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Flood Risk Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Civil Coordinator/EIT - Water Resources

Sacramento, CA ยท On-site

$84K - $115K/yr

Focus on projects including flood risk, dam safety, levee design, stream channel restoration/rehabilitation, reservoir operation, economics, climate change, watershed issues * Process data for model ...

What You'll Work On Levees, dams, and flood risk reduction systems Wetland and habitat restoration projects Water conveyance and hydraulic infrastructure Nature-based and multi-benefit water ...

Civil Coordinator/EIT - Water Resources

Sacramento, CA ยท On-site

$84K - $115K/yr

Focus on projects including flood risk, dam safety, levee design, stream channel restoration/rehabilitation, reservoir operation, economics, climate change, watershed issues * Process data for model ...

What You'll Work On Levees, dams, and flood risk reduction system Wetland and habitat restoration project Water conveyance and hydraulic infrastructure Nature-based and multi-benefit water solution ...

This role is centered on dam safety, flood-risk reduction, and delivery of complex, meaningful projects with direct public-safety impact. You will join a supportive, multidisciplinary team within a ...

This role is centered on dam safety, flood-risk reduction, and delivery of complex, meaningful projects with direct public-safety impact. You will join a supportive, multidisciplinary team within a ...

Showing results 41-60

Flood Risk information

See California salary details

$14

$29

$73

How much do flood risk jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for flood risk in California is $29.94, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.23 and $38.17 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a flood risk?

A Flood Risk job involves assessing, managing, and mitigating the risks associated with flooding. Professionals in this field analyze flood data, create models, and develop strategies to protect communities, businesses, and infrastructure from flood damage. They work with government agencies, environmental organizations, and private companies to ensure compliance with regulations and improve flood resilience. Responsibilities may include risk assessments, designing flood defenses, and advising on land-use planning. This role typically requires expertise in hydrology, engineering, or environmental science.

What types of projects do flood risk professionals typically work on?

Flood risk professionals often work on a variety of projects, including flood hazard assessments for new developments, designing mitigation measures for at-risk areas, and supporting strategic floodplain management for local governments. They may contribute to data collection and analysis, perform hydraulic and hydrological modeling, and prepare technical reports to inform planning and policy decisions. Typical clients include engineering consultancies, government agencies, water utilities, and insurance companies. Collaborating closely with engineers, urban planners, and environmental specialists, these professionals play a key role in reducing vulnerability to flooding and supporting resilient communities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the flood risk position, and why are they important?

To thrive in a Flood Risk role, you need a strong background in civil engineering, environmental science, or geography, with a solid grasp of hydrology and flood modeling principles. Familiarity with GIS software, hydraulic modeling tools (such as HEC-RAS, Flood Modeller, or MIKE FLOOD), and relevant industry certifications (e.g., CFM, CIWEM) is often required. Effective communication, analytical thinking, and collaboration skills help you convey complex data to both technical and non-technical audiences and work within multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are vital for accurately assessing flood hazards, developing risk mitigation strategies, and ensuring public and infrastructure safety.

What job categories do people searching Flood Risk jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Flood Risk jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Flood Risk job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $62,273 per year, or $29.9 per hour.

Hydraulics Practice Lead - Dams and Levees

Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.

Los Angeles, CA โ€ข On-site, Remote

$110K - $145K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 3 days ago


Job description

Geosyntec has an exciting opportunity for a Hydraulics Practice Lead - Dams and Levees for our growing practice in Los Angeles, CA, Davis, CA, or Denver, CO or any of our other Geosyntec offices throughout the U.S. This position may offer the flexibility to work a hybrid or fully remote schedule at the discretion of the company.

This position will provide key leadership and build out our hydraulic engineering capabilities, leveraging existing staff resources and collaborating with other senior dam practitioners across the firm. You will have the opportunity to establish national dams and levees-focused hydraulic engineering group that works on complex projects involving hydraulic structures and other flood risk management infrastructure. Projects span hydraulic modeling of various complexities, spillway, and other hydraulic structure evaluation and design, supporting probabilistic risk analysis, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling for large riverine systems, flood modeling, and dam breach consequence assessment studies. 

Geosyntec is an innovative, international engineering and consulting firm serving private and public-sector clients to address new ventures and complex problems involving our environment, natural resources, and civil infrastructure. Our engineers, scientists, technical and project employees serve our clients from offices across the world. Ranked by ENR as one of the top environmental engineering design firms, Geosyntec is internationally known for its technical leadership, broad experience, and exceptional client service.

