Senior Field Hydrologist

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee‑owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the southeastern United States.

ESA is seeking a highly motivated Senior Field Hydrologist to join our team of hydrologists, geomorphologists, ecologists, and engineers in the Northern California region. We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic team member with 10+ years of work experience, a passion for ecosystem restoration, working outdoors, and the desire to learn and grow. This is an exempt, full‑time, salary role with flexible hybrid expectations.

Qualified candidates must be able and willing to work hybrid from one of our Northern CA ESA office locations as needed. Preference given to candidates within a commutable distance to our following ESA Office locations:
Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, or Petaluma. This role will involve some travel for site visits, projects, and in‑person team collaboration as needed.

Work samples may be requested as a step in the interview process.

• You must have proficient working knowledge in MATLAB or Python; candidates with experience in R will also be considered.
• You must have prior professional working experience with topo‑bathymetric surveys (Hypack) OR continuous monitoring networks.
• You must have experience with ArcGIS.
• You must have experience with QA/QC of scientific datasets.
• You enjoy working outdoors, and you have 10+ years of professional work experience in scientific data collection and quality control (possibly including topographic and/or bathymetric surveying, UAV, sidescan sonar, ADCP, stream gauging, sediment studies, water quality monitoring and sampling, or other related skills), including project management experience.
• The ideal candidate has extensive professional experience with continuous hydrodynamic and water quality data collection and telemetered data delivery systems.
• You hold a Bachelor's and/or Master's degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, Land Surveying, Water Quality, or a related field.
• You are an effective team member with excellent oral and written communication skills who can work independently and collaboratively in a multi‑disciplinary environment.
• You can communicate technical information clearly and concisely to individuals and groups.
• You are comfortable working in and around water, and you have experience working with tools and on boats.
• Preference given to qualified candidates with any of the following skillsets:
  Certified/Trained Boat Operator, Sidescan Sonar skills, FAA Certified Drone Pilot with LiDAR, Estuarine Water Quality Analysis, Certified Hydrographer or Professional land surveyor.
• You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 50 pounds. You are confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, work in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in vegetated environments, agricultural fields, arid lands, and along stream banks.
  
  You may be exposed to inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. Some early morning, late night and/or weekend work, as well as long hours may be required.

• You will plan, schedule and execute field data collection, quality control, and analysis in support of ecosystem restoration, flood management, fish passage and other water resources and environmental engineering projects.
• You will plan for and execute the deployment and maintenance of instrumentation, topographic and bathymetric surveys, geomorphic, discharge, sediment transport, and wave studies, and construction and post‑construction monitoring activities.
• You will apply Python, Matlab, ArcGIS, AutoCAD, HYPACK, Aquarius, and other tools to process data, develop basemaps, evaluate discharge, tide, and water quality conditions, monitor channel and vegetation development,…