22-104 Coastal Modeler (Hydrologist IV)

Job DescriptionCompany Description

The Texas Water Development Board's (TWDB) mission is to lead the state's efforts in ensuring a secure water future for Texas and its citizens. Our mission is a vital part of Texas' overall vision and its mission and goals which relate to maintaining the viability of the state's natural resources, health and economic development. To accomplish its goals of planning for the state's water resources and for providing affordable water and wastewater services, the TWDB provides water planning, data collection and dissemination, financial assistance and technical assistance services to the citizens of Texas. The tremendous population growth that the state has and will continue to experience, and the continual threat of severe drought, only intensify the need for the TWDB to accomplish its goals in an effective and efficient manner.
Job Description

Only candidates who apply via email to (HR "at" TWDB.texas.gov) with an official State of Texas Application or through the WorkInTexas.com website will be considered for this position. View this position and apply at https://tinyurl.com/273kw4l7.

Texas Water Development Board's Mission - Leading the state's efforts in ensuring a secure water future for Texas and its citizens.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) endorses telecommuting and hybrid workplace plans, in addition to other flexible work alternatives. We offer competitive compensation and benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), flexible spending, and flexible work hours so you can have a work/life balance! For more information about these benefits and more visit: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/jobs/benefits.asp.

The Texas Water Development Board does not discriminate on basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability in employment or provision of services, programs, or activities.

*Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

Job Description Summary

Performs advanced (senior-level) hydrologic and hydrodynamic modeling, programming, and analytical studies for the Coastal Science Department in the Surface Water Division. Work involves maintaining and applying hydrologic, hydraulic, and hydrodynamic models to support state and regional water and flood planning and emergency oil spill response. Investigates, develops, and implements the use of improved data and methods for coastal modeling. Assists with scientific and engineering field studies of state streams, rivers, bays, and estuaries. Serves as a liaison at public meetings; provides technical support to stakeholders and customers; and communicates analyses and results to general and technical audiences. Serves as contract manager. May train others. Works under minimal supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Reports to the Manager of the Coastal Science Department.

