SENIOR - Principal Engineer, Hydrogeologist, OR Scientist; Groundwater Quality focus

SENIOR - PRINCIPAL ENGINEER, HYDROGEOLOGIST, OR SCIENTIST (GROUNDWATER QUALITY focus)

4 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

We are a water-focused engineering consulting firm, certified as a Great Place to Work® based on feedback from our community of over 250 team members. We ranked top three in the AEC Advisors 2021 and 2022 Diversity Index Top Firms and were recognized as one of Fortune’s® Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services in 2023 and 2024. Since 1990, our mission has been to be the water firm of choice for both our clients and our team.

Over the years we have built upon that mission and now integrate a host of high-quality services in groundwater, water supply, water and wastewater treatment, water and wastewater infrastructure, stormwater, recycled water, construction management, and operations technology from our multiple locations in the west. As a team, we work with our clients to understand their true needs. Our long‑term relationships are based on integrity, partnership, and high‑value solutions.

In 2025 and beyond, West Yost is advancing water resources for future generations and living our core values every day.

Compensation range: $105,250 to $189,145. Based on our Irvine, CA office location. (West Yost uses geographic salary differentials that would apply for candidates in other regions).

LOCATION: Can sit in any of our CA office locations -  This is a Hybrid role with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.

Standard Benefits We provide a comprehensive array of valuable benefits to protect your health, your family, and your way of life. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, health saving accounts (with West Yost contribution), paid vacation, paid sick leave and holidays, two employee assistance programs, travel assistance program, 401(k) profit sharing with employer match, leaves of absence with additional supplemental paid time off, parental leave, life and AD&D insurance, short‑term and long‑term disability insurance, and even pet insurance.

About the Role: We are seeking a highly experienced Senior or Principal Engineer, Hydrogeologist, or Scientist with expertise in groundwater quality. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in aqueous and environmental chemistry, particularly in the environmental fate of inorganic contaminants, salts, and nutrients. This role requires the ability to model equilibrium geochemical systems and an understanding of reaction kinetics.

Familiarity with California and Federal drinking water regulations, as well as water and wastewater treatment technologies and systems, is essential.

• Collaborate with hydrogeologists and treatment design engineers to characterize baseline water quality conditions and changes to water quality under planning scenarios.
• Assess needs, analyze alternatives, and prepare feasibility studies.
• Conduct pilot studies and prepare basis of design reports.
• Work with a multi-disciplinary team to develop and evaluate water supply alternatives.
• Develop various cost and non-cost factors to evaluate alternatives.
• Work with groundwater flow and transport modelers using 2D and 3D modeling techniques to assess groundwater quality scenarios.
• Translate model results into actionable recommendations for developing and managing groundwater resources.

• 12+ years of experience in groundwater quality and aqueous or environmental chemistry.
• Expertise in the environmental fate of metals, salts, and nutrients.
• Proficiency in modeling geochemical systems using equilibrium and kinetic approaches.
• Familiarity with California and Federal drinking water regulations.
• Knowledge of water and wastewater treatment technologies and systems.
• Ability to work effectively with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience in developing and evaluating cost and non-cost factors for alternatives.
• Proficiency in 2D and 3D analysis techniques for groundwater characterization.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple…