Hydrologist

Maricopa County; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Excellent work-life balance

Low-cost healthcare

Child care benefits

Paid vacation and sick time

Arizona State Retirement System with 1

Parental leave

Wellness program and incentives

Job summary

Maricopa County in Arizona seeks a seasoned Hydrology/Engineering professional to manage a vast network of water‑level gages and compute peak discharges for engineering and planning uses. You will work independently and within a team to ensure data integrity and provide actionable hydrologic insights.

Responsibilities include developing discharge ratings for complex streams, selecting gage locations, and applying survey techniques to collect data for peak flood computations.

Qualifications

• Four years of professional hydrology experience or pre-registration civil engineering experience; or
• Four years of experience leading and performing senior-level technical engineering work; or
• Bachelor's degree in Hydrology, Engineering (Civil, Environmental, etc), Surveying, Geography, Environmental Science, Geology, or related field
• An equivalent combination of post-secondary education and/or job-related experience may substitute for the minimum qualifications on a year-for-year basis

Responsibilities

• Manage a very large network of water-level gages, encompassing many aspects of data collection, presentation, and reporting.
• Develop discharge ratings for complex streams and hydraulics. Possess the ability to develop models for natural streams, engineered channels, hydraulic structures, and basins and dams
• Oversee the choice of proper locations for new water-level gages to meet specific hydrologic and organizational needs, and oversee the installation of all water-level gages to required standards
• Use general survey techniques to collect hydrologic data for computations of peak floods, rating development, and to maintain proper instrumentation data integrity
• Develop post-runoff/flood-event peak discharges; compute and estimate them based on the computation and collection of complex stream and hydraulic data. Compute runoff frequencies/return periods/probabilities for flood events and data records from collected data using USGS and other methods
• QA/QC stream gage data is stored in a database on a periodic basis to ensure the integrity of historic data records. Include this data in technical and archive reports
• Serve as a technical expert regarding the ALERT streamgage system. Provide expert knowledge on public safety to emergency managers and other decision-makers
• Using a number of raw data sources, create usable products for data users using complex mathematical and hydrological computations, interpretations, and professional judgment

Skills

Hydrology experience

Senior-level leadership

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree in Hydrology, Civil/Environmental Engineering or related field

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

ArcGIS Online

MS Office 365

Linux Operating Environment

Excel

Job description

Posting Date

10/22/26

Application Deadline

10/27/26

Pay Range

Anticipated Hiring Range: $70,000 - $90,625 annually
Full Pay Range: $70,000 - $111,250 annually

Job Type

Unclassified

Department

Flood Control District

About the Position

Be part of a team that ensures accurate and critical water flow data is available for first responders, safety agencies, and residents of Maricopa County! In this position, you will work independently and as part of a team managing a very large network of water-level gages in and around Maricopa County. You will also perform computations of peak discharges that will be used as authoritative data for engineering, research, and planning entities.

About Us

Flood Control? In a desert? Absolutely!

Though Maricopa County is in a desert, floods occur during two distinct rainy seasons - the summer monsoon and winter frontal rains. Although the Flood Control District has made significant progress over the years, work remains to be done. Maricopa County continues to be one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, with over 200 people moving here daily!

Want more information on the Flood Control District of Maricopa County? Check out this video!

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose
• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work-life balance
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Child care benefits, including access to the Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring an 11.98% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1
• Want to learn more about the County's Qualifying and Compensation Philosophy? Follow this link to learn more! Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require

• Four years of professional hydrology experience or pre-registration civil engineering experience; or

• Four years of experience leading and performing senior-level technical engineering work; or
• Bachelor's degree in Hydrology, Engineering (Civil, Environmental, etc), Surveying, Geography, Environmental Science, Geology, or a related field
• An equivalent combination of post-secondary education and/or job-related experience may substitute for the minimum qualifications on a year-for-year basis

Other Requirements

Successful candidates must currently possess, or have the ability to obtain, a valid Arizona Driver's license by the time of hire.

We Also Value

• Experience with hydrologic data collection and devices
• Computer experience with Microsoft Office programs, especially Excel
• Working knowledge of hydraulics and hydraulic software such as HEC-RAS, HEC-WRC, HY-8, etc.
• Working knowledge of ArcGIS or ArcPro
• Ability to apply survey knowledge and techniques to surface water data collection
• Familiarity with the geography, hydrology, and meteorology of Maricopa County
• Ability to read and interpret engineering plans and construction drawings

Job Contributions

• Manage a very large network of water-level gages, encompassing many aspects of data collection, presentation, and reporting.
• Develop discharge ratings for complex streams and hydraulics. Possess the ability to develop models for natural streams, engineered channels, hydraulic structures, and basins and dams
• Oversee the choice of proper locations for new water-level gages to meet specific hydrologic and organizational needs, and oversee the installation of all water-level gages to required standards
• Use general survey techniques to collect hydrologic data for computations of peak floods, rating development, and to maintain proper instrumentation data integrity
• Develop post-runoff/flood-event peak discharges; compute and estimate them based on the computation and collection of complex stream and hydraulic data. Compute runoff frequencies/return periods/probabilities for flood events and data records from collected data using USGS and other methods
• QA/QC stream gage data is stored in a database on a periodic basis to ensure the integrity of historic data records. Include this data in technical and archive reports
• Serve as a technical expert regarding the ALERT streamgage system. Provide expert knowledge on public safety to emergency managers and other decision-makers
• Using a number of raw data sources, create usable products for data users using complex mathematical and hydrological computations, interpretations, and professional judgment

Working Conditions

• Exerting up to 20 pounds occasionally, 10 pounds frequently, or negligible amounts constantly, or requires walking or standing to a significant degree
• Position is typically office or administrative work and is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions
• Incumbent may be subjected to extreme temperatures, wetness/humidity, respiratory hazards, and noise and vibration

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software, and Hardware

ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, MS Office 365, Linux Operating Environment.

Protective Equipment Required

PPE as needed when on construction sites or along roadways.

Selection Procedure

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications
• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile
• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact [e-mail] to initiate the interactive process.