Idaho Power — located in vibrant Boise, Idaho — is looking for a Hydrologist, Senior Hydrologist, or an Engineer I, II or Senior to join our Power Supply team.

It’s an exciting time to work for an energy company, especially Idaho Power. We recently announced a goal of 100% clean energy by 2045. Our work plays a critical role in our customers’ lives and in the communities we serve across Idaho and Oregon.

In addition to the meaningful work we do, we offer work-life balance, competitive pay and benefits, and both a 401k employer-match and a pension plan, making Idaho Power one of the best employers in the state.

This position is based at Idaho Power’s downtown Boise location. We offer both flexible schedules and the opportunity to work up to 40% remote depending on business need. Relocation assistance may also be provided to the successful candidate.

JOB DESCRIPTION
Engineer I:

Operating under general supervision, an Engineer I develops technical expertise in his/her discipline. An Engineer I plans and leads assignments and projects, may interface with internal departments and external organizations, and receives guidance from leaders and other staff as needed.

Hydrologist/Engineer II:
Operating under limited supervision, an Engineer II or Hydrologist has an intermediate level of technical expertise in their field. This role plans and leads moderately complex assignments and projects, interfaces with internal departments and external organizations, and receives high-level guidance from leaders and other staff as needed.

Senior Hydrologist/Senior Engineer:

Operating under minimal supervision and using independent initiative, Senior Hydrologists and Senior Engineers have comprehensive technical expertise in their field. This role plans and leads complex assignments and projects, interfaces with internal departments and external organizations, and mentors other hydrologists, engineers, and support staff as needed.

General job duties include:

• Plans and leads projects, assignments, and technical investigations
• Acts as a liaison between other departments and organizations
• Evaluates progress and results, recommending changes in procedures
• Exercises moderate to extensive technical judgment in decision-making and independent action
• Responsible for budgeting, financial accountability, and timelines on assigned projects
• Utilizes industry- and discipline-related knowledge to interpret and comply with regulations as required by NERC, FERC, WECC, EPA, NESC, OSHA, FCC, etc.

Specific additional job duties: This position is in the Operations Hydrology group of the Water Resource and Policy Department and is targeting a Water Resource Engineer or Hydrologist with groundwater modeling, aquifer monitoring/characterization, and Idaho/Oregon water rights experience. The successful candidate will:

• Provide support for water resource engineering and hydrology work, including groundwater modeling, rainfall-runoff modeling, reservoir operations modeling, combined surface water and groundwater studies, groundwater tracer studies, collection and managmentt of water resource data, and statistical analyses of hydrologic datasets.
• Provide support for water policy and legal actions related to water rights administration, including support for all Idaho Power owned water rights and agreements, review of external water rights actions that may affect the company, develop recommendations on proposed water rights or transfers, model potential impacts of water rights actions, and assist with evaluations of any other water rights administration actions that may arise in either Oregon or Idaho that could affect Idaho Power water rights.
• Data Management: Collects, reviews, and maintains databases of water resources data, primarily groundwater monitoring data on the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer.
• Field Data Collection: Leads field data collection of water resources data, primarily groundwater monitoring data on the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer, but also assists in other hydrologic studies and groundwater/aquifer characterization studies as needed.
• Develops detailed scientific reports for both internal and external audiences. Delivers presentations of hydrologic modeling, scientific studies, or water rights reviews to technical and non-technical audiences, providing recommendations to both policy and legal stakeholders.

Water Resources – Operations Hydrology:

The Operations Hydrology group models and forecasts water supply for Idaho Power’s hydro-electric facilities. The group provides subject matter expertise in rainfall-runoff hydrology, reservoir operations modeling, groundwater modeling, hydropower operations support, license compliance support, statistical analyses of hydrologic data, and water rights administration support. In addition, the group conducts groundwater monitoring and collects field data to support modeling improvements for groundwater models as well as to support other areas of the company such as fisheries, water quality, operations, or regulatory compliance.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Knowledge of:

• General water resource engineering principles
• Hydrologic modeling using computer software (e.g. NWSRFS, HEC-HMS, RiverWare, Delft-FEWS, etc.)
• Groundwater modeling using computer software (e.g. MODFLOW, etc.)
• Groundwater data collection and aquifer characterization study methods, including groundwater well field monitoring methods and techniques, groundwater well development techniques, well construction log interpretation, geochemistry applied to groundwater monitoring, groundwater tracer techniques, and groundwater well design and data analysis
• Water rights administration rules and statutes in Idaho, and preferably Oregon as well
• Basic knowledge of water law in Idaho, and preferably Oregon as well
• Statistical analysis related to water resource data
• Operational knowledge of hydrologic modeling, groundwater modeling, computer programming, and data loggers deployed in remote environments.
• Prefer:
  • Comprehensive knowledge of surface and groundwater hydrology, water management, and water rights administration within the Snake River Basin upstream of the Hells Canyon Complex

Skills in:

• Effective oral and written communication
• Strong interdisciplinary skills
• Organization and project management
• Planning, report writing, coordinating, and problem solving

Ability to:

• Work independently and as a team member
• Communicate technical information to diverse stakeholders, both internally and externally, including developing written and oral reports of problems, alternatives, and recommendations
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Work both independently and on project teams
• Develop alternatives and work with others to evaluate their value and potential for meeting desired objectives
• Analyze datasets and databases