Essential Job Functions

• Maintains, applies, and improves hydrologic, hydraulic, and hydrodynamic models of rivers, estuaries, and ocean systems.
• Serves as the primary Oil Spill Coordinator for the Oil Spill Prevention and Response contract by modifying, testing, and implementing improved models and automated scripts to advance oil spill trajectory modeling; provides on-demand simulation of currents and spill trajectories for emergency response.
• Generates or modifies mesh for existing 2-D and 3-D hydrodynamic models for Texas estuaries (e.g., ADCIRC, SCHISM, Delft3D, TxBLEND).
• Writes, executes, and maintains Python, Fortran, Shell, and ArcGIS programs and scripts in a Linux/Unix environment.
• Automates hydrodynamic models by porting legacy Fortran codes and shell scripts to python libraries.
• Revises existing hydrodynamic model source code to implement new algorithms and functionality.
• Couples various hydrological and hydrodynamic models to account for both inland and coastal flooding.
• Acquires and processes input data for various models, including but not limited to bathymetry, land use, bed classification, flow rates, precipitation, soil characteristics, infiltration, winds, tides, salinity, hurricane tracts.
• Conducts statistical and geospatial analyses.
• Writes, reviews, and evaluates technical memos, reports, work process, and policy documents; provides presentations to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Works with other entities to develop and implement models and conduct analyses.
• Assists with field studies, including planning, on-site work, equipment installation, data acquisition, and data management.
• Serves as liaison and provides data, models, information, and technical support to stakeholder groups, scientific committees, and customers.
• Serves as contract manager for research and monitoring contracts.
• Coordinates with other staff to post updates of data, model output, and technical memos to the agency websites.
• Delivers presentations to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Maintains confidential and sensitive information.
• Ensures individual and team files (electronic and hard versions) are appropriately maintained and timely disposed of in accordance with the agency's records retention procedures and schedule.
• Maintains required certifications and licenses and meets the continuing education needs and requirements of the position to include, attending mandatory training courses.
• May be required to operate a state or personal vehicle for business purposes.
• May require workdays to occasionally exceed 8 hours, including early mornings, late nights, and weekends.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Hydrology, Geology, Oceanography, Water Resource or Environmental Engineering or a closely related field.
• Five to seven years of experience modifying, applying, or running hydrodynamic, hydrologic, hydraulic, or other computational/numerical models.
• Experience with scripting/programming languages, such as Python and shell scripting.
• Relevant education and experience can be substituted for each other on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree, or working towards completion of a graduate degree, from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Engineering or Physical Science with emphasis in hydrodynamic modeling, coastal oceanography, surface water resources, or related field.
• Experience modeling river/estuary/shelf processes such as baroclinic tracer transport, storm surge, wind wave, coastal inundation, and water quality.
• Experience using Unix/Linux operating systems.
• Experience processing, analyzing, interpreting, and displaying large scientific data sets in different formats, and numerical/visualization tools.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Certification of Engineer in Training (EIT) by the State of Texas.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to the Coastal Science Department and Surface Water Division, including flood, water management, and environmental flows in Texas; and of the principles and practices of public administration.
• Knowledge of scientific, engineering, statistical, modeling, and hydrologic principles as well as hydraulics, hydrodynamics, water quality, and water management.
• Knowledge of the practical application of hydrology, hydrodynamics, water quality, and water management technologies.
• Skills in developing, applying, or running hydrodynamic and salinity transport models (e.g., ADCIRC, SCHISM, ROMS, SUNTANS, DELFT3D, ADH) or other computational/numerical models.
• Skills in developing, applying, or running hydrologic and hydraulic models (e.g., HEC-HMS, GSSHA, HEC-RAS) or other computational/numerical models.
• Skills in programming/scripting languages, such as Python and shell scripting, for developing and modifying software and scripts for conducting analyses and to maintain automated processes.
• Skills in collaborative programing environments and version control systems such as GitHub or Subversion.
• Skills in writing, executing, and maintaining programs in virtualized cloud Linux workspaces such as VirtualBox, Docker, or Amazon AWS.
• Skills in parallel computing (MPI or OpenMP) on High Performance Computing (HPC) systems.
• Skills in using numerical/visualization tools (e.g., Scipy/Numpy, Matplotlib, Gnuplot).
• Skills in statistical and/or spatial data analysis techniques (e.g., QGIS and ArcGIS).
• Skills in project management and grant/contract administration, including time-management and prioritization.
• Skills in written and oral communications.
• Skills in scientific data collection, management, and interpretation, particularly of hydrologic data.
• Skills in using Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, and Access.
• Skills in use of internet, email, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database software.
• Ability to make mature, objective decisions and identify areas of potential problems.
• Ability to complete assigned work, on time, neatly and with infrequent errors.
• Ability to work and cooperate with others in a team environment.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and to adhere to work schedules, follow procedures with respect to leave and submit accurate timesheets by prescribed deadlines.
• Ability to perform effectively and willingly when changes occur in scope and nature of the work and work environment.
• Ability to perform routine and non-routine work assignments accurately and on-time with little or no supervision.
• Ability to perform assigned duties and improve work habits and/or output.
• Ability to interpret policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ability to provide prompt, courteous and accurate assistance and clear and concise communication to internal and external stakeholders both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to stand/sit/move with no physical limitations or aids to perform activities such as retrieve/replace files in a large file system for boxes up to 30 lbs.
• Ability and willingness to travel 10% of the time, primarily within the State of Texas.
• Ability to operate a vehicle (state or personal) for state business and maintain a driver's license and driving record that complies with state and agency requirements.
• Ability to workdays that may exceed 8 hours, including early mornings, nights, and weekends.
• Ability to train others.

Additional Information

All interested candidates should apply via WorkInTexas.com

Texas Water Development Board, Stephen F. Austin Building

1700 North Congress Ave., Room 670, Austin, Texas 78701

Please contact Human Resources for accommodation requests.

Phone: (512) 475-2142

Email: HR(AT)twdb.texas.gov

Apply at: Work in Texas www.workintexas.com