Senior Watershed Scientist, Engineer or Hydrologist

Rincon Consultants, Inc • Los Angeles, CA

13d • $110,000 - $150,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Rincon Consultants is seeking a Senior Watershed Scientist, Engineer, or Hydrologist with strong experience in stormwater compliance, watershed management, and water quality program implementation. This role will lead high-visibility projects, manage key client relationships, and coordinate multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex regulatory and watershed programs. Working closely with Principals and Directors, the selected candidate will drive program development, regulatory strategy, and practice growth across municipal, utility, and private sector clients, with a focus on leadership and project delivery rather than hands-on modeling

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Hydrology, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Geology, Environmental Science, or another related field
• QSD/P or QISP certification with 5 years of experience
• 10+ years of direct experience, including senior project management responsibilities in water resources, stormwater, or watershed programs.
• California PE/PG, or EIT/GIT license with strong experience
• In-depth knowledge of, and demonstrated experience, managing one or multiple of the following:
• NPDES Phase I/II MS4 permit and municipal stormwater compliance programs
• NPDES construction and industrial stormwater permits
• TMDL implementation and water quality monitoring and reporting
• Water quality special studies
• Watershed level planning, monitoring programs, or multi-agency initiatives
• Exceptional knowledge of hydrologic, water quality, and ecological processes in watersheds and water bodies, including pollutant sources and their impacts on water quality and human health effects and risk
• Experience with or understanding surface water, watershed, and/or groundwater modeling software (e.g., HEC-HMS, SWAT, MODFLOW)
• Demonstrated ability to formulate and solve highly technical problems related to water quality, with strong organizational and time management skills
• Demonstrated experience tracking, pursuing, and winning new opportunities with new or existing clients
• Exceptional technical writing, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Use of statistical programs and techniques to support data analyses
• Strong skills and proficiency in ArcGIS and using remote data

Nice To Haves

• Certified Stormwater Manager (CSM) or CPSWQ
• Caltrans Water Pollution Control Manager certification or related experience
• Advanced degree in hydrogeology, environmental engineering, environmental science, geology, or natural resources science, with emphasis on water resources or closely related discipline
• Current OSHA 40 Hour HAZWOPER
• Additional water resource or watershed credentials a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-visibility stormwater compliance, watershed management, and water quality program projects for municipal, utility, and private sector clients
• Serve as the day-to-day project and task order lead across multiple contracts, ensuring successful delivery, schedule, and budget performance
• Provide technical leadership and regulatory strategy support for NPDES permitting and compliance programs (e.g., MS4, construction, industrial stormwater)
• Oversee watershed management programs, compliance monitoring and reporting, and special study efforts related to water quality, surface water, and groundwater
• Coordinate multidisciplinary project teams and collaborate closely with Principals and Directors to deliver complex environmental work
• Manage and strengthen key client relationships, supporting program development and long-term account growth
• Contribute to practice growth by identifying new opportunities, supporting proposals, and expanding Rincon’s stormwater and watershed service offerings
• Support leadership opportunities in integrated water resource management and sustainable groundwater management (as aligned with candidate expertise)

Benefits

• We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Package designed to support employee well-being, growth, and financial security. Our benefits are designed to offer flexibility and choice, including health coverage options, employer-sponsored insurance, retirement benefits, generous time off, and programs that support learning, growth, and community engagement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level