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Senior Hydrogeologist/Groundwater Modeler

ITASCA North America | U.S.-based

About the role

ITASCA North America is seeking a Senior Hydrogeologist/Groundwater Modeler to support challenging groundwater, mine water, and environmental projects across the U.S. and North America.

This role is suited for a technically strong professional with experience in groundwater flow modeling, hydrogeologic interpretation, and practical consulting. The successful candidate will serve as a modeling expert, technical reviewer, mentor, and project contributor within ITASCA's hydrogeology practice.

Mining experience is strongly valued, particularly in mine dewatering, depressurization, pit inflow, pore-pressure estimation, water balance, closure, groundwater recovery, and hydrogeologic support for mine planning and operations.

Why this role matters

Groundwater models are most valuable when they help clients make better decisions. At ITASCA North America, modeling is not treated as a stand-alone exercise; it is used to understand complex hydrogeologic systems, test assumptions, evaluate uncertainty, and support practical decisions about water, risk, operations, permitting, and closure.

As a Senior Hydrogeologist/Groundwater Modeler, you will help translate field data, conceptual models, numerical simulations, and project constraints into clear technical insight. Your work may support mine water management, dewatering and depressurization strategies, groundwater impact assessment, contaminant transport evaluation, closure planning, and long-term water management.

You will also help advance ITASCA's modeling capabilities by mentoring staff, reviewing technical work, improving modeling practices, and contributing to the continued development and application of ITASCA's groundwater modeling tools.

What you'll do

• Develop, calibrate, apply, and review numerical groundwater flow models for mining, environmental, and water-resource projects.
• Support modeling related to mine dewatering, depressurization, pit and underground working inflows, groundwater recovery, contaminant transport, seepage, closure, and water management.
• Develop and interpret conceptual hydrogeologic models using geology, field data, monitoring records, hydraulic testing, groundwater chemistry, and project constraints.
• Evaluate model assumptions, calibration, uncertainty, sensitivity, limitations, and implications for client decisions.
• Prepare technical reports, model documentation, presentations, proposals, scopes of work, budgets, and work plans.
• Serve as a technical reviewer and internal resource for groundwater modeling quality.
• Mentor junior and intermediate staff in modeling methods, hydrogeologic interpretation, and technical communication.
• Work independently on complex assignments and manage modeling tasks or projects.
• Collaborate with hydrogeologists, geomechanics engineers, engineering geologists, geochemists, data scientists, and software developers.
• Support continued improvement of ITASCA's modeling skills, workflows, training materials, and technical capabilities.
• As appropriate, work with the MINEDW product manager and in-house software staff to support groundwater model code development, feature improvements, user training materials, and marketing content.

What you bring

Required

• Advanced degree in hydrogeology, geochemistry, environmental engineering, or a related field.
• Approximately 10-20 years of relevant professional experience.
• Proven record of technical excellence in groundwater flow modeling.
• Strong experience developing, calibrating, applying, and interpreting numerical groundwater models.
• Experience with conceptual hydrogeologic models, hydrogeologic data interpretation, and model documentation.
• Ability to critically evaluate model assumptions, calibration, uncertainty, sensitivity, and limitations.
• Experience working independently on complex technical assignments.
• Ability to supervise, manage, mentor, and review the work of others.
• Strong technical writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to support proposals, work programs, and client communication.

Strongly valued

• Experience with MINEDW, MODFLOW, FEFLOW, HydroGeoSphere, MIKE SHE, Groundwater Vistas, MT3D/transport modeling tools, PEST, or related modeling platforms.
• Mining industry experience, particularly mine dewatering, depressurization, pit inflow, pore-pressure estimation, water balance, closure, groundwater recovery, or operational hydrogeology.
• Experience with finite-element and/or finite-difference groundwater modeling approaches.
• Experience with contaminant transport modeling, parameter estimation, uncertainty analysis, sensitivity analysis, or stochastic modeling.
• Programming or scripting experience using Python, R, VBA, or similar tools.
• Experience with GIS, 3-D visualization, large datasets, database tools, or model pre/post-processing workflows.
• Experience with field investigation design, aquifer testing, hydraulic testing, groundwater monitoring, or data collection programs.
• Experience developing modeling workflows, training materials, software documentation, or user-facing technical materials.
• Professional registration by a recognized organization, or ability to obtain registration where required.

Why ITASCA

For more than 45 years, ITASCA has helped clients solve complex geomechanics, hydrogeology, and engineering geology challenges through technical depth, practical judgment, and innovation.

At ITASCA, you will work on challenging projects where standard approaches are often not enough. Our work combines field experience, scientific and engineering interpretation, advanced analysis, and state-of-the-art ITASCA software to help clients make better decisions.

We are a collaborative, collegial, employee-owned company where technical excellence, curiosity, mentorship, mutual respect, and shared success matter. This is a place for senior modelers who want to stay deeply technical while helping shape the tools, methods, and people behind ITASCA's hydrogeology practice.

Location and travel

This is a full-time position based in the United States. Preferred locations are Denver/Lakewood, Colorado, or Minneapolis, Minnesota, but other U.S. locations, including hybrid/remote work options, may be considered for the right candidate.

Travel may be required for client meetings, site visits, field programs, conferences, and internal collaboration.

ITASCA may provide employment-based visa sponsorship (e.g., H-1B, O-1) for this role to candidates already in the U.S., subject to business needs, candidate qualifications, and applicable immigration regulations.

Compensation and benefits

We value your contributions and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Performance bonuses, including cash and company stock
• Health, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family
• Generous paid time off from day one
• Paid holidays
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Company-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance

The anticipated salary range is $105,000-$130,000. Final compensation will depend on experience and qualifications.

Take the next step in your career and become a valued member of our employee-owned company. Join us at ITASCA, where innovation meets excellence!

ITASCA is an equal opportunity employer, a drug-free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.