Lynker Corporation is seeking to hire a Hydrologist to support a contract with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) West Coast Region (WCR) Engineering & Physical Sciences Branch (EPSB). This is a full-time, primarily remote position that is anticipated to begin on May 1, 2025. Hiring for this position will be contingent on contract award. Lynker will be operating under its FLOAT joint venture, a NOAA ProTech Fisheries 2.0 prime contract holder. *

The WCR EPSB is set up to provide technical support to the four area offices of the West Coast Region which include, California Coastal, California Central Valley, Interior Columbia Basin, and Oregon and Washington Coastal. The team works with project applicants and NMFS biologists to optimize elements of the project including but not limited to: designs, maintenance, construction, operations, instream flows, and habitat for the protection and recovery of aquatic species at both the project and watershed scale. Additionally, EPSB provides guidance to NMFS staff and leadership to strategize actions for watersheds and resource management.

Under this role, the selected candidate will provide hydrological technical support services to satisfy the overall operational objectives of promoting the protection, conservation, and recovery of anadromous fish, marine fish, invertebrates and their habitat. The primary objective is to provide expert support in technical areas summarized below for the implementation of the statutes and mandates listed under the Authority of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Tasks

The selected candidate will perform the following key tasks:

• Apply engineering principles to conduct hydrological analyses that include:
  • Review and provide comments on hydrologic analyses done by others
  • Analyze and determine monthly average stream flow versus natural variability
  • Determine the percent of unimpaired flow
  • Perform instream flow assessments
  • Assess current, historical, and proposed conditions by analyzing hydrology data, hydrologic models, habitat suitability or productivity models.
  • Use appropriate data collection, hydrologic analysis, computer modeling techniques, and flow management plans to develop technical memoranda identifying project effects on salmonid life-cycle functions and population viability. Participate in stakeholder meetings to present findings
• Perform Hydrological Modeling and be familiar with up-to-date modeling techniques and tools including but not limited to:
  • Analyze weather and hydrological data for use in machine learning forecasting models
  • Provide hydrologic modeling and analysis that informs NOAA-Fisheries staff of watershed conditions, water supply and impacts of various human activity (gravel mining, fish passage, road crossing, channel restoration) to be used to evaluate proposed project impacts on ESA listed species and critical habitat. Use tools such as R language libraries or other statistical software packages as appropriate.
  • Review and provide comments on others’ modeling reports and documentation (i.e. USGS GSFLOW model, MIKE SHE model, CalSim 3, PRMS, CE-QUAL-W2, etc.)
  • Use, maintain, develop, and review state-of-the-art Machine Learning tools in areas such as but not limited to:
    • Analyzing historical data usage in a water distribution system
    • For hydrological processes and forecasting
    • Forecasting models
    • Water temperature machine learning models
    • Predictive streamflow machine learning models
    • Turbidity machine learning model
    • Machine learning modeling scenarios to evaluate changes to instream flow requirements for rivers in the WCR
  • Water Management Issues:
    • Recognize strategies to address water operations, dam discharges and drought plans
    • Use of Machine Learning to analyze historical, current and future data usage in a water distribution system (i.e., reservoirs and water diversions)
    • Review documents regarding river systems basin hydrology and any associated water operations.
  • Create GIS maps for NMFS hydrologic modeling projects
  • Present findings in project memorandum and peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations.
  • For field work or meeting participation, work with respective Branch personnel to plan and carry out activities in a timely manner
  • Be a part of any current or future technical water policy cross divisional team

Geographic focus of hydrology services can include watersheds within the West Coast Region (CA, WA, OR, ID). The selected candidate will act as a subject matter expert, engaging in activities to inform, educate and assist others in areas related to watershed hydrology and its influence on ecosystem functions and habitat conditions for anadromous fish. The candidate will make consistent efforts to stay abreast of developments within the field of hydrology as it relates to fisheries ecology and fisheries management.

