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Hydro Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Stantec

Hydro-Mechanical Engineer

Pasadena, CA · On-site

Your Opportunity We are currently engaged as the Owner's Consulting Engineer in several hydro projects that include complex scopes ranging from refurbishment, modernization, upgrades, to completely ...

Stantec

Hydro-Mechanical Engineer

Sacramento, CA · On-site

Your Opportunity We are currently engaged as the Owner's Consulting Engineer in several hydro projects that include complex scopes ranging from refurbishment, modernization, upgrades, to completely ...

Rieke Packaging Systems

Hydro Press Operator B

El Cajon, CA · On-site

$17.25 - $22.50/hr

SUMMARY This occupation requires the set up andoperation of triple acting hydro press with some ... Fabricate parts to dimensional tolerances as required by engineering drawings. * Safely operate a ...

Mead & Hunt

Hydromechanical Engineer

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$100K - $144K/yr

Working as the project engineer, technical lead, and/or project manager on water resources-related ... Troubleshooting mechanical systems in hydro plants * Prepare technical reports that summarize ...

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All JobsHydro Engineer JobsHydro Engineer Jobs in California

Hydro Engineer information

See California salary details

$30.6K

$94.5K

$125.8K

How much do hydro engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for hydro engineer in California is $94,542.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,900.00 and $114,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Hydro Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Hydro Engineer, you need a solid background in civil or environmental engineering, with expertise in hydraulics, hydrology, and water resource management, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree and professional licensure (e.g., PE). Familiarity with industry-standard design software (like AutoCAD, HEC-RAS, and GIS), as well as knowledge of regulatory frameworks, is essential. Strong analytical thinking, project management, and effective communication skills help you stand out in this role. These skills ensure the safe, efficient, and sustainable design and management of water-related infrastructure projects.

How much do hydro engineers earn?

Hydro engineers typically earn a median annual salary of around $70,000 to $100,000, depending on experience, location, and level of education. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in water resource management or project design can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $120,000 annually.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, software, and nuclear engineering often earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced certifications, or leadership roles. High-paying engineering positions typically require advanced skills, a strong educational background, and sometimes work in high-demand industries or locations with a high cost of living.

What are some common challenges faced by Hydro Engineers when working on large-scale hydroelectric projects?

Hydro Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing environmental concerns with project objectives, managing complex site logistics, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Coordinating with multidisciplinary teams—including environmental scientists, civil engineers, and local authorities—is essential to address issues like fish migration, sediment management, and community impact. These projects typically require strong problem-solving skills and adaptability, as unexpected weather conditions or geological discoveries can impact project timelines and budgets.

What is the difference between Hydro Engineer vs Civil Engineer?

AspectHydro EngineerCivil Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Civil, Mechanical, or Environmental Engineering; often requires PE or FE certificationBachelor's in Civil Engineering; PE license often preferred
Work EnvironmentHydropower plants, dams, water resource projectsConstruction sites, infrastructure projects, urban planning
Industry UsageWater resources, renewable energy, hydropowerConstruction, transportation, urban development

Hydro Engineers focus on water-related projects like dams and hydropower, requiring specialized knowledge in water systems. Civil Engineers have a broader scope, working on various infrastructure projects. Both roles often share similar credentials and work environments, but Hydro Engineers specialize in water resources and energy projects.

What does a hydro engineer do?

A hydro engineer designs, develops, and maintains systems related to water resources, such as dams, hydroelectric power plants, and water supply infrastructure. They analyze water flow, perform site assessments, and use engineering tools like CAD software, often requiring knowledge of environmental regulations and safety standards.

What are hydro engineers and what do they do?

Hydro engineers, also known as hydrological or hydraulic engineers, are professionals who specialize in the study and management of water resources. They design, develop, and oversee projects such as dams, water treatment plants, flood control systems, and irrigation networks. Their work involves analyzing the movement, distribution, and quality of water to support sustainable development and prevent water-related hazards. Hydro engineers often collaborate with environmental scientists, civil engineers, and government agencies to ensure efficient and safe water management solutions.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High compensation often involves bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing, particularly in large corporations or high-demand industries.
What are the most commonly searched types of Hydro Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Hydro Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Hydro Engineer jobs in California? For Hydro Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Hydro Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Hydro Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Hydro Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Hydro Engineer job openings:
Hydro Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Hydro Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 89% In-person, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $94,542 per year, or $45.5 per hour.
Software Development Engineer, Hydro

Software Development Engineer, Hydro

Amazon

San Francisco, CA

Full-time

Posted yesterday

Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 7,012 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers

Job description

Want to help advance the state of the art in open source distributed programming, AI agents and scalable systems. We're looking for engineers to join the leaders of the open source Hydro framework for Rust, solving novel problems at the intersection of distributed systems and AI. Much like Rust originally guaranteed memory safety, Hydro provides distributed safety: compile-time checks that prevent a wide class of distributed bugs.

The Hydro team is working with novel compiler, AI and distributed systems technologies-including deep integrations with the Rust type system, formal verification techniques, agentic code generation and distributed system optimizations. As a member of this team, you will work on developing novel features for Hydro driven by our customers, in collaboration with the open source community and research partners. Challenges remain in compiler design, distributed-aware AI agent design and distributed systems engineering-all while meeting AWS's exacting standards for scale, reliability, and security.

Your impact will be immediate and visible in both open source and coding agents. You'll ship features that directly improve how developers work. You can expect to engage with AWS-internal customers from critical cloud services, and external customers as well.

From day one, you'll have opportunities to lead-whether that's owning projects, defining technical direction, or shaping how the team operates. This is your chance to work with the next generation of technologies for intelligent, cloud-scale software engineering.
Key job responsibilities
You'll work on the open source Hydro framework and its integration with Amazon's Kiro family of coding agents. Working directly with customers running some of the world's biggest distributed systems, you'll uncover real-world development challenges and translate them into product capabilities-staying true to Amazon's customer-obsessed approach

You'll build and deploy novel software engineering technology, advancing the safety, reliability and simplicity of building the cloud-scale software our customers demand. Your responsibilities span the full lifecycle: from compiler technologies to agent training and steering to scalable deployment. You'll balance innovation with operational excellence, making technical choices that enable Hydro open source and Kiro agents to work smoothly for a wide class of developers while meeting AWS's standards for scale and security.
A day in the life
You will engage with teammates on software engineering in Hydro, engage with internal customers to enable their success using Hydro, and engage with open-source users and contributors publicly.
About the team
You'll join a team that bridges novel research and production engineering

We collaborate closely with UC Berkeley's Hydro research group, where the framework originated, maintaining strong ties to the academic community while building commercial-grade software. Our team culture emphasizes open source collaboration-you'll work directly with external contributors, engage with the broader Rust community, and help shape the future of distributed programming in the open. We value both deep technical expertise and the ability to translate research innovations into practical tools that developers love.

What Amazon employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

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About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US

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