Designer III

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 a Designer III to lead restoration design production and field activities for stream and wetland projects. This role is designed for an experienced restoration professional who can independently lead design assignments, apply hydraulic modeling and hydrologic analysis, coordinate field teams, and take responsibility for the quality of technical deliverables.

As a Designer III, you will move beyond producing individual components of a design and take ownership of complete design deliverables , including plan production, cost estimates, specifications, construction coordination, and QA/QC.

Why you would love this job

You will have the opportunity to take meaningful technical ownership of restoration projects while remaining closely connected to both field conditions and construction.

This role is a strong fit for someone who enjoys solving complex design problems, leading technical work, applying hydraulic modeling, improving the quality of deliverables, and helping less-experienced team members become stronger designers. You will have significant responsibility while continuing to deepen your technical expertise.

What your day to day will look like

You will lead design production for restoration projects, coordinating field data collection and translating that information into complete technical deliverables. Your work may include leading geomorphic and ecological field assessments, evaluating hydrologic data, calculating design discharges, applying hydraulic modeling, developing and reviewing plan sets, preparing cost estimates and specifications, and coordinating construction inspections. You will also perform QA/QC of design deliverables, identify technical or constructability concerns, resolve design-related issues, and provide guidance to junior designers and field teams throughout the project lifecycle.

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

Bachelor’s degree.

Degree in Natural Science or a related discipline, or comparable technical education and relevant experience.

5+ years of experience leading plan production, field data collection, and restoration design tasks.

Significant experience with stream and/or wetland restoration design.

Experience leading geomorphic and ecological field assessments.

Strong understanding of hydrology and design discharge calculations.

Experience applying hydraulic modeling to restoration projects.

Proficiency producing and coordinating complete design plan sets.

Experience preparing and reviewing cost estimates and technical specifications.

Experience supporting restoration projects during construction.

Experience performing QA/QC of technical or design deliverables.

Ability to independently identify and resolve technical design issues.

What will make you stand out

Master’s degree in Natural Science or a related technical discipline.

Advanced stream restoration or wetland restoration design experience.

Strong hydraulic modeling capability.

Experience leading a restoration design from initial field assessment through final design and construction.

Experience identifying and resolving constructability issues.

Demonstrated responsibility for QA/QC of other designers’ work.

Experience coaching or providing technical direction to junior staff.

You will thrive here if

You take ownership of outcomes, not just assigned tasks.

You have strong technical judgment and enjoy solving complex problems.

You can balance design quality, field realities, constructability, and project needs.

You communicate technical concepts clearly to people with different backgrounds.

You naturally look for potential problems before they become larger issues.

You enjoy helping less-experienced professionals develop.

You hold yourself and others accountable for high-quality technical work.

You can manage competing priorities without losing attention to detail.

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.