Environmenatl Data Scientist/Hydrologist

Penguin Recruitment; Oxford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An environmental consultancy in the UK is seeking a Senior Environmental Data Scientist / Hydrologist to influence flood management and climate resilience. This position involves developing hydrological methods, applying machine learning, and liaising with technical stakeholders. Candidates require a degree in a related field and strong Python/R skills. The role offers career progression, profit sharing, and a flexible working environment, emphasizing a people-first approach.

Benefits

Flexible working

Profit share

Long-term career progression

Qualifications

• Experience applying machine learning to environmental or water datasets.
• Solid grounding in hydrology, flood risk or water resources.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage hydrological methods within national water resource and flood modelling platforms.
• Contribute to industry-standard flood estimation and hydrological software tools.
• Apply machine learning techniques to enhance existing models.
• Analyse complex spatial and temporal datasets.
• Translate scientific research into commercial-grade software.
• Liaise with regulators, users and technical stakeholders.
• Produce clear, high-quality technical documentation and reports.

Skills

Strong Python coding capability

Strong R coding capability

Experience applying machine learning

Confident communicator

Education

Degree (2:1 or above) in Hydrology, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering

Job description

Senior Environmental Data Scientist / Hydrologist

Location: Oxfordshire

New year. New opportunity. If you want your work to genuinely influence how the UK manages flooding, water resources and climate resilience, this Senior Environmental Data Scientist / Hydrologist role is worth your attention.

This Senior Environmental Data Scientist / Hydrologist position sits within an environmentally focused, employee-owned consultancy that develops nationally recognised hydrological methods and software used across the UK water and flood‑risk sector. As a Senior Environmental Data Scientist / Hydrologist, you will work at the intersection of hydrology, data science and software development, helping shape tools used by regulators, consultants and infrastructure providers nationwide.

The Role

• Develop and manage hydrological methods within national water resource and flood modelling platforms
• Contribute to industry‑standard flood estimation and hydrological software tools
• Apply machine learning techniques to enhance existing hydrological models
• Analyse complex spatial and temporal datasets
• Translate scientific research into commercial‑grade software and tools
• Liaise with regulators, users and technical stakeholders
• Produce clear, high‑quality technical documentation and reports

About You

• Degree (2:1 or above) in Hydrology, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering or similar
• Strong Python and/or R coding capability
• Experience applying machine learning to environmental or water datasets
• Solid grounding in hydrology, flood risk or water resources
• Confident communicator with both technical and non‑technical audiences

Why Apply

This Senior Environmental Data Scientist / Hydrologist role offers technical influence, long‑term career progression, profit share, flexible working and the chance to work on nationally impactful tools within a people‑first, employee‑owned environment.

Eligibility to Apply

Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available.

Penguin Recruitment is operating as a Recruitment Agency for this position. For more information, contact Andy Hopkins, our Civil Engineering specialist with over 30 years' recruitment experience