Research Environmental Scientist - Hydrometeorology

Why RTI

RTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.

About the Hiring Group

Are you passionate about water resources and environmental science? RTI’s Water, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Solutions (WARES) Group is seeking a motivated Research Environmental Scientist to join our hydromet and flood risk team. We develop innovative tools and analytical methods that support hydropower owners, dam safety programs, and the broader water resources community.

Our team is recognized for expertise in precipitation frequency analysis and probable flood hazard assessments (PFHA). As a nonprofit research institute, RTI also supports internal R&D to drive innovation and create real-world impact.

As part of the team, you will contribute to a broad range of meteorological frequency analyses and extreme storm analyses. Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience or exposure in several of the areas listed below (not all are required).

Why Join Us?

• Work on impactful domestic and international water resources projects.
• Apply state-of-the-art computational tools to complex water management challenges.
• Help advance modeling technologies and analytical methods.
• Collaborate with leading experts in a supportive, multidisciplinary environment.
• This position can be either based in RTI’s U.S. office in Research Triangle Park, NC, or it can be fully remote. Teleworking is permitted within the United States only.

What You’ll Do

You will support project teams requiring meteorological expertise to support hydrologic hazards, flood forecasting, and other analyses. You will work daily using scripts, tools, and techniques to efficiently prepare and analyze meteorological data including addressing climate change impacts using GCM data. You will also support project management and grow project portfolios.

Essential Duties:

• Collaborate with the Hydromet team to implement and enhance RTI’s hydrometeorological analysis tools.
• Perform data processing, quality control, and automation using scripts and tools.
• Collect, process, quality control, and statistically analyze large datasets of meteorological information.
• Develop code to improve existing hydrometeorological analysis tools and link to other existing hydrologic modeling or forecasting tools.
• Contribute to precipitation frequency and probable maximum precipitation analyses in support of dam safety projects.
• Lead small projects or task orders of moderate complexity.
• Contribute to proposal development.
• Share work internally and externally through presentations and conference papers.
• Make informed decisions based on data, best practices, and team input.
• Support business development by identifying opportunities to expand or enhance existing projects and developing research ideas or white papers.

What You’ll Need Minimum

Education & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree [DM1]and 8 years of relevant experience, master’s degree and 6 years of relevant experience, or a PhD and 1 year of relevant experience, or an equivalent…