Geologist​/Petrophysicist

Description

INTERA is seeking a Geologist / Hydrogeologist / Geophysicist for our Austin office to support groundwater, water supply, environmental, and subsurface characterization projects throughout Texas and the western United States. This is a primarily desktop-based role centered on data interpretation, modeling, analysis, and technical reporting rather than field work. The role suits an early- to mid-career professional with 2-5 years of applied experience in geology, hydrogeology, geophysics, petrophysics, geological or petroleum engineering, environmental consulting, or a related subsurface discipline who wants to broaden their technical expertise alongside experienced practitioners in these fields.

• Interpret borehole geophysical logs (gamma ray, spontaneous potential, resistivity, density, neutron, sonic, acoustic, and caliper) and petrophysical datasets to evaluate lithology, porosity, permeability, fracture occurrence, aquifer and production-zone properties, water-quality indicators, and subsurface heterogeneity.
• Develop and calibrate petrophysical models from borehole geophysical log data for geologic property characterization, groundwater quality estimations, and environmental investigations.
• Interpret geologic, hydrostratigraphic, and structural relationships from borehole logs, geologic maps, and geophysical data; characterize alluvial, sedimentary, carbonate, fractured-rock, and mixed aquifer systems; and identify hydrostratigraphic units, aquifer boundaries, and groundwater-quality trends.
• Develop cross sections, hydrostratigraphic frameworks, fence diagrams, and conceptual site and digital subsurface models, integrating borehole logs, core and laboratory analyses, drilling data, geophysical surveys, and aquifer testing and monitoring results into defensible interpretations and recommendations.
• Support well siting, well design, and aquifer characterization through geologic, geophysical, and petrophysical analysis.

• Support groundwater resource evaluations, water supply development studies, and aquifer characterization projects.
• Compile and interpret groundwater level, pumping, aquifer test, recharge, and water-quality datasets to assess aquifer properties, groundwater availability, well performance, and sustainability.
• Support development of hydrogeologic conceptual models used for water resource planning, groundwater management, and environmental investigations.
• Support the groundwater modeling team with the development, calibration, and interpretation of groundwater flow, contaminant transport, subsidence, and subsurface process models using finite difference, finite element, or related numerical techniques.
• Assist with sensitivity analyses, history matching, uncertainty evaluations, and predictive simulations, and prepare summaries that communicate model assumptions, results, and limitations.

• Manage, analyze, and visualize subsurface and water-quality datasets, applying quantitative, statistical, and machine-learning methods to evaluate trends and support predictive modeling.
• Develop maps, cross sections, dashboards, and figures to communicate project findings, using GIS software for spatial analysis and data management.
• Develop automated, reproducible workflows for interpretation, visualization, and analysis using Python, MATLAB, or similar tools.

• Prepare technical memoranda, reports, figures, and presentations, and clearly communicate findings to project teams, clients, regulators, and stakeholders.
• Support proposals, work plans, cost estimates, and deliverables, and participate in technical reviews and quality assurance/quality control.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Geology, Hydrogeology, Geological Engineering, Geophysics, Environmental Science, or a closely related field.
• 2-5 years of professional or graduate-level experience in hydrogeology, geology, groundwater investigations, geophysical interpretation, environmental consulting, or subsurface characterization.
• Experience evaluating and interpreting complex subsurface and water-quality datasets, including borehole geophysical logs and petrophysical interpretation, to characterize subsurface systems and support technical decision-making.
• Understanding of hydrogeologic principles including groundwater flow, aquifer characterization, recharge, aquifer…