It's an exciting time to be a part of the Otak team! Join a group of passionate, creative individuals and engage in exciting and rewarding projects that enhance the communities we serve.

Otak is currently seeking to hire a Natural Systems and Hydraulics Engineering Lead to join our Water and Natural Resources (WNR) team in our Redmond, WA office. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in supporting our project and business development efforts across several service areas, including fish passage, stream and river restoration, flood hazard mitigation, and natural systems design. Your responsibilities will encompass managing multidisciplinary teams and overseeing projects under a multi-year contract focused on replacing culverts for fish passage throughout the Puget Sound region.

Our team of engineers and scientists possesses extensive expertise in various fields, including surface water management planning and design, water quality, wetland science, fluvial geomorphology, ecology, botany, aquatic biology, and fisheries. We produce comprehensive technical reports that meticulously document environmental baseline conditions, meeting and surpassing regulatory reporting standards for permitting and compliance requirements at the local, county, state, and federal levels.

To learn more about Otak's WNR team and projects, please watch the following video:

Otak's WNR Team

What you'll do:

• Contribute to WNR Leadership Group Initiatives.
• Facilitate business development, training, project delivery process, and operational needs with a focus on fish passage, river/stream restoration, and flood mitigation projects in Puget Sound.
• Provide technical excellence and guidance in the areas of river/stream restoration, fish passage and habitat design, open-channel hydraulics, and bridge hydraulics and scour countermeasure design.
• Prepare technical approaches/scope, schedule, and budgets for proposals.
• Manage water resources planning and design projects in and around natural areas, including workload planning and overseeing financials, schedule, deliverables, and quality control.
• Direct and oversee the preparation of floodplain and watershed studies, hydrologic and hydraulic design reports, and construction documents.
• Supervise and mentor project staff responsible for design calculations, design drawings and specifications.
• Collaborate with Otak’s Transportation, Structures, Urban Planning, and Architecture business units.

What you bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Water Resources, or Environmental Engineering required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of previous Project Management/Project Engineering experience in stream/river restoration design, or related field.
• Valid Professional Engineer (PE) license in the state of Washington required or ability to obtain within six months.
• Demonstrated successful project management from design through construction.
• Supervisory experience with SWMM, HSPF, HEC-RAS, SRH2D or similar hydrologic and hydraulic models (note that technical experts will continue to provide technical training, guidance, and quality control to project level staff).
• Customer-oriented professional skilled in understanding and meeting client need.
• Demonstrated expertise in driving business growth, selling Otak’s services and delivering high-quality work.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a creative, professional, team environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate experience, qualifications, and work location as well as market and business considerations.

$112,000 - $170,000 per year

Benefits

At our core, we believe that supporting our communities begins with supporting our employees. No matter what stage you’re at in your career, we have a comprehensive total rewards program to enhance your quality of life, help support your family, and assist you in achieving your personal and professional goals. Otak employees enjoy competitive salaries; discretionary performance bonuses; no-cost medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, HRA/HSA; a 401(k)-retirement match that is 100% vested immediately; a hybrid work schedule; Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual based on your industry experience rather than your seniority plus 9 paid holidays per year; a commuter allowance (based on your office location); support for your professional registration and/or certification fees; and much more! If you are out of the area and interested in relocating for this opportunity, relocation assistance may be provided.

Why work at Otak?

We’re not just looking for skills and experience, having shared values is just as important! When you work at Otak, you aren’t just joining a firm — you’re joining a community. We believe our best work happens in a culture of collaboration and inclusion, where the expertise of diverse individuals can thrive in a foundation of teamwork. The work environment we create is built on a simple concept: working on interesting projects with interesting people. However, we don’t just believe in cultivating our own community; we’re also committed to enriching the communities around us with smart, creative solutions. We know our employees make an investment in us, so we’re committed to making an investment in them. Seasoned experts and young professionals work together to encourage personal growth and skill development at all experience levels. Plus, we’re expanding — and we’re dedicated to developing an internal infrastructure with the strength and talent to support that growth.

Equal Opportunity

Otak is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and respectful workplace. We value diverse perspectives and believe they drive innovation and success.

We are committed to a workplace free from discrimination and harassment, where every individual is valued, included, and treated with dignity and respect. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. Our hiring, promotion, compensation, and employment practices are rooted in qualifications, merit, and business needs.

Our Vision for an Inclusive Workplace

We are committed to creating an environment where:

• Diverse identities are embraced, and differences are valued as a source of strength.
• Every employee feels safe to be their authentic self and contribute meaningfully.
• Unique perspectives are encouraged, and open dialogue is welcomed to foster innovation.
• Curiosity replaces judgment, and respectful engagement is prioritized in all interactions.
• Relationships are built on mutual trust, dignity, and respect, forming the foundation of our workplace culture.

We provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, including pregnant employees, to ensure an accessible and supportive work environment. If you require assistance or accommodations during the application process or in the workplace, please contact Otak’s People Services Department at GRPHumanResources@Otak.com.

Join us in shaping a more inclusive future!