Hydrologist

Overview

Lynker is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Senior Operational Hydrologist to serve asthe Research-to-Operations (R2O) Lead, embedded within the NOAA National Weather Service(NWS) Northwest River Forecast Center (RFC) in Portland, OR.

This is a high-impact role supporting Lynker’s partnership with the Center for Western Weatherand Water Extremes (CW3E), the NOAA Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations inHydrology (CIROH), the Office of Water Prediction, and NWS RFCs. As the senior technicalauthority on site, you will spearhead the experimental implementation of Forecast-InformedReservoir Operations (FIRO), transforming mature research into operational protocols. You willact as a primary architect for bridging the gap between scientific innovation and real-time floodforecasting, while also mentoring junior staff and influencing future R&D directions through theOperations-to-Research (O2R) feedback loop.

Support & Collaboration:

While this role is embedded at the NWS, you will be backed by a robustsupport network. You will have direct access to the technical resources and subject matterexperts at Lynker. This ensures you have the institutional backing, data access, andcollaborative power needed to succeed in this high-visibility R2O initiative.

Responsibilities

Duties of the Hydrologist selected will include the following:

Strategic Leadership & R2O Implementation

• Spearhead R2O Initiatives: Lead the design, testing, and operational deployment ofadvanced hydrologic models and forecasting techniques (specifically FIRO) within theRFC environment.
• Strategic Liaison: Serve as the authoritative liaison between CIROH researchers, Lynkermanagement, and Northwest RFC leadership; successfully negotiate and align researchcapabilities with operational constraints.
• Model Architecture & Integration: Oversee the technical integration of new modelingsystems into the NWS Community Hydrologic Prediction System (CHPS), ensuringrobustness and reliability for critical public safety forecasts.
• Advanced Analysis: Direct high-level data analysis and visualization efforts to validatemodel performance, ensemble forecast generation, and reservoir inflow predictions.

Mentorship & Technical Oversight

• Technical Mentorship: Act as a subject matter expert and mentor to junior hydrologistsand forecasting staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning and technicalexcellence.
• Workflow Optimization: Evaluate existing operational workflows and authorrecommendations for modernization that enhance efficiency and forecast accuracy.
• Publishing & Thought Leadership: Lead the preparation of high-impact annual scientificreports and peer-reviewed journal articles; represent the project as a keynote or primarypresenter at national scientific conferences.

Qualifications

The Hydrologist selected should have the following:

• Education & Experience:
  • A Ph.D. in Hydrology, Civil Engineering, Atmospheric Science, or a relateddiscipline, and 3+ years of experience; OR
  • A Master’s Degree in a related discipline with at least 7+ years of specializedprofessional experience in operational hydrology or hydrologic modeling.
• Operational Systems Expertise: Deep technical proficiency with operational forecastingsystems and hydrologic modeling suites (e.g., SAC-SMA, HEFS, physically-basedmodels).
• Advanced Technical Skills: Expert-level capability in programming (Python, R) and datamanagement for large-scale hydrologic datasets.
• Leadership capability: Proven track record of leading complex technical projects,managing stakeholder relationships, and driving consensus across multi-agency teams.

The Ideal Hydrologist selected will have the following:

• Subject Matter Expertise: Recognized authority in Forecast-Informed ReservoirOperations (FIRO) or similar adaptive management strategies.
• Ensemble Forecasting: Extensive experience with hydrologic ensemble forecast services(HEFS), probabilistic verification, and risk-based decision support tools.
• Software Engineering: Familiarity with modern software development practices (versioncontrol, containerization) to streamline model deployment.
• Mentoring Experience: Demonstrated success in supervising or mentoring junior scientists, with specific       examples of guiding professional development.

Candidate Consideration: Research suggests that candidates from underrepresentedbackgrounds may self-select out of applying if they do not meet 100% of the listedrequirements. At Lynker, we value the unique perspectives and specialized expertise you bring.If you meet the core education and experience requirements but are unsure about every item onthe Preferred's list, we strongly encourage you to apply. We are interested in your potential tolead and innovate.

About Lynker

Lynker is a growing, employee owned, small business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.

We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities – creatively and effectively.

Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following:

• Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
• Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
• Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners!
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life and accident insurance
• Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
• Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
• Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
• Employee Referral Program
• Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
• Personalized career growth plans for every employee

Lynker is an E-Verify employer.

Lynker is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local laws.