Senior Groundwater Modeler

Water & Environmental Technologies (WET); Butte (MT); Remote; USD 94,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee stock ownership

Performance bonuses

Health insurance

Job summary

Water & Environmental Technologies (WET) is seeking a Senior Groundwater Modeler to support groundwater, mine permitting, hydrogeologic, environmental remediation, and water-resource projects across the Rocky Mountain region and western United States.

The role emphasizes developing conceptual and numerical groundwater models to evaluate groundwater flow, contaminant fate, and potential impacts, with collaboration across geoscience teams.

Qualifications

• BS in geology, hydrogeology, geological engineering, environmental engineering, civil engineering, or related field.
• MS or PhD in hydrogeology, geology, or geological engineering preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of professional groundwater modeling experience.

Responsibilities

• Expand groundwater modeling capabilities with the team and improve model construction/calibration processes.
• Construct, calibrate, and run 3D groundwater flow and transport models.
• Synthesize geologic, hydrologic, pumping and water-quality data for robust CSIs and boundary conditions.

Skills

Groundwater modeling

MODFLOW 6

FloPy

GIS

Python/MATLAB/R

Education

BS in geology/hydrogeology/environmental engineering

MS/PhD preferred

Tools

MODFLOW 6 packages (SFR6, MAW, UZF6, MVR6)

GMS/Groundwater Vistas

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Senior Groundwater Modeler

Butte Environmental/Geo Full Time ANACONDA, Anaconda, MT, US

Salary Range: $94,000.00 To $150,000.00 Annually

Senior Groundwater Modeler

Location: Montana or Remote
Job Type: Full-Time
Department:Environmental/Geoscience Services
Reports To: Geoscience Business Group Leader

About Water & Environmental Technologies (WET)

Water & Environmental Technologies (WET) is a 100% employee-owned environmental and civil engineering consulting firm headquartered in Butte, Montana, with offices throughout Montana and Wyoming. Since 2000, WET has grown from a small group of groundwater specialists into a multidisciplinary team of engineers, geologists, scientists, and planners working on water resources, public infrastructure, environmental remediation, and community development projects across the Rocky Mountain region.

Our mission and culture are grounded in delivering high-quality, practical solutions for our clients while supporting our employees and the communities we serve. WET’s vision emphasizes long-term growth for our company, coworkers, clients, and communities through strong company culture, community involvement, and a commitment to quality work. Our core purpose is simple: collaborate with people and solve problems that positively impact the communities we serve.

As an employee-owned company, WET values teamwork, innovation, ethical practice, professional growth, and community engagement—principles that guide how we approach projects and how we support each other as colleagues.

Position Overview

WET is seeking a motivated and technically skilled Senior Groundwater Modeler to support groundwater, mine permitting, hydrogeologic, environmental remediation, and water-resource projects throughout the Rocky Mountain region and western United States.

The Senior Groundwater Modeler will develop and apply conceptual and numerical groundwater models to evaluate groundwater flow, water availability, contaminant fate and transport, and potential impacts associated with mining, groundwater development, and environmental projects. The position will involve integrating field data, hydrogeologic information, geologic interpretation, GIS data, and numerical modeling to develop technically sound solutions for clients.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with the existing groundwater modeling team, hydrogeologists, engineers, geologists, project managers, and other technical staff and will have opportunities to participate in projects from initial investigation and data collection through modeling, interpretation, reporting, and client delivery.

Qualifications

Required Education

• Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in geology, hydrogeology, geological engineering, environmental engineering, civil engineering, or related field.

Preferred Education

• Master of Science (MS) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in hydrogeology, geology, or geological engineering.

Required Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of professional groundwater modeling experience, including collaboration with in-house professionals, contractors, third-party consultants, and field personnel.

