Water Resources Modeler

At HDR, our employee‑owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves:
What is our impact on the world?

We believe water is more than a resource; it is a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you will help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience.

HDR is looking for a Water Resources Modeler to join our Water Resources team in Sacramento, CA. Candidates should have experience in reservoir system operations, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and analysis, watershed hydrology, and climate‑change analysis. Our clients include local, state, and federal agencies.

• Act as a key member of project delivery teams.
• Mentor junior staff.
• Manage small‑to‑medium‑sized projects.
• Interact effectively with clients and peers.
• Perform strong writing and maintain quality control/assurance processes.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, Hydrology, Civil Engineering, Water Resources, or a closely related field.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with technical evaluations and conceptual modeling.
• Basic working skills with GIS, Microsoft Excel, and Word.
• Experience with total station (GPS and associated software).
• Strong technical writing skills.
• Self‑motivated and able to work independently and within a project team to completion of tasks.
• Field work in remote areas may be required.
• Commitment to being an active participant in our employee‑owned culture.

• Minimum 5 years of experience.
• Graduate degree.
• Experience with water infrastructure planning studies, extreme hydrology, and/or consequence analysis.
• Experience with water supply operations modeling such as Cal Sim and Cal Lite.
• Experience with climate‑change analytical tools and datasets.
• Experience with reservoir and system modeling.
• Experience with risk‑based planning and risk‑informed decision making.
• Familiarity with integration of resiliency into the planning process.

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other’s life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust, and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected, and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day. Our eight Employee Network Groups—Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, and Young Professionals—help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short‑ and long‑term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position is $76,203–$103,098 per year, depending on skills, experience, education, and location.

Location:

Sacramento, California, United States.