Senior Hydrology & Hydraulic Modeling Lead

RIZZO INTERNATIONAL; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Health insurance

Professional development opportunities

Relocation assistance

Job summary

RIZZO INTERNATIONAL in Pittsburgh is seeking a Senior Hydrology & Hydraulic Modeling Lead to provide technical leadership in water-related infrastructure projects. The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of experience in dam engineering, hydropower, and complex modeling.

This role involves leading hydraulic analyses, supervising modeling efforts, and mentoring junior engineers. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in hydrology and hydraulic modeling.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license or ability to obtain licensure.
• Demonstrated leadership on complex water infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead hydrologic and hydraulic analyses for major infrastructure projects.
• Provide technical supervision and quality control for hydraulic models.
• Mentor and supervise junior and intermediate engineers.

Skills

Leadership

Technical Oversight

Fluid Mechanics

Surface Water Hydrology

Hydraulic Structures Design

Statistics

Flood Frequency Analysis

Education

B.S. in Civil, Hydraulic, or Water Resources Engineering

M.S. or Ph.D. preferred

Tools

HEC-RAS

HEC-HMS

FLOW-3D

OpenFOAM

GIS

CADD software

Job description

Position Description

RIZZO International, Inc. is seeking a highly experienced Senior Hydrology & Hydraulic Modeling Lead to provide technical leadership and oversight in integrated hydrology, hydraulics, and advanced numerical modeling for complex water-related infrastructure projects. This role is ideal for a seasoned professional with extensive experience in dam engineering, hydropower development, nuclear cooling water systems, tailings dams, flood control infrastructure, and large-scale drainage systems. The selected candidate will serve as a technical authority responsible for high-level modeling strategy, design oversight, regulatory support, and mentorship of junior engineers across domestic and international projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead hydrologic and hydraulic analyses for dams, hydropower facilities, nuclear power plants, tailings dams, levees, flood control systems, and major drainage infrastructure
• Provide technical supervision and quality control for 1D/2D hydraulic and hydrologic models
• Perform and oversee:
• Flood frequency and PMP/PMF studies
• Water availability and water balance analyses
• Dam break and inundation mapping studies
• Embankment erosion and sediment transport modeling
• Scour analyses and river morphodynamic assessments
• Cooling water intake/discharge hydraulic and thermal studies
• Develop, review, and validate advanced numerical models using:
• HEC-RAS (1D/2D)
• HEC-HMS
• FLOW-3D
• OpenFOAM
• RiverFlow2D
• FLO-2D
• ANSYS
• Support reservoir operations modeling and climate change impact assessments
• Provide input on project planning, budgets, scheduling, and modeling strategies
• Prepare technical scopes of work, proposals, reports, and client presentations
• Attend and lead domestic and international client and regulatory meetings
• Mentor and supervise junior and intermediate engineers
• Support interdisciplinary coordination across geotechnical, structural, and environmental teams

Experience Requirements

• B.S. in Civil, Hydraulic, or Water Resources Engineering (M.S. or Ph.D. preferred)
• 15+ years of progressive experience in hydrology and hydraulic modeling
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license or ability to obtain licensure
• Demonstrated leadership and technical oversight on complex water infrastructure projects
• Extensive numerical modeling experience in surface water hydrology and hydraulics
• Strong foundation in:
• Fluid mechanics
• Surface water hydrology
• Hydraulic structures design
• Statistics and flood frequency analysis
• Sediment transport and river hydraulics
• Experience with GIS and CADD software
• International project experience preferred
• Coastal modeling experience considered an asset

Preferred Experience

• Hydropower development and rehabilitation
• Dam safety reviews and regulatory support
• Nuclear power plant cooling water systems
• Tailings dam hydrology and dam breach assessments
• Climate resilience and extreme event modeling
• Design-build infrastructure delivery

Compensation and Benefits

• Job Type: Full-time
• Pay: $120,000 - $150,000 per year (commensurate with experience)
• 401(k)
• Accident/Wellness insurance
• Dental insurance
• Dependent care spending account
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Company-paid life, AD&D, and short/long term disability
• Paid time off (vacation, paid sick leave, holidays)
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee referral program
• Relocation assistance (as applicable)
• Vision insurance
• Optional work from home Fridays
• Twelve (12) annual work from home days

Background

RIZZO International, Inc. is a woman-owned, highly focused consulting firm specializing in all aspects of civil engineering, earth sciences, and field/testing services for dams, nuclear power plants, and other power-related markets. Our firm has worked around the world on unique, challenging, and technically demanding projects. We take pride in our commitment to providing personal and professional services in a responsive, high quality manner, and continually strive to exceed our clients’ expectations by providing innovative and economically smart solutions. To learn more about our global experience visit us at www.rizzointl.com.

EOE M/F/Disability/Veteran

EEOC Disclaimer: RIZZO International, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer in that our policy, in accordance with Federal and State laws, prohibits employment discrimination solely on the basis of a person’s race, color, creed, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, or disability except where a reasonable, bona fide occupational qualification exists.