Coastal and Ports Engineer

The opportunity

HAEDES developing its team in Portugal. We are looking for an experienced civil engineer who understands coastlines, rivers, estuaries and ports as both an engineering challenge and a living system – someone who can connect rigorous hydraulic design with systems thinking, nature-based solutions and real-world implementation. We are open to receive you in Lisbon or Porto.

You will work across river catchments, estuaries and coastal zones, developing resilient solutions for water management, coastal areas and port environments. You know the standards and state of the art, but you also know when and how to question them

What you will shape?

• Develop hydraulic concepts, plans and designs for rivers, coasts, estuaries, maritime and port infrastructure.
• Translate analysis into practical, buildable and ecologically meaningful solutions.
• Explore nature-based and hybrid approaches to coastal resilience, erosion protection and port development.
• Use data and fit-for-purpose modelling to understand systems, test alternatives and communicate decisions.
• Engage with clients, partners and stakeholders; contribute to proposals and help define new projects.
• Take ownership of work packages and, depending on experience, coordinate projects and mentor colleagues.
• Help grow HAEDES in Portugal through trusted relationships, local insight and courageous ideas.

What you bring?

• A master’s degree in civil engineering or a closely related discipline; a PhD in coastal engineering, hydraulic design or physical modelling is welcome, but not required.
• Typically 5-10 years of relevant experience. We value demonstrated judgment and impact more than an exact number of years.
• Strong knowledge of hydraulic design for maritime structures, coasts and/or rivers, such as erosion protection, breakwaters, rock berms and dikes.
• Experience with concrete and steel design is a plus.
• Experience with GIS, BIM, programming or data-analysis skills, preferably in Python, are a plus.
• The ability to communicate technical work clearly and an interest in client dialogue, tendering and project coordination.
• Professional working proficiency in Portuguese and English.

How you work?

You combine curiosity with responsibility. You can work autonomously without working alone, invite different viewpoints and turn complexity into forward movement. You keep learning, challenge assumptions constructively and care about the long-term effects of engineering decisions – on clients, communities and the environment.

What makes HAEDES different?

HAEDES blends engineering and soul: logic with emotion, knowledge with wisdom, and process with patterns. We address root causes rather than symptoms and co-create solutions inspired by nature. Our values – nature, trust, connection, creativity, autonomy and authenticity – are not wall text; they guide how we choose projects, work with partners and make decisions.

• A living-system organisation that adapts through co-creation, learning and distributed responsibility.
• Freedom to think independently, paired with accountability for quality and outcomes.
• A multidisciplinary and international network of experienced engineers, scientists and collaborators.
• Work at the intersection of coastal engineering, climate resilience, biodiversity and regenerative design.

What we offer

• A varied role with meaningful technical work and space to influence the development of our activities in Portugal.
• A flexible working rhythm: remote, office-based and on project locations, with occasional travel to Belgium and international clients.
• Remuneration aligned with your experience, skills and responsibilities.
• A personal development plan covering both technical growth and self-development.
• An international context where R&D and out-of-the-box thinking is highly valuated.

A role that can grow with you

We are looking for a strong core fit, not a perfect checklist. If the challenge resonates and you bring relevant experience from another part of the water system, tell us what perspective you would add. Diversity creates resilience, and we are open to shaping responsibilities around complementary strengths.

Interested

Send your CV and a short motivation explaining what you would like to shape with HAEDES to piet.haerens@haedes.eu. Please use the subject line ‘Vacancy 2026/02 – Civil Engineer’. Applications to be sent before September 30^th 2026.

We look forward to discovering not only what you have modelled, but how you think.