Field Hydrologist

Oakland, California, United States; San Francisco, California, United States
Full-time
Posted Nov 11, 2026

Skills

AutoCAD
Hydraulics
MATLAB
Project Management
Python
Teamwork
Writing

Job description

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.

ESA seeks a highly motivated Field Hydrologist/Hydrographer or Land Surveyor to join our team of hydrologists, geomorphologists, ecologists, and engineers in the Northern California region . We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic team member with approximately 0-3 years of experience with relevant fieldwork (IE: Topo bathymetric surveys, water quality & level data collection, stream flow discharge measurements),  a passion for ecosystem restoration and working outdoors, and the desire to learn and grow.

This is a full-time overtime exempt role working hybrid from either or San Francisco or Oakland Office at least 3 days per week .  Some travel expectations as needed for field work, site visits, and in-person team collaboration.

Who You Are  

•You are interested in stream and/or wetland ecology, geomorphology, and hydrology and have education, training, or work experience in one or more of these areas.

•You enjoy working outdoors, and you have experience in scientific data collection (possibly including topographic and/or bathymetric surveying, sidescan sonar, stream gauging, sediment studies, water quality monitoring and sampling, or other related skills).

•You are a creative thinker who is comfortable working in and around water, and you have experience working with tools and boats safely.

•You hold a Bachelor’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, Land Surveying, or Geology, and 0 -3 years applicable work experience ; or you have a related degree and directly relevant qualifications.  A directly relevant Master’s degree may substitute for some work experience.

•You are an effective team member with excellent oral and writing skills who can work independently and collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary environment. You can communicate basic technical information clearly and concisely to individuals and small groups.

•You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 50 pounds. Candidates should be confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, work in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in forested environments, fields, arid lands, along stream banks, and in coastal/intertidal areas.

•Previous experience with relevant fieldwork is required (IE: Topobathymetric surveys, water quality & level data collection, stream flow discharge measurements)

•Previous experience with ArcGIS is strongly preferred

•You are near San Francisco or Oakland and able to work hybrid in office

What You Will Do for ESA

•Work within a close-knit team of Hydrologists, Engineers, and Geomorphologists in the Environmental Hydrology & Design practice. You will support field data collection, data synthesis, and data analyses for ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation, stormwater management, fish passage, erosion control, and other water resources and civil engineering projects under direct supervision of a more senior engineer or hydrologist.

•You will install and maintain water level, hydraulics, and water quality instrumentation; conduct topographic and bathymetric surveys; conduct discharge, sediment transport, and wave studies; and perform construction and post-construction monitoring activities. You will apply Python, Matlab, ArcGIS, AutoCAD, Aquarius, and other tools to process data, develop basemaps, evaluate discharge, tide, and water quality conditions, monitor site development, calculate sedimentation rates, write technical reports, and other tasks. You will develop and adhere to cutting-edge data collection protocols. You will work at your desk and outdoors – on the coast, in estuaries and salt marshes, in streams and rivers, and on boats.

•A typical week may consist of deploying water quality gauges in a tidal marsh from a canoe or motorboat, surveying creek transects in a redwood forest, and processing and presenting the field data you collected for scientific and engineering reports. This position will lead to project management experience over time.

•While consistently demonstrating your solid data collection, analysis, and writing skills, you thrive in a fast-paced environment and can balance multiple responsibilities and deadlines when working on a team or independently.

•Other ad hoc tasks as needed

What’s Special About Our Team

Our EH&D team includes engineers, hydrologists, geomorphologists and landscape architects. Much of our work is oriented toward the restoration of habitat and ecosystem function, often as part of multi-benefit projects. As a highly-integrated team, we value creative thinking, teamwork, and multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary engagement and integration.

To read about some of our exciting projects, check out these links: https://esassoc.com/services/restoration/ , https://esassoc.com/services/restoration/wetland-restoration/ , https://esassoc.com/services/climate-change-resilience/sea-level-rise-coastal-hazards/ , https://esassoc.com/services/flood-and-stormwater-management/coastal-zone-engineering-management/ .

What’s Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company share through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.

We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.

ESA has established multiple pay ranges tailored to the economic factors in the geographies in which ESA staff reside. For this position, the range is approximately as listed, based on our anticipated hiring locations as noted in the above job details. Actual compensation is determined by several factors including but not limited to an individual’s related experience, education, skills, and the city in which the applicant lives.  

CA Pay Transparency Clause

$70,722 — $86,634 USD

Who We Are 

We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients. 

In accordance with ESA’s duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards, any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies. 

Please note: We do NOT accept unsolicited resumes from agencies

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability—or unable to use—the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Human Resources Department via email:  humanresources@esassoc.com  for assistance.

 Please include the following in your message so we can promptly address your request:

•Full name

•The best method to contact you (phone number and/or email address)

•Title of Job Position Applied

•Description of your accommodation request

ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D) 