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Hydrologist

Education:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Hydrology, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Physical Science, Engineering, or a similar science field
• Preferred:
  • Advanced degree with graduate level course work in hydrologic processes, fluid mechanics, computational hydraulics, river processes, groundwater processes, habitat modeling, statistical analysis, computer programming and mathematics

Experience:

• 2 years of experience with data collection, analysis, programming, or computer modeling of water resource projects at watershed, river reach, or reservoir scales
• Preferred:
  • Experience with the hydrologic and hydraulic characteristics of the Snake River watershed and the operation of the dams and reservoirs
  • Areas of analysis and modeling experience include streamflow forecasting, groundwater, river and reservoir processes, hydrodynamic flow characteristics, aquatic habitat, and water quality
  • Water resource data collection and survey experience
  • Progressive computer programming skills, and presentation of and publication of work is emphasized

Licenses & Certifications:

• Valid Driver's License with an acceptable driving record based on driving requirements for the position
• Preferred: Certified Hydrologic Technician and/or membership to applicable professional organizations emphasized

Senior Hydrologist

Education:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Hydrology, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Physical Science, Engineering, or a similar science field
• Preferred:
  • Advanced degree with graduate level course work in hydrologic processes, fluid mechanics, computational hydraulics, river processes, groundwater processes, habitat modeling, statistical analysis, computer programming and mathematics

Experience:

• 7 years applicable experience with a BS degree

OR

• 5 years applicable experience with a MS degree

OR

• 3 years applicable experience with a PhD
• Applicable experience includes:
  • Experience with data collection, analysis, programming, or computer modeling of water resource projects at watershed, river reach, or reservoir scales

AND

• Demonstrated project/team leadership experience

• Preferred:
  • Experience with the hydrologic and hydraulic characteristics of the Snake River watershed and the operation of the dams and reservoirs in various hydrological conditions
  • Areas of analysis and modeling experience include streamflow forecasting, groundwater, river and reservoir processes, hydrodynamic flow characteristics, aquatic habitat, and water quality
  • Water resource data collection and survey experience
  • Progressive computer programming skills, and presentation of and publication of work is emphasized
  • Ability to effectively present findings/information to various groups to include technical and non-technical in both small and large groups

Licenses & Certifications:

• Valid Driver's License with an acceptable driving record based on driving requirements for the position
• Preferred: Professional Hydrologist (PH) or Professional Geologist (PG), and/or membership to applicable professional organizations emphasized

Engineer I

Education:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited institution

OR

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from a non-ABET accredited institution and a P.E. license

Experience:

• 0-2 years of related experience

Licenses & Certifications:

• Valid Driver's License with an acceptable driving record based on driving requirements for the position for all roles
• Prefer:
  • Engineer in Training (EIT) designation

Engineer II

Education:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited institution

OR

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from a non-ABET accredited institution and a P.E. license

Experience:

• 2 or more years of related experience

Licenses & Certifications:

• Valid Driver's License with an acceptable driving record based on driving requirements for the position for all roles
• Prefer:
  • Engineer in Training (EIT) designation

Senior Engineer

Education:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited institution

OR

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from a non-ABET accredited institution and a P.E. license

Experience:

• 6 years of related engineering experience

OR

• 5 years of related engineering experience plus PE or advanced engineering degree, and 3 years in the area of expertise
• Prefer:
  • 3 or more years of direct experience in hydrologic/groundwater modeling and/or water rights administration in the Snake River Basin

Licenses & Certifications:

• Valid Driver's License with an acceptable driving record based on driving requirements for the position for all roles
• Prefer:
  • Professional Engineer (PE)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Travel with out-of-town stays will be required
• Internal Idaho Power applicants only: Senior Engineer: Current employees applying must have 6 months or greater at Engineer II level, Step 13

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Internal Idaho Power applicants only)
If an existing Senior Engineer is selected to fill the posting, the department leader will transfer the Senior Engineer into the position at their current step. At the six-month anniversary of the hire date, the leader must review the engineer’s performance and submit to the EOC a Senior Engineer justification form requesting placement at the appropriate grade and step based on the engineer’s performance.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
This position has both office and field requirements. This position requires working at a desk/computer for extended periods of time. It requires the use of office equipment, fine motor skills including typing on the computer, dialing phones, filing paper, and working in close proximity to other people. It also requires walking on even/uneven surfaces and ascents/descents, up to 5 miles daily, while carrying 14-26 lbs. of equipment. Lifting of up to 36 lbs. and carrying up to 30 lbs., (up to 50 feet), is performed occasionally. Climbing of ladders/racks and work within elevated lifts (up to 40 feet high) with competency in use of safety equipment is required. Squatting, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lying at ground level is performed. Field work is conducted year-round and may involve being outdoors in inclement weather. Use of basic hand tools is also required. Driving is required to perform work throughout the IPC territory, (3-7 hours). The above is a summary of the primary essential functions of the position. This job may require the performance of additional tasks assigned by company leaders or management. Questions regarding job requirements or accommodation requests should be directed to Human Resources.

JOB COMPETENCIES

Work Standards, Communication, Decision Making, Planning and Organizing, Building Partnerships, Adaptability

To be considered for this position, please visit our website at www.idahopower.com/careers and complete our online application.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, physical or mental disability, marital status, and any other status protected by applicable federal and state laws.

If you have questions, or require assistance or accommodation to complete the online application, please contact us at: Phone: 208-388-2965 or Email: jobs@idahopower.com

Idaho Power is an Equal Opportunity Employer