Position Description: RIZZO International, Inc. is seeking a highly experienced Senior Hydrology & Hydraulic Modeling Lead to provide technical leadership and oversight in integrated hydrology, hydraulics, and advanced numerical modeling for complex water-related infrastructure projects.
This role is ideal for a seasoned professional with extensive experience in dam engineering, hydropower development, nuclear cooling water systems, tailings dams, flood control infrastructure, and large-scale drainage systems. The selected candidate will serve as a technical authority responsible for high-level modeling strategy, design oversight, regulatory support, and mentorship of junior engineers across domestic and international projects.
Skills & Requirements
Responsibilities:- Lead hydrologic and hydraulic analyses for dams, hydropower facilities, nuclear power plants, tailings dams, levees, flood control systems, and major drainage infrastructure
- Provide technical supervision and quality control for 1D/2D hydraulic and hydrologic models
- Perform and oversee:
- Flood frequency and PMP/PMF studies
- Water availability and water balance analyses
- Dam break and inundation mapping studies
- Embankment erosion and sediment transport modeling
- Scour analyses and river morphodynamic assessments
- Cooling water intake/discharge hydraulic and thermal studies
- Develop, review, and validate advanced numerical models using:
- HEC-RAS (1D/2D)
- HEC-HMS
- FLOW-3D
- OpenFOAM
- RiverFlow2D
- FLO-2D
- ANSYS
- Support reservoir operations modeling and climate change impact assessments
- Provide input on project planning, budgets, scheduling, and modeling strategies
- Prepare technical scopes of work, proposals, reports, and client presentations
- Attend and lead domestic and international client and regulatory meetings
- Mentor and supervise junior and intermediate engineers
- Support interdisciplinary coordination across geotechnical, structural, and environmental teams
Experience Requirements:- B.S. in Civil, Hydraulic, or Water Resources Engineering (M.S. or Ph.D. preferred)
- 15+ years of progressive experience in hydrology and hydraulic modeling
- Professional Engineer (P.E.) license or ability to obtain licensure
- Demonstrated leadership and technical oversight on complex water infrastructure projects
- Extensive numerical modeling experience in surface water hydrology and hydraulics
- Strong foundation in:
- Fluid mechanics
- Surface water hydrology
- Hydraulic structures design
- Statistics and flood frequency analysis
- Sediment transport and river hydraulics
- Experience with GIS and CADD software
- International project experience preferred
- Coastal modeling experience considered an asset
Preferred Experience:- Hydropower development and rehabilitation
- Dam safety reviews and regulatory support
- Nuclear power plant cooling water systems
- Tailings dam hydrology and dam breach assessments
- Climate resilience and extreme event modeling
- Design-build infrastructure delivery
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $120,000 - $150,000 per year (commensurate with experience)
Competitive Compensation Package:- 401(k)
- Accident/Wellness insurance
- Dental insurance
- Dependent care spending account
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Company-paid life, AD&D, and short/long term disability
- Paid time off (vacation, paid sick leave, holidays)
- Professional development opportunities
- Employee referral program
- Relocation assistance (as applicable)
- Vision insurance
- Optional work from home Fridays
- Twelve (12) annual work from home days
BACKGROUND 
