Hydrologist

Lynker Corporation; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive healthcare

PTO policy

Employee-owned company

Job summary

Lynker Corporation seeks a highly experienced Hydrologist to Lead the forecasting program, shaping integration of innovative models into operational flood forecasting while mentoring junior staff and guiding R&D directions. This role anchors technical authority on-site and supports government contracts.

You will oversee strategic model architecture, collaborate with clients, and publish high-impact reports while advancing operational reliability and safety.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Hydrology, Civil Engineering, Atmospheric Science, or related field with 3+ years experience, OR M.S. with 7+ years of specialized professional experience in operational hydrology/hydrologic modeling.
• Operational forecast systems expertise with SAC-SMA, HEFS, or physically-based models.
• Advanced programming in Python or R and data management for large hydrologic datasets.
• Leadership track record of driving complex technical projects and coordinating across multi-agency teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, testing, and deployment of advanced hydrologic models and forecasting techniques.
• Serve as liaison between researchers, Lynker management, and client leadership to align research with operations.
• Oversee integration of new modeling systems into forecasting platforms for robust, reliable public-safety forecasts.
• Direct high-level data analysis and visualization to validate model performance and forecast ensembles.

Skills

Hydrology

Forecasting

Python

R

Data management

Leadership

Cross-agency collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Hydrology/Civil Engineering/Atmospheric Science

M.S. in related field with 7+ yrs experience

Tools

SAC-SMA

HEFS

Containerization (Docker)

Version control

Job description

Overview

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

Responsibilities

Duties of the Hydrologist selected will include the following:

Strategic Leadership & Implementation

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

Mentorship & Technical Oversight

• Technical Mentorship: Act as a subject matter expert and mentor to junior hydrologistsand 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

The Hydrologist selected should have the following:

Education & Experience

• A Ph.D. in Hydrology, Civil Engineering, Atmospheric Science, or a relateddiscipline, and 3+ years of experience; OR
• A Master's Degree in a related discipline with at least 7+ years of specializedprofessional experience in operational hydrology or hydrologic modeling.

• Operational Systems Expertise: Deep technical proficiency with operational forecastingsystems and hydrologic modeling suites (e.g., SAC-SMA, HEFS, physically-basedmodels).
• Advanced Technical Skills: Expert-level capability in programming (Python, R) and datamanagement 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.

The Ideal Hydrologist selected will have the following

• 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 (versioncontrol, 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. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities - creatively and effectively.

Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following:

• Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
• Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus pa