Environmental Scientist II

HydroGeoLogic; Pleasanton (CA); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

HydroGeoLogic, Inc. in Pleasanton, CA, is seeking an Environmental Scientist II to support restoration projects for federal clients (USEPA, USACE, USAF, NASA) across the U.S. and territories.

The role involves field sampling of water, soil, sediment, and preparing technical documents. You will work from the Pleasanton office when not in the field, travel up to 50% mainly in the Western US, and collaborate with teams to deliver investigations, data analysis, and reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Geology, Environmental Science, or related field.
• 2+ years of environmental industry experience.
• Experience with environmental investigations and sampling methods.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring field operations are conducted safely per plans.
• Participating in field teams for sampling across media.
• Overseeing field subcontractors and equipment operations.
• Contributing to work plans and technical deliverables.
• Assisting with data analysis and interpretation.
• Assisting with proposals, cost estimates, and procurement.
• Potentially supporting remedial system operations and maintenance.
• Leading field teams and ensuring data collection is thorough.
• Using approved digital/AI tools to support documentation and communications.

Skills

Field experience

Technical writing

Team collaboration

MS Office

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Geology / Environmental Science

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

Sampling techniques

Job description

Job Title: Environmental Scientist II

Location: Pleasanton, CA

Description/Job Summary

POSITION DESCRIPTION

HGL is currently seeking an Environmental Scientist II to support environmental restoration projects for federal government clients including USEPA, USACE, USAF, NASA, and various agencies across the United States and territories. Projects commonly involve investigation and remediation of sites with groundwater or soil impacted by emerging contaminants (PFAS), chlorinated solvents, and petroleum compounds as well as abandoned mine lands.

The Environmental Scientist II will work out of our Pleasanton, CA office, unless on field assignments. This role requires travel of up to 50%, primarily within the Western US, but may include occasional travel across the US.

Responsibilities/Duties

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Ensuring field operations are conducted in a safe manner in accordance with project specific Site Safety and Health Plans / Health and Safety Plans.
• Participating in field teams for collection of water, soil, soil vapor, surface water and sediment samples utilizing various sampling techniques.
• Performing / conducting field subcontractor oversight inclusive of drilling, monitoring well construction, waste transportation and disposal, and heavy equipment operation.
• Contributing to the preparation of work plans and project deliverables (e.g., UFP-QAPPs, RI Reports, SSHP/HASPs, power point presentations, and technical memoranda).
• Assisting with data entry, analysis, and interpretation of environmental data using statistical and visualization tools.
• Assisting with proposals, cost estimates, and subcontractor procurement.
• Potentially assisting with remedial system operations and maintenance services.
• Managing / Leading field teams collecting general field data and completing environmental sampling.
• Utilize approved digital and AI-assisted tools, where appropriate, to support technical documentation, data analysis, project communications, and workflow efficiency.

Minimum Requirements

WHAT YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL

• 2+ years of directly related experience in the environmental industry.
• Strong technical writing and documentation experience with prior experience contributing to the preparation of technical reports, memoranda, and work plans.
• Previous experience with environmental investigations including various groundwater, soil, and surface water/sediment methodologies.
• Experience with monitoring well drilling, logging, installation and sampling; developing boring logs and review/interpretation of geological boring logs.
• Ability to work within a team environment with corporate, project, and technical management staff.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills (both written and oral) including the ability to comfortably engage with varying levels of leadership, subcontractors, internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficient in MS Word, MS Excel, and other MS Office applications.
• Bachelor’s degree in Geology, Environmental Science, Hydrogeology, Geophysics, Geological/Geotechnical Engineering or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and adopt new technologies and digital tools to improve project delivery and operational efficiency.

Desired Qualifications

WHAT YOU NEED TO STAND OUT – Preferred, not required

• Master’s degree in Geology, Hydrogeology, Environmental Science, Geophysics, Geological/geotechnical Engineering or a related field.
• HAZWOPER 40-hour training.
• Experience as a Task Manager or Field Team Leader for environmental investigations.
• Knowledge and experience of CERCLA, DoD, DOE, EPA, and/or RCRA projects.
• PFAS sampling or remediation experience.
• Experience using generative AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, or similar) to improve technical writing, data analysis, research, visualization, or project delivery efficiency.

Physical & Environmental Requirements

PHYSICAL & COGNITIVE REQUIRMENTS

• Ability to lift/move/relocate items up to 50 lbs.
• Prolonged sitting up to 70% of the time.
• Prolonged standing up to 70% of the time.
• Walking over uneven or mountainous terrain.
• Viewing computer screen for extended periods.
• Ability to interpret and analyze visual data (maps, graphs, warning indicators, etc.).
• Driving a company or personal vehicle.
• Complex problem solving and decision making.
• Reading and interpreting technical documents or regulations.
• Communicating effectively with clients, team members, and stakeholders.
• Managing competing deadlines and shifting priorities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions (heat, cold, rain, snow, etc.).
• Must be able to travel up to 50% of the year.
• May work in environments with loud noises, dust, or hazardous materials.
• Must wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Office work environment.
• Potential for longer days up to 12 hours in duration.

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.

Details

Work Schedule HGL office work is dictated by a 5-day work week; however, fieldwork schedules will deviate based on job requirements and may require longer hours and weekends.

Office Type: In-office when not in the field or traveling

Travel: 50%

FLSA Classification: Exempt

A favorable pre-hire drug test and physical are required.

All positions are subject to a pre-hire education and driving record verification.

MORE ABOUT HGL AND THE OPPORTUNITY

At HGL, we share a drive and vision to restore natural resources and provide ongoing stewardship of our environment to benefit present and future generations. We believe that we can make a difference in improving the world we live in through collaboration, teamwork, and a positive work environment. This unites and empowers us to strive for excellence in all our endeavors.

HGL - WHO WE ARE

The exceptional quality of our people is key to our strength. We value our employees as individuals and as important members of our team. We offer a work environment that is flexible, inclusive, and dedicated to creating a sustainable future. By cultivating a culture of innovation, we’re able to adapt and augment our services to solve complex environmental and natural resources challenges.

Projects at HGL primarily span the United States and its territories, tackling problems associated with emerging contaminants (like PFAS), radiological contamination, and military munitions, along with chemical contamination in groundwater, surface water, sediments, and soil.

With over 550 employees, HGL is large enough to execute high-profile projects, but small enough to develop personal working environments with our talented team members. By joining HGL, you will be working toward restoring the environment and protecting our future.

HGL - WE INVEST IN YOU

It’s not just a job, it’s your career. HGL provides career growth opportunities via mentoring, training, education, and support for your certifications and licenses. Achieve your career goals and help HGL achieve its mission of restoring the environment to beneficial use for our clients and communities.

HydroGeoLogic, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation), age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, medical condition, military/veteran status, unemployment status, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, California, or local law, including California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Some positions may require U.S. citizenship. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment, and we provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Applicants who wish to request a reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process should contact Human Resources directly at 703-478-5186. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need.

EEO notices: US Equal Opportunity Employment Poster, US Equal Opportunity Supplemental Poster, Know Your Rights, and Pay Transparency Notice.

A full list of benefits is available at www.hgl.com/careers/.

The annual salary for this position ranges from $73,512 - $106,593. This position's final salary can be impacted by various factors including, but not limited to, contractual requirements, geographic location, job-related education, training, experience, and skills. If your desired salary falls outside of this range, we hope you'll still apply as there may be other positions that better align.

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