Early-Career Water Resources Engineer

Geosyntec Consultants; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Geosyntec Consultants is seeking an Early-Career Water Resources Engineer for our Portland, Oregon office. You will apply your academic knowledge to real-world surface water and stormwater challenges, including model development and decision-support tools for municipalities, ports, and water agencies.

The role offers growth toward project management and client-facing responsibilities. You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, conduct hydrologic analyses, and support planning and design

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of related experience in environmental/civil engineering, water resources, or stormwater.
• Strong communication, organizational, and technical writing skills.
• Interest in surface water modeling, BMP implementation, and regulatory support.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, clients, and stakeholders.
• Perform hydrologic/hydraulic and water quality analyses for watersheds and urban drainage systems.
• Support planning and design of stormwater and water resources projects including green infrastructure.
• Support studies of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs with data analysis and model interpretation.
• Develop data-driven workflows using Python, GIS, and automation for analysis and decision support.
• Conduct field work for stormwater monitoring, data collection, and site reconnaissance.
• Prepare technical documents and calculation packages to support deliverables.
• Assist with SWPPP updates, site maps, and BMP tables for industrial stormwater.
• Contribute to applied research and guidance on water quality and stormwater topics.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Stormwater modeling

Hydrologic & hydraulic analysis

Python

GIS analysis

Data organization

Regulatory support

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental or civil engineering

Advanced degree in environmental or civil engineering

EI or EIT certification

PE registration within 3 years (preferred)

Tools

EPA-SWMM

HEC-RAS

InfoWorks ICM

ArcGIS

AutoCAD/Civil 3D

Google Earth Engine

Job description

Early-Career Water Resources Engineer

Location: US-OR-Portland

Job ID: 2026-4833

Do you want to build an impactful career to change the world for the better?

Geosyntec has an exciting opportunity for a Early-Career Water Resources Engineer to join our Portland, Oregon office. In this role, you will apply your academic knowledge and practical experience to real-world surface water and stormwater challenges, including the development and application of models and decision support tools to solve complex problems for municipalities, ports, industrial facilities, and water management agencies. You will support projects related to stormwater and surface water management, regulatory compliance, engineering planning, and design while learning the business skills needed for a successful consulting career and growing into a project manager and client-facing professional.

Geosyntec is an innovative, international engineering and consulting firm serving private and public-sector clients to address new ventures and complex problems involving our environment, natural resources, and civil infrastructure. Our engineers, scientists, technical and project employees serve our clients from offices across the world. Ranked by ENR as one of the top environmental engineering design firms, Geosyntec is internationally known for its technical leadership, broad experience, and exceptional client service.

We invest in our people. Each employee is unique, and your career at Geosyntec will be too. We offer competitive pay and benefits, and well-being programs to support you and your family.

To Learn More Visit: http://www.geosyntec.com/careers/.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams of colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Perform and support hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) and water quality analyses for watersheds and urban drainage systems, including input data preparation, model setup, documentation, and interpretation of results.
• Support planning and design of stormwater and water resources projects, including drainage improvements, green infrastructure, water quality treatment BMPs, erosion and sediment control, habitat restoration, and related environmental infrastructure.
• Support studies of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, including data analysis, modeling, and management recommendations related to sediment transport, temperature, water quality, and water supply.
• Apply data-driven methods, such as Python-based workflows, GIS analysis, automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning concepts, where appropriate, to support environmental data analysis, model preparation, infrastructure planning, and decision support tool development. Support maintenance and enhancements of existing decisions support tools, dashboards, and other data systems.
• Support water quality and hydrologic monitoring of stormwater systems, streams, lakes, and rivers, including field work, instrumentation, and data analysis.
• Perform analysis of permit requirements stemming from CWA, SDWA, and CERCLA/RCRA to support compliance strategies.
• Prepare technical documents, exhibits, figures, maps, tables, and calculation packages to support project deliverables.
• Conduct field inspections, storm drain and drainage system assessments, stormwater sampling, and site reconnaissance to document facility conditions, pollutant sources, monitoring locations, and stormwater flow paths.
• Support industrial stormwater permit compliance projects, including preparation and updates to Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs), site maps, drainage figures, inspection forms, and best management practice (BMP) tables.
• Contribute to applied research and technical guidance on emerging issues in water quality, stormwater management, and watershed management.
• Drive personal, company, and rental vehicles to client or company project or office sites, and other business locations, as needed.

Education and Licensure

• Bachelor's degree in environmental or civil engineering or a similar field. (required)
• Advanced degree in environmental or civil engineering, with emphasis in water resources or a closely related discipline. (preferred)
• Engineering Intern (EI) or Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification. (preferred)
• Ability to obtain P.E. (Professional Engineer) registration in Oregon, if applicable, within three years of employment. (preferred)

Skills, Experience and Qualifications

• At least 2 years of related experience in environmental engineering, civil engineering, water resources, stormwater compliance, environmental monitoring, or a related field; internship, co-op, academic project, or field experience will be considered' or equivalent combination of education and experience. (preferred)
• Exceptional interpersonal communication, organizational, technical writing, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills. (required)
• Interest in surface water and stormwater modeling, BMP implementation, industrial stormwater compliance, and environmental regulatory support.
• Familiarity with stormwater sampling, field inspections, site mapping, drainage systems, stormwater conveyance, and pollutant source identification. (preferred)
• Familiarity with stormwater management concepts, hydrology, hydraulics, grading, erosion and sediment control, stormwater treatment systems, and Low Impact Development (LID) strategies. (preferred)
• Experience or coursework applying technical software and analytical tools to support stormwater, water resources, and environmental design projects. (preferred)
• Technical experience with surface water, stormwater, hydrologic, hydraulic, and/or hydrodynamic modeling software, such as EPA-SWMM, WWHM, InfoWorks ICM, HSPF, LSPC, HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, CE-QUAL-W2, and/or EFDC. (preferred)
• Technical experience with spatial analysis and design software, such as ArcGIS, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or Google Earth Engine. (preferred)
• Experience with programming, data analytics, and/or information management tools, such as Python, R, SQL, Microsoft Excel, data visualization tools, or statistical software. (preferred)
• Strong attention to detail and ability to organize analytical data, laboratory reports, field forms, chain-of-custody documentation, monitoring results, and regulatory submittals. (required)
• Ability to work in a fast-paced consulting environment by managing multiple assignments, meeting deadlines, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and supporting internal and external clients. (required)
• Willingness to perform regular field work, including stormwater sampling during qualifying storm events, facility inspections, and occasional overnight travel. (required)
• Health & Safety training, medical monitoring, and client-driven drug and background testing may be required.
• Valid U.S. driver's license and a satisfactory driving record for business travel. (required)

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