Waterfronts & Marinas Designer

Location: Superior, Wisconsin, St. Paul, Minnesota, Pensacola, Florida

Reports to: Structural Engineering Department Manager

Department: Waterfronts Status: Full-time 40+ hours/week

Job Description: Waterfronts & Marinas Designer

AMI is seeking a Waterfronts & Marinas Designer to support the planning, layout, and design of waterfront and marina infrastructure. This role involves preparing design drawings, technical models, calculations, and project documentation for a variety of marine and recreational waterfront developments. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in civil or structural engineering principles and a growing understanding of coastal, marine, and harbor environments.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Design & Technical Development

• Assist in the engineering design of marinas, waterfront parks, piers, docks, seawalls, bulkheads, revetments, boat ramps, and shoreline stabilization structures.

• Prepare marina layout plans, including berth configurations, fairways, fuel docks, access piers, wave attenuators, floating docks, utilities, and upland site features.

• Develop 2D and 3D drawings and design models using AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or other relevant engineering software.

• Perform basic engineering calculations related to structural components, water depths, and environmental loads.

• Interpret survey data, geotechnical information, bathymetry, water level elevations, tidal data, and environmental constraints.

Project Documentation & Coordination

• Prepare construction plans, sections, details, profiles, and quantity takeoffs.

• Assist with permitting packages, environmental documentation, and technical reports.

• Incorporate redlines and design revisions throughout the design process.

• Coordinate with multidisciplinary project teams.

• Support client presentations, concept alternatives, site renderings, and master planning graphics.

Field & Site Support

• Participate in site visits to collect field data, document existing conditions, and support marina assessments.

• Assist in evaluating site feasibility, utility mapping, dredging needs, vessel circulation, and shoreline protection.

• Support construction-phase services such as responding to RFIs, reviewing shop drawings, and assisting in as-built documentation.

Quality Assurance & Standards

• Ensure all design work adheres to company drafting standards, professional engineering guidelines, and local/state/federal permitting requirements.

• Participate in internal QA/QC reviews of drawings, calculations, and deliverables.

• Maintain organized drawing files, technical models, and revision logs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Coastal Engineering, Marine Engineering, or related field.

• 1–5+ years of design experience in civil, structural, coastal, or marine projects (marina experience a plus).

• Proficiency with AutoCAD; experience with Civil 3D, or 3D visualization tools is beneficial.

• Understanding of marine structures, floating dock systems, shoreline stabilization, and upland grading/utilities.

• Familiarity with coastal processes, tides, waves, sediment transport, and marine construction materials (preferred).

• EIT certification or ability to obtain is a plus.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in drawings, calculations, and project documentation.

• Ability to read and interpret engineering plans, marina layouts, and site data.

• Good communication and teamwork skills to collaborate with engineers, planners, and clients.

• Creative problem solving with the ability to develop functional and aesthetic waterfront design concepts.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced project environment.

Working Conditions

• Primarily office-based design work with periodic field or marina site visits.

• Ability to work outdoors around waterfronts, docks, and active construction sites when needed.

• Occasional travel for site assessments, client meetings, or project coordination.

About AMI Consulting Engineers, P.A.

AMI is a leading waterfronts and infrastructure engineering firm that was established in 2006. AMI provides large company capabilities in a small company atmosphere with high standards of professionalism, quality control, and representation upheld throughout all projects. AMI has offices located in: Superior, WI (Duluth, MN); Vadnais Heights, MN (St. Paul, MN); and Pensacola, FL. AMI has a strong culture and promotes a flexible work environment.