Preferred Certifications & Licenses

• Certified Hydrogeologist (CHG), Professional Geologist (PG), or Professional Engineer (PE) registered in the applicable state they may be working in

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Communication and Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team. Possesses the strong technical communication skills required to translate complex numerical modeling concepts, calibration results, and model limitations to fellow modelers, field hydrogeologists, and project managers, ensuring seamless integration across all phases of the project
• Advanced Groundwater Modeling: Experience with MODFLOW 6 model development and automation using FloPy and advanced MODFLOW 6 packages, including Streamflow Routing (SFR6), Multi-Aquifer Wells (MAW), Unsaturated Zone Flow (UZF6), and Water Mover (MVR6). Experience with advanced calibration and uncertainty analysis tools, including PESTPP-IES, highly parameterized calibration approaches, pilot-point parameterization, and predictive uncertainty evaluation is highly desirable. Proven ability to develop and apply numerical groundwater flow and transport models using the MODFLOW suite (MODFLOW 6, NWT, USG, MODPATH, MT3D/MT3DMS, BCT) and optimization tools like PEST within interface platforms such as GMS or Groundwater Vistas.
• Applied Hydrogeology & Conceptualization: Deep understanding of groundwater flow mechanisms, aquifer systems, and quantitative hydrogeologic analysis, including practical field experience with aquifer testing.
• Project-Specific Applications: Demonstrated experience executing modeling scopes for complex scenarios, including contaminant fate and transport, groundwater-surface water interactions, mine dewatering, environmental remediation, and water resource development.
• Data Analysis & GIS: Proficiency in spatial analysis using ArcGIS, coupled with programming capabilities in Python, R, or MATLAB to process, automate, and interpret large-scale technical datasets.
• Professional Communication & Execution: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a track record of authoring rigorous technical reports and translating complex findings for clients and regulatory agencies. Capable of executing independently while integrating seamlessly into a multidisciplinary technical team.

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Groundwater Modeler is responsible for supporting and managing groundwater modeling projects while ensuring exceptional client service and adherence to company quality standards.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Expanding Groundwater Modeling Team Capabilities:Collaborate with our existing groundwater modeling team providing technical insight and assistance to expand and refine our current modeling capabilities. Work with team members toward improving our internal processes of model construction and calibration to increase our output efficiency to clients. Provide internal review for models created by other team members for quality control. Ideally, the candidate will bring experience with MODFLOW 6 model development and automation using FloPy and help expand our team's capabilities in applying advanced MODFLOW 6 packages, including Streamflow Routing (SFR6), Multi-Aquifer Wells (MAW), Unsaturated Zone Flow (UZF6), and Water Mover (MVR6).
• Business Development:Support firm growth by partnering with senior leadership on business development initiatives, including writing technical proposals, participating in client-facing presentations, identifying potential projects, and accurately scoping complex modeling tasks for future groundwater modeling projects.
• Numerical Modeling & Simulation: Construct, calibrate, and execute 3D groundwater flow and contaminant transport models (utilizing the MODFLOW suite, PEST, and interfaces like GMS or Groundwater Vistas) to perform predictive simulations, water-budget calculations, and rigorous sensitivity/uncertainty analyses.
• Conceptual Site Development: Synthesize diverse geologic, hydrologic, pumping, and water-quality data to build robust conceptual site models (CSMs) and establish accurate boundary conditions and model input datasets.
• Data Analysis & Workflow Automation: Interpret complex hydrogeologic field data and leverage GIS, Python, MATLAB, or R to streamline data processing, automate modeling workflows, and generate high-quality cross-sections, maps, and technical visualizations.
• Technical Reporting & Communication: Author comprehensive model documentation, technical memoranda, and reports; present complex quantitative findings clearly to multidisciplinary teams, clients, and regulatory agencies.
• Project Execution & Field Support: Support the design of groundwater investigations and aquifer testing programs; assist leadership in developing work plans, project scopes, cost estimates, and competitive proposals.
• Quality Assurance & Compliance: Maintain meticulously organized project files, calculation logs, and model documentation for QA/QC reviews, while strictly adhering to firm health and safety policies.

The position will primarily involve office-based technical work, including groundwater modeling, data analysis, GIS, report preparation, and project coordination. Periodic field work and travel to project sites may be required to confirm field conditions. The majority of field activities such as aquifer testing, groundwater sampling, monitoring well installation oversight, aquifer testing, water-level measurements, site inspections, and other hydrogeologic investigations will be performed by other WET personnel.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary will be based on the successful candidate’s specific qualifications and experience. WET offers a competitive benefit package that includes health, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition to the benefits package, WET offers performance-based bonuses, an Employee Sponsored 401k, and an employee stock ownership program (ESOP) which provides company ownership to all employees at no cost to the employee.

WET is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal or state laws and statutes.

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