Hydrogeologist

The Opportunity

Black & Veatch is seeking a motivated, self-reliant, staff-level Hydrogeologist to join our team. This position will consist of an approximate mix of field and office assignments. This role will support groundwater resources and water-supply projects for municipal and industrial clients. This role combines office-based technical analysis and reporting with hands-on field leadership, drilling oversight, aquifer testing, groundwater quality sampling, and technical mentoring of junior staff.

The Team

Black & Veatch’s Water Supply & Hydrogeology group helps clients achieve their goals for a reliable,  sufficient, and sustainable water supply. We provide source water management, water quality evaluations, well rehabilitation, wellfield optimization, conceptual and numerical groundwater modeling, and hydrogeologic solutions that leverage assets and enhance system operability. Our team also supports clients focused on civil engineering applications, as well as traditional and alternative energy solutions.  

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and execute phased groundwater resource investigations, including desktop studies, drilling programs, aquifer testing, data analysis, and reporting.
• Design, oversee, and interpret aquifer tests (pumping, step-drawdown, slug tests) to estimate transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity, and storativity.
• Analyze aquifer test data using AQTESOLV or similar analytical software.
• Oversee drilling contractors, develop drilling specifications, and log lithology and subsurface materials.
• Design and support construction of high-capacity municipal and industrial wells; contribute to well screen design and performance optimization.
• Develop and implement well rehabilitation plans and evaluate post-rehabilitation performance.
• Program, deploy, and manage pressure transducers and data loggers for groundwater monitoring and aquifer testing.
• Collect groundwater quality samples, coordinate laboratory analysis, and interpret geochemical data for reporting and to assist in the development of the necessary water treatment technologies.
• Support groundwater modeling efforts, with some knowledge of conceptual, analytical, and numerical groundwater flow modeling.
• Prepare technical memoranda, reports, permit applications, and presentations.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and support UIC, ASR, and MAR projects as applicable.
• Mentor junior staff and coordinate subcontractors.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 to 9 years of relevant experience in the field of hydrogeology, geology, geosystems engineering or environmental geology
• Professional Geologist (PG), with an emphasis on hydrogeology, or Professional Engineer (PE) license or path to licensure.
• Experience with high-capacity wells and well screen designs.
• Experience with well rehabilitation programs.
• Familiarity with multiple hydrogeologic environments (unconsolidated and bedrock aquifers).
• Experience with MODFLOW or similar groundwater modeling software.
• Experience with injection wells, UIC permitting, ASR or MAR projects.
• GIS proficiency (ArcGIS or equivalent); basic Python scripting a plus.  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors' degree in Geology, Geoscience, Earth Science or Environmental Science required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience.
• All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.

Certifications

• Licensed Professional Geologist (P.G.)

Work Environment/Physical Demands

• Hybrid or flexible work options may be offered after the first 90 days of employment based upon manager discretion, job performance and work assignments.
• Normal office environment with a hybrid work schedule: 3 days in office and 2 days remote 
• Some employees are subject to extreme cold (temperatures below 30 degrees for periods of more than one hour), extreme heat (temperatures above 90 degrees for periods of more than one hour), hazards (electrical currents, working on scaffolding and high places, exposures to chemicals), atmospheric conditions (fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation), and oils. Some employees are required to use respiratory systems as a result of fumes, mists, gases, or to comply with governmental regulatory requirements. All positions require the following physical abilities: talking, fingering, grasping, hearing, keyboard input, seeing, and writing. All positions require the ability to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or move objects.
• Work involves sitting most of the time. Some positions require the following physical abilities: reaching, climbing, balancing, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, walking, standing, pulling, lifting, pushing, carrying, and driving. Some positions require the ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or move objects.