We invest in our people.  Each employee is unique, and your career at Geosyntec will be too.  We offer competitive pay and benefits, and well-being programs to support you and your family.

To Learn More Visit: http://www.geosyntec.com/careers/. 


Collaboration and mentoring are cornerstones of Geosyntecโ€™s culture. You should expect to work closely with experienced professionals who will help integrate you into Geosyntecโ€™s culture as you advance to this next stage of your career of leading and growing a practice. We operate under a sell-manage-do culture, and so we expect that youโ€™d work on challenging technical projects while leveraging your existing knowledge and experience to help Geosyntec expand its current practices and capabilities through business development and client management.

Some of the key responsibilities for this position include:

  • Provide technical leadership and guidance directed at growing a hydraulic engineering practice within Geosyntecโ€™s Dams and Levees high-growth area business line;
  • Pulling together resources from our existing network of hydraulic and hydrologic engineers to support dam and levee projects across the country, and fostering their professional growth while also recruiting additional technical team members;
  • Past experience with hydraulic analysis and modeling (1-D and 2-D, and 3-D) utilizing various hydraulic modeling software. Ability to scope, lead, and serve as a technical advisor on modeling projects;
  • Rehabilitation and design of existing/new spillways, outlet works, and other appurtenant dam hydraulic structures;
  • Flood hazard assessment and dam breach modeling for inundation mapping and support of direct and indirect economic consequence estimation. Familiarity with HEC-FIA and HEC-LifeSim software is a plus;
  • Serving as H&H Subject Matter Expert on probabilistic risk assessment and risk evaluation teams;
  • Serving as H&H Subject Matter Expert and providing a senior review for Independent Technical Review Boards on dam safety modification studies and design projects;
  • Inspections of existing hydraulic structures and dam safety review of previous analyses and studies against the current state of the practice and design criteria.
  • Interacting with client representatives;
  • Task and project-level responsibility for scoping, performing, managing, and delivering multiple concurrent project assignments;
  • Consistent with our sell-manage-do business model, play a role in lead generation, business development, staff development, and mentoring;
  • Help broaden our reputation and visibility via publishing and presenting at prominent industry conferences such as USSD, ASDSO, CEATI, and NHA;
  • Task and project management, including planning and directing staff, budgeting and budget management, adherence to schedule, quality, client satisfaction, and profitability;
  • Recruiting, supervising, and mentoring junior staff; and
  • Preparing technical reports, letters, memoranda, plans, specifications, and proposals.
  • Drive personal, company, and rental vehicles to client or company project or office sites, and other business locations, as needed.

  • Bachelor's degree in water resources or environmental engineering or a closely related field with emphasis on water resources or a closely related discipline. (required)
  • Advanced degrees of the same. (preferred)
  • Professional registration (i.e., P.E.). (required)

  • At least 10 years (15+ preferred) of direct engineering consulting experience working on water resource projects with a focus on dams and levees; or an equivalent combination of education and experience working on the types of projects described above. (required)
  • Experience with multi-disciplinary project teams. (required)
  • Experience with project management and business development (required)
  • Excellent leadership and detail orientation skills. (required)
  • Experience performing hydrologic studies for dams and specific experience performing probabilistic flood hazard analyses. (preferred)
  • Experience with modeling tools such as platforms like HEC-RAS (1-D and 2-D), CFD (3-D) models, or similar. HEC-LifeSim, HEC-FIA, DAMRAE or similar. (preferred)
  • Exceptional social skills and outstanding oral and written communication skills. (required)
  • Ability and willingness to perform fieldwork and travel for site visits, inspections, and other business-related meetings or conferences. (required)
  • Field work and overnight travel may be required. 
  • Current OSHA 40-hr HAZWOPER training and refreshers. (preferred) 
  • Health & Safety training, medical monitoring, and client-driven drug and background testing may be required. 
  • Valid U.S. driverโ€™s license and a satisfactory driving record for business travel. (required)

This opportunity will be posted for at least five days. Below are the potential compensation ranges that we in good faith believe are applicable for this role at the time of this posting and are only applicable for jobs to be performed in the specified location(s) below. The typical base salary range for this position is just one component of Geosyntecโ€™s total compensation package for employees. Actual compensation will be determined based on education, experience, skill set and location.

  • Minimum Salary: $156,115/year / Maximum Salary: $271,495/year (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Minimum Salary: $149,330/year / Maximum Salary: $259,690/year (Davis, CA)
  • Minimum Salary: $142,540/year / Maximum Salary: $247,885/year (Denver, CO)

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including, paid holidays, vacation, sick, and personal paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible employees.

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