Environmental Scientist​/Designer

Design a career and build your future... Because it matters!

Environmental Scientist/Designer

McMillen Inc. is looking for a mid-level Environmental Scientist/Designer with approximately 2-7 years of professional experience to support ecological and watershed restoration design, planning, and scientific analysis in urban and rural environments in Southern California. This position requires a strong foundation in design disciplines, such as landscape architecture, urban planning, or engineering, and science disciplines such as hydrology, geomorphology, biology, or ecology.

The multidisciplinary nature of these projects will allow the successful candidate to apply their knowledge and skills within complex project contexts focused on restoration of urban rivers, urban biodiversity, and nature-based infrastructure solutions. This role requires a balance of scientific and technical expertise, strong graphics capabilities, project management ability, and a passion for applying leading edge science and design approaches to solve the world’s most pressing ecological and infrastructure challenges.

• Support design and planning projects ranging in scale from individual sites to regions.
• Support ecological restoration design projects from conceptual design phases through construction, emphasizing opportunities and constraints analyses, integration of scientific and technical data, development of design concepts, design feasibility analyses, and design refinement phases.
• Support watershed, conservation, and nature connectivity physical planning projects at local to regional scales including development of plan alternatives, integration of geospatial data, alternatives assessment, and plan mapping and documentation.
• Support project decision-making processes through communication of complex data and design information with clients and stakeholders through presentations, maps, graphics and diagrams, dashboards, and other presentation and engagement techniques.
• Collaborate with engineers, geomorphologists, hydrologists, biologists, and GIS specialists to prepare technical analyses to support the design and planning processes.
• Prepare high profile, public-facing presentations, documents, and supporting graphics.
• Perform project management activities including team coordination of large project teams of internal and external members, managing online project work spaces (e.g., Miro), and support billing, budget tracking and project reporting.

• Master’s Degree in Environmental Science, Landscape Architecture, Planning, Engineering, or similar is preferred
• Strong graphics and document production capabilities is essential, including experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, and/or InDesign).
• Strong writing skills oriented toward both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Knowledge of the application of GIS and geospatial data in design and planning project contexts is essential. The ability to operate GIS software is beneficial.
• Advanced knowledge of aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial ecosystems and plant communities of home region. Knowledge of Southern California is preferred.
• Knowledge of biodiversity conservation analysis, planning, and design, and associated connectivity and habitat suitability models is preferred.
• Strong understanding of hydrologic, geomorphic, biological and ecological science and geospatial datasets, and their application in watershed, habitat, and infrastructure design and planning. Knowledge of Southern California science and datasets is preferred.
• Strong verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and convey technical concepts to varied audiences.

• Pay Range: $36 hr. – $47 hr. (DOE)
• Benefits: McMillen provides a full Benefits Program consisting of Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, FSA, EAP, 401(k) and match, 9 Paid Holidays, generous PTO, opportunity for Stock Ownership and Wellness Reimbursement.

McMillen, Inc. designs and builds solutions that shape the future of water resources. As an employee-owned firm, we take pride in every project because we know our work truly matters. Our people thrive on solving complex challenges, pushing boundaries, and refining their craft. We don’t look for the complacent or the comfortable. We seek problem solvers, innovators, and experts who are always striving to be better.

We support continuous learning, cutting-edge technology, and a balanced work-life environment so our employees can build careers they’re proud of.

We are focused in the dams, energy, fisheries, natural resources, and infrastructure markets. With staff across the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond, we bring global best practices to our clients. Our people integrate engineering, environmental, and construction expertise to deliver practical, results-driven outcomes. From concept to completion, projects are guided through feasibility studies, permitting, design, construction, and…