Hydrologist
About The Position
Lynker is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Hydrologist to serve as Lead, supporting Lynker government contracts, and our Lynker consulting team. As a senior technical authority on site, you will spearhead the experimental implementation of forecast systems, transforming mature research into operational protocols. You will act as a primary architect for bridging the gap between scientific innovation and real-time flood forecasting, while also mentoring junior staff and influencing future R&D directions through the Operations-to-Research (O2R) feedback loop. The Hydrologist selected will also be backed by a robust support network. You will have direct access to the technical resources and subject matter experts at Lynker. This ensures you have the institutional backing, data access, and collaborative power needed to succeed in our high-visibility initiatives. The ideal Hydrologist for this position will be situated somewhere on the East Coast. This work is contingent on finalization and approval of an upcoming contract modification.
Requirements
- A Ph.D. in Hydrology, Civil Engineering, Atmospheric Science, or a related discipline, and 3+ years of experience; OR A Master’s Degree in a related discipline with at least 7+ years of specialized professional experience in operational hydrology or hydrologic modeling.
- Deep technical proficiency with operational forecasting systems and hydrologic modeling suites (e.g., SAC-SMA, HEFS, physically-based models).
- Expert-level capability in programming (Python, R) and data management for large-scale hydrologic datasets.
- Proven track record of leading complex technical projects, managing stakeholder relationships, and driving consensus across multi-agency teams.
Nice To Haves
- Extensive experience with hydrologic ensemble forecast services (HEFS), probabilistic verification, and risk-based decision support tools.
- Familiarity with modern software development practices (version control, containerization) to streamline model deployment.
- Demonstrated success in supervising or mentoring junior scientists, with specific examples of guiding professional development.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design, testing, and operational deployment of advanced hydrologic models and forecasting techniques.
- Serve as the authoritative liaison between researchers, Lynker management, and client leadership; successfully negotiate and align research capabilities with operational constraints.
- Oversee the technical integration of new modeling systems into forecasting systems, ensuring robustness and reliability for critical public safety forecasts.
- Direct high-level data analysis and visualization efforts to validate model performance, ensemble forecast generation, and reservoir inflow predictions.
- Act as a subject matter expert and mentor to junior hydrologists and forecasting staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning and technical excellence.
- Evaluate existing operational workflows and author recommendations for modernization that enhance efficiency and forecast accuracy.
- Lead the preparation of high-impact annual scientific reports and peer-reviewed journal articles; represent the project as a keynote or primary presenter at national scientific conferences.
Benefits
- Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
- Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
- Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
- Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
- 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners!
- Flexible spending accounts
- Employee assistance program (EAP)
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- Life and accident insurance
- Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
- Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
- Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
- Employee Referral Program
- Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
- Personalized career growth plans for every employee
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
