Water Resources Engineer or Hydrologist

AWRA Colorado; Lakewood (CO); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

ELEMENT Water Consulting is seeking a Water Resources Engineer or Hydrologist with 2–5 years of experience to join our collaborative, mission-driven team in Lakewood, Colorado. This hybrid position primarily supports municipal water providers as they plan for reliable water supplies, navigate Colorado water - rights matters, and advance conservation efforts.

The role offers meaningful technical work, varied project experience, and opportunities to grow alongside project managers and teammates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil, environmental, or water-resources engineering, hydrology, watershed science, or closely related field.
• Two to five years of relevant professional experience; consulting experience beneficial but not required.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills with close attention to detail.
• Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Process, organize, and analyze water-use and water-supply data and related technical information.
• Support analyses for Colorado water-rights matters and municipal water-supply planning.
• Prepare clear engineering reports, technical memoranda, and other deliverables.
• Develop water-rights accounting and dry-up reporting; create maps or visual materials.
• Contribute to conservation projects to help reduce water demand and optimize use.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Technical writing

Verbal communication

Team collaboration

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil, environmental, or water-resources engineering; hydrology; watershed science

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

Microsoft Office

Job description

Make an impact at the intersection of water, science, and sustainability. ELEMENT Water Consulting is seeking a Water Resources Engineer or Hydrologist with 2–5 years of experience to join our collaborative, mission-driven team in Lakewood, Colorado. This hybrid position primarily supports municipal water providers as they plan for reliable water supplies, navigate Colorado water - rights matters, and advance conservation efforts. The role offers meaningful technical work, varied project experience, and opportunities to grow alongside project managers and teammates.

Job Description

You will provide technical services for water-rights and integrated water-resources planning projects. Your work may include analyzing water-use and water-supply data, preparing information in support of or in opposition to water-court cases, preparing information for technical reports, preparing water accounting, and creating maps or other visual materials. This role is well suited to someone who enjoys detailed, behind-the-scenes analysis and writing and has a passion for water management in the west. The anticipated salary range for this position for a full-time employee is $80,000 to $105,000 annually and is dependent on education and experience.

Key Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Project Manager:

• Process, organize, and analyze water-use, water-supply, hydrologic, and related technical data.
• Support analyses for Colorado water-rights matters, including water-court cases and municipal water-supply planning.
• Prepare clear, accurate engineering reports, technical memoranda, and other written deliverables.
• Support compliance with applicable legal and regulatory frameworks, including but not limited to preparing and/or developing water rights accounting and dry-up reporting .
• Create maps and visual representations of water diversion, delivery, and storage systems, service or use areas, land status and related information.
• Apply core engineering and hydrologic principles to modeling, planning, and other project needs.
• Contribute to conservation projects that help municipal providers reduce demand and use water supplies efficiently.
• Collaborate across project teams, communicate proactively, and seek guidance when needed.
• Manage assignments within project schedules and budgets while balancing competing priorities.

ELEMENT is invested in its employees’ career growth through professional development, which includes training, professional credentials, and continued education. ELEMENT encourages its employees to seek out internal and external professional development opportunities that will help them achieve their personal development goals and/or support the Company in its efforts to stay informed on issues relevant to the water community.

In addition, employees will have opportunities to take on increasing levels of responsibility as they demonstrate skills, sound judgment, and readiness for greater project ownershi p.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in civil, environmental, or water-resources engineering; hydrology; watershed science; or a closely related field.
• Two to five years of relevant professional experience; consulting experience is beneficial but not required. Alternatively, one year of experience plus a Master’s degree in one of the fields listed above.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, with close attention to detail.
• Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively.
• Self-motivation and accountability in a hybrid work environment, including the initiative to identify priorities and seek additional assignments when capacity is available.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly spreadsheet and database applications.
• Ability to prepare and edit maps and familiarity of analyses that may be completed using ArcGIS Pro.
• Professionalism and a commitment to accurate, high-quality work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to Colorado water rights, municipal water-supply planning, water conservation, water treatment, or water-system design.
• Experience preparing engineering reports or working with regulatory and legal frameworks.
• Professional registration as an engineer or hydrologist, or the ability and commitment to obtain registration when qualified.
• Ability to adapt core engineering or hydrologic concepts to unfamiliar project contexts.

This is a full-time hybrid position based in the Lakewood, Colorado office, with three days a week in-office. Candidates should be comfortable with sustained computer-based analysis and substantial technical writing, as well as periodic coordination with teammates and clients. At times, employees may be requested to investigate conditions through site visits.For applicants without prior Colorado water rights experience, the work may involve a steep learning curve, but the knowledge and skills gained become increasingly transferable across projects as experience grows. ELEMENT fosters a collaborative team where staff support one another, share knowledge, and continuously develop their expertise. We take pride in delivering high-quality work while maintaining professionalism, technical excellence, and respect for colleagues and clients.