Deliverables

• Monthly Reports - No later than the first Friday of each month, provide a written progress report summarizing the previous month’s activities and accomplishments, including the current status of all priority tasks, and an action plan for the coming weeks or months.
• Data and Information Control - Store and maintain all data and reports on NMFS computer networks. Uses of data not specifically related to this task order must be approved by NMFS Project Lead on a case-by-case basis. A summary of data management practices will be required via progress review meetings with the NMFS Project Leader at semi-annual intervals, or more frequently as required by program needs. All data collected by the candidate, or reports, information, and government equipment must be safeguarded and delivered to NMFS upon request, or in case of termination of contract.
• Project Review and Comment Documentation - Provide project review comments and recommendations on the EPSB Project Memo Template. Archive comments and recommendations in the designated project folder on the network for each project assigned and in the designated team project comment, Google Drive folder, within one week of submitting them to the NMFS Project Lead.
• Preparation and Delivery of Science-Based Reports - Prepare and deliver science-based presentations or reports related to specific project activities to internal and external audiences, as identified by NMFS Project Lead.
• Communication, Cooperation, and Status Reports - Maintain good communications and cooperation with the respective NMFS WCR personnel. Participate in RAO Division, EPSB and Region activities as assigned by the Project Lead. Keep Project Lead and lead biologists apprised of on-going activities. Provide summary and status reports of activities, schedules, and accomplishments on a periodic basis.
• Timeframes for Responding to Work Requests - Acknowledge support requests within two (2) business days and perform the work as soon as practicable, or within
• 30 days, depending on the scope and complexity of the task. Copies of all official correspondence shall be furnished to the NMFS Project Lead for review and approval prior to external release, unless otherwise identified by the NMFS Project Lead.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, or higher, from an accredited college or university in physical or natural science (such as biology, civil or environmental engineering) or related field of study.
• Two (2) years of experience in a related field.
• Knowledge of anadromous fish life history, biology, and habitat requirements, or riverine processes.
• Experience with NEPA and Section 7 of the ESA.
• Understanding of a riffle crest analysis.
• Understanding of monthly average 7DADM vs. maximum 7DADM stream flows and temperatures.
• Familiarity with and regular review of standard WCR state groundwater initiatives (i.e., the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act)
• Understanding of total dissolved gas, temperature, and turbidity analyses, how they are performed and what goes into them.
• Understanding of how La Niña or La Niño will affect hydrological patterns across the region.
• Proficiency with reviewing and developing machine learning algorithms and models.
• Efficiency in using word-processing programs to develop written documents.
• Proficiency with spreadsheet and database software and willingness to learn new software.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working successfully with interdisciplinary teams.

Place of Performance

The selected candidate for this position will work up to 40 hours per week offsite.

Travel

Travel is anticipated for meetings to satisfy staff work requests and specified planning tasks as well as for other workshops in support of NMFS’ mission:

1. Participate in meetings with the project proponents and NMFS biologists on projects to inspect dams and reservoir conditions; evaluate habitat and instream flow conditions that will be incorporated into the contractor's computer model; and to perform field verification of model results, perform on-the-river investigations of the validity of the basin hydrologic model results; inspect reservoir and flow conditions at Dam sites; and to validate hydraulic results of computer modeling and evaluate habitat conditions on the river.
2. Attend divisional workshops. The candidate will be required to provide advice and information related to their role. This can be in the form of discussions or formal presentations.

About Lynker

Lynker is a growing, employee owned, small business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.

We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities – creatively and effectively.

Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following:

• Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
• Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
• Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners!
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life and accident insurance
• Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
• Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
• Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
• Employee Referral Program
• Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
• Personalized career growth plans for every employee

Lynker is an E-Verify employer.

* This position is advertised through our joint venture, FISH and Lynker Ocean Alliance Team (FLOAT), a partnership between Lynker and Fisheries Immersed Sciences Hawaii (FISH) serving the NOAA ProTech Fisheries 2.0 IDIQ contracting vehicle.

Lynker is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local laws.