Senior Coastal Engineer

Hatch
Cape Town, Western Cape
Full-time
Posted 1 hour ago
Full-time Engineering
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Job Description

  • We are looking to building on our success in the realm of coastal engineering and are seeking a highly motivated Senior Coastal Engineer to join the Ports and Terminals team in our Cape Town office.
  • You will join a dynamic and expanding team working across a diverse coastal project portfolio, including coastal structure design, metocean assessment and numerical modelling, port and marine infrastructure inputs, dredging, climate adaptation planning, and coastal management.
  • We are seeking a passionate senior coastal engineer who is eager to take ownership, contribute to technically challenging projects, and play a key role in shaping and expanding our coastal offering in the region. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives on innovation, collaboration, and making a tangible impact on complex coastal environments.

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Lead coastal engineering and modelling work packages and projects, which includes:
  • Defining metocean in-situ data collection campaigns based on project scope requirements.
  • Studying, defining and providing coastal engineering related design basis inputs to structural basis of design for the domains of marine and port structural engineering.
  • Sound knowledge on data processing of vast environmental data sets, including but not limited to, hindcast data, measured data, statistical analysis methods, etc.
  • Coastal protection design based on hard engineering (breakwater, groins, revetment), and alternative soft engineering solutions (beach nourishment or habitat creation).
  • Dredging: design, methodologies, and material disposal.
  • Spectral wave, Boussinessq Wave, Hydrodynamic, and sediment transport numerical modeling.
  • Understanding of the overall port development and planning phases and aspects, including navigation, and weather dependent downtime.
  • Climate change hazard and risk assessments on coastal assets, including adaptation option development
  • Act as coastal Subject Matter Expert (SME) on large multi-disciplinary marine infrastructure projects
  • Work collaboratively with other disciplines and regions
  • Lead and contribute to coastal engineering business development efforts in region
  • Actively engage and manage client relationships, leveraging positive relationships, enhancing our reputation which results in repeat work
  • Coach and mentor other coastal engineers

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

  • Specialised in the field of coastal modelling and coastal processes
  • Passionate about leading an expert team and driving technical excellence within Ports and Coastal engineering
  • An exceptional communicator (verbal and written)
  • A collaborative worker (with other disciplines and regions) who thinks laterally and innovatively to solve problems
  • Driven and achievement orientated
  • Someone who finds satisfaction in creating positive change 
  • B.Sc., B.Eng., M.Sc., or M.Eng. degree in Civil, Coastal, Ports and Coastal or Ocean Engineering and Ocean Science
  • Minimum 12 years of experience in the planning and design of coastal infrastructure, with 15+ years preferable
  • Professional registration with ECSA (or similar international bodies)
  • A commitment to professional development of others and remaining up to date with the latest advancements and guidance in coastal engineering and science
  • Experience in oversight and responsibility of modelling work using software packages such as Delft3D, Mike by DHI, or similar.
  • Familiarity with relevant international codes and standards in the marine and coastal environment
  • Experience in the design of coastal structures such as revetments and breakwaters from concept to detailed engineering phases.
  • Experience in management of data acquisition campaigns, including hydrographic, metocean, and meteorological data sets.
  • Experience in data analysis and manipulation skills for relevant data sets within the Coastal field.
  • Experience in dredging design
  • Project management capabilities
  • Project team leadership and resource management skills
  • Technical reviews and verification of others’ designs

Preferred

  • Experience with physical modelling, design implementation and construction
  • Execution of coastal processes modelling (hands-on experience)
  • Hands-on field and instrumentation experience
  • Tsunami modeling
  • Mooring analysis based on static and dynamic numerical models
  • Nature-based solutions experience
  • Track record in project delivery of complex coastal projects
  • Business development and networking skills
  • Team leadership and resource management experience
  • Climate change hazard and risk assessments on coastal assets, including adaptation option development

Interested in this role?

You'll apply on Hatch's own site before 10 December 2026. Put your most relevant experience at the top of your CV first.

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Job details
Job TypeFull-time
LocationCape Town, Western Cape
CategoryEngineering
Experience15+ years
Posted10 November 2026
Closing Date10 December 2026
Hatch
Cape Town, Western Cape

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