Hydrologist

Lynker; Leesburg (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive healthcare at no cost

401(k) retirement plan with company matching

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Tuition assistance

Annual Employee Recognition Awards

Job summary

Lynker is looking for a highly experienced Hydrologist to serve as Lead, spearheading the design and implementation of advanced hydrologic models. This role involves collaboration with experts, technical oversight, and mentoring junior staff, all vital in fulfilling our government contracts.

The ideal candidate will possess deep technical expertise in operational forecasting systems, coupled with strong leadership qualities. Located on the East Coast, this job also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including 401(k), health care, and a dedication to professional development.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in operational hydrology or hydrologic modeling.
• Experience with hydrologic ensemble forecasting services.
• Demonstrated success in supervising or mentoring junior scientists.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, testing, and operational deployment of advanced hydrologic models.
• Act as a liaison between researchers, Lynker management, and client leadership.
• Direct high-level data analysis and visualization efforts.

Skills

Operational forecasting systems expertise

Advanced programming skills (Python, R)

Leadership capability

Education

Ph.D. in Hydrology, Civil Engineering, Atmospheric Science, or related discipline

Master’s Degree with 7+ years of experience

Job description

Lynker is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Hydrologist to serve as Lead, supporting Lynker government contracts and our 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.

Support & Collaboration

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, ensuring 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.

Duties

Strategic Leadership & Implementation

• Spearhead Initiatives – Lead the design, testing, and operational deployment of advanced hydrologic models and forecasting techniques.
• Strategic Liaison – Serve as the authoritative liaison between researchers, Lynker management, and client leadership; successfully negotiate and align research capabilities with operational constraints.
• Model Architecture & Integration – Oversee the technical integration of new modeling systems into forecasting systems, ensuring robustness and reliability for critical public safety forecasts.
• Advanced Analysis – Direct high-level data analysis and visualization efforts to validate model performance, ensemble forecast generation, and reservoir inflow predictions.

Mentorship & Technical Oversight

• Technical Mentorship – Act as a subject matter expert and mentor to junior hydrologists and forecasting staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning and technical excellence.
• Workflow Optimization – Evaluate existing operational workflows and author recommendations for modernization that enhance efficiency and forecast accuracy.
• Publishing & Thought Leadership – 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.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience
  • 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.
• Operational Systems Expertise – Deep technical proficiency with operational forecasting systems and hydrologic modeling suites (e.g., SAC‑SMA, HEFS, physically-based models).
• Advanced Technical Skills – Expert-level capability in programming (Python, R) and data management for large-scale hydrologic datasets.
• Leadership capability – Proven track record of leading complex technical projects, managing stakeholder relationships, and driving consensus across multi-agency teams.

Ideal Candidate Enhancements

• Ensemble Forecasting – Extensive experience with hydrologic ensemble forecast services (HEFS), probabilistic verification, and risk-based decision support tools.
• Software Engineering – Familiarity with modern software development practices (version control, containerization) to streamline model deployment.
• Mentoring Experience – Demonstrated success in supervising or mentoring junior scientists, with specific examples of guiding professional development.

About Lynker

Lynker is a growing, employee‑owned business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results‑driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement. We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers’ scientific and technical priorities – creatively and effectively.

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)
• 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

Equal Opportunity & E-Verify

Lynker is an E-Verify employer. Lynker is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local laws.