Senior Hydrogeologist, Groundwater Modeler

Jobtailor; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Denver, CO is seeking a senior groundwater modeling specialist to develop, calibrate, apply, and review numerical groundwater flow models for mining, environmental, and water-resource projects.

The role involves collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, mentoring staff, and supporting proposals and software improvements related to groundwater modeling tools and workflows.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in hydrogeology, geochemistry, environmental engineering, or a related field.
• Approximately 10–20 years of relevant professional experience.
• Proven record of technical excellence in groundwater flow modeling.
• Strong experience developing, calibrating, applying, and interpreting numerical groundwater models.
• Experience with conceptual hydrogeologic models, hydrogeologic data interpretation, and model documentation.
• Ability to critically evaluate model assumptions, calibration, uncertainty, sensitivity, and limitations.
• Experience working independently on complex technical assignments.
• Ability to supervise, manage, mentor, and review the work of others.
• Strong technical writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills.
• Professional registration by a recognized organization, or ability to obtain registration where required.

Responsibilities

• Develop, calibrate, apply, and review numerical groundwater flow models for mining, environmental, and water-resource projects.
• Support modeling related to mine dewatering, depressurization, pit and underground inflows, groundwater recovery, contaminant transport, seepage, closure, and water management.
• Develop and interpret conceptual hydrogeologic models using geology, field data, monitoring records, hydraulic testing, groundwater chemistry, and project constraints.
• Evaluate model assumptions, calibration, uncertainty, sensitivity, limitations, and implications for client decisions.
• Prepare technical reports, model documentation, presentations, proposals, scopes of work, budgets, and work plans.
• Mentor junior and intermediate staff in modeling methods, hydrogeologic interpretation, and technical communication.
• Work independently on complex assignments and manage modeling tasks or projects.
• Collaborate with hydrogeologists, geomechanics engineers, engineering geologists, geochemists, data scientists, and software developers.
• Support continued improvement of ITASCA’s modeling skills, workflows, training materials, and technical capabilities.
• As appropriate, work with the MINEDW product manager and in-house software staff to support groundwater model code development, feature improvements, user training materials, and marketing content.

Job description

Responsibilities

• Develop, calibrate, apply, and review numerical groundwater flow models for mining, environmental, and water-resource projects
• Support modeling related to mine dewatering, depressurization, pit and underground working inflows, groundwater recovery, contaminant transport, seepage, closure, and water management
• Develop and interpret conceptual hydrogeologic models using geology, field data, monitoring records, hydraulic testing, groundwater chemistry, and project constraints
• Evaluate model assumptions, calibration, uncertainty, sensitivity, limitations, and implications for client decisions
• Prepare technical reports, model documentation, presentations, proposals, scopes of work, budgets, and work plans
• Serve as a technical reviewer and internal resource for groundwater modeling quality
• Mentor junior and intermediate staff in modeling methods, hydrogeologic interpretation, and technical communication
• Work independently on complex assignments and manage modeling tasks or projects
• Collaborate with hydrogeologists, geomechanics engineers, engineering geologists, geochemists, data scientists, and software developers
• Support continued improvement of ITASCA’s modeling skills, workflows, training materials, and technical capabilities
• As appropriate, work with the MINEDW product manager and in-house software staff to support groundwater model code development, feature improvements, user training materials, and marketing content

Requirements

• Advanced degree in hydrogeology, geochemistry, environmental engineering, or a related field
• Approximately 10–20 years of relevant professional experience
• Proven record of technical excellence in groundwater flow modeling
• Strong experience developing, calibrating, applying, and interpreting numerical groundwater models
• Experience with conceptual hydrogeologic models, hydrogeologic data interpretation, and model documentation
• Ability to critically evaluate model assumptions, calibration, uncertainty, sensitivity, and limitations
• Experience working independently on complex technical assignments
• Ability to supervise, manage, mentor, and review the work of others
• Strong technical writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills
• Ability to support proposals, work programs, and client communication
• Strongly valued: Experience with MINEDW, MODFLOW, FEFLOW, HydroGeoSphere, MIKE SHE, Groundwater Vistas, MT3D/transport modeling tools, PEST, or related modeling platforms
• Mining industry experience, particularly mine dewatering, depressurization, pit inflow, pore-pressure estimation, water balance, closure, groundwater recovery, or operational hydrogeology
• Experience with finite-element and/or finite-difference groundwater modeling approaches
• Experience with contaminant transport modeling, parameter estimation, uncertainty analysis, sensitivity analysis, or stochastic modeling
• Programming or scripting experience using Python, R, VBA, or similar tools
• Experience with GIS, 3-D visualization, large datasets, database tools, or model pre/post-processing workflows
• Experience with field investigation design, aquifer testing, hydraulic testing, groundwater monitoring, or data collection programs
• Experience developing modeling workflows, training materials, software documentation, or user-facing technical materials
• Professional registration by a recognized organization, or ability to obtain registration where required.