Project Engineer – Recharge Master Plan & Basin Planning

Position Summary

We are seeking a motivated Water Resources Engineer with 3–8 years of experience to support the development and implementation of regional groundwater recharge planning efforts and related groundwater management initiatives. The engineer will work closely with senior technical staff to evaluate recharge opportunities, develop planning studies, develop conceptual engineering designs, coordinate with agencies, analyze hydrologic and hydraulic data, and prepare technical reports that support long-term groundwater sustainability, stormwater capture, and water supply reliability. This position is ideal for an engineer who enjoys combining technical analysis, planning, field investigations, and collaboration with public agencies.

Essential Responsibilities

• Recharge Master Planning
  • Support preparation of Recharge Master Plans and basin-wide planning studies.
  • Evaluate existing recharge facilities and identify opportunities to increase stormwater, recycled water, and supplemental water recharge.
  • Assist with development of conceptual designs for recharge projects, including spreading basins, conveyance improvements, recharge wells, and regional stormwater facilities.
  • Develop planning-level cost estimates, implementation schedules, and project prioritization matrices.
  • Assist with preparation of grant applications and supporting technical documentation.
• Hydrology & Hydraulic Analysis
  • Analyze precipitation, runoff, groundwater recharge, and streamflow datasets.
  • Estimate hydraulic capacity and design flows of stormwater control and conveyance infrastructure.
  • Assist with watershed modeling using data processing and visualization tools, including scripting languages (e.g., Python).
  • Evaluate stormwater capture potential under existing and future land use conditions.
• Groundwater & Basin Management
  • Support groundwater basin evaluations, recharge accounting, and storage assessments.
  • Assist with interpretation of groundwater level trends and monitoring data.
  • Evaluate recharge impacts on groundwater sustainability, safe yield, hydraulic control, and basin management objectives.
  • Support preparation of annual basin reports and recharge accounting documentation.
• Stormwater & MS4 Planning
  • Evaluate municipal stormwater (MS4) projects for recharge benefits.
  • Review Water Quality Management Plans (WQMPs) and Low Impact Development (LID) strategies.
  • Support development of regional stormwater recharge strategies and implementation plans.
• Technical Reporting
  • Prepare technical memoranda, planning reports, figures, GIS maps, and presentation materials.
  • Develop tables, charts, and graphics summarizing recharge capacity, project costs, water budgets, and implementation priorities.
  • Assist with preparation of Board presentations and stakeholder workshops.
• Field Work
  • Visit recharge facilities, spreading grounds, channels, and stormwater infrastructure.
  • Observe infiltration testing, facility inspections, and construction activities.
  • Coordinate with operations staff to understand facility performance and maintenance needs.

Desired Technical Skills

• Engineering: Hydrology and hydraulics, stormwater management, water resources planning, surface water modeling, conceptual engineering design, planning-level cost estimating
• Software: ArcGIS Pro, Microsoft Excel (advanced), Python (preferred)
• Data Analysis: Statistical analysis, time-series evaluation, data visualization and communication, GIS spatial analysis

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or Water Resources Engineering
• 3-8 years of relevant engineering experience
• California Professional Engineer (PE) license or ability to obtain within 2 years
• Working knowledge of hydrology, hydraulics, and stormwater systems
• Strong technical writing and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously

Preferred:

• Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or Water Resources Engineering
• Experience with groundwater management and planning
• Experience with MS4 permits and stormwater regulations
• Experience preparing planning reports, conceptual engineering design, and/or feasibility studies
• Familiarity with California water agencies and regulatory framework

Travel Requirements

This position may require travel to other offices and/or client offices.

About The West Yost Life

You will experience many opportunities to grow and develop professionally with your colleagues through collaborative in-person work experience, knowledge sharing, and mentorship opportunities. We also offer hybrid and flexible work schedules to our employees to help promote and encourage a healthy work/life balance. All of our team members have access to local and company-wide events, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workgroup, Culture Workgroup, Wellness Workgroup, book clubs, charitable giving and community service, firm-wide resources, peer groups (young professionals & middlers group), and mentorship and leadership programs. We support and foster your career success and encourage you to be in control of your future with us.

At West Yost, we make space for connection across the firm. Each month, we hold an all-hands meeting that bring together team members from every location, including those working remotely, to stay aligned and engaged. Individual sectors and teams also hold their own monthly meeting. At the local level, our offices host gatherings, from camping trips and river rafting to community events and celebrations. Once a year, we come together in person for our Annual All Staff event, a firmwide experience focused on learning, networking, and building relationships across teams. That evening, we continue our longest-standing tradition, the Duck Dinner, where West Yosters are encouraged to bring a guest and enjoy a night of great food, connection, and entertainment. We work hard, and we place equal value on having fun. Our commitment to quality begins with our hiring practices. We employ the most talented team members in our industry from all backgrounds. We are highly selective of the individuals we choose to represent the firm, seeking only those individuals whose technical abilities and commitment to client service matches our vision for excellence. We are dedicated to our number one asset, our employees. Because we are employee-owned, we are responsible for and rewarded by our own success. Come to West Yost where, with our support, you'll do the best work of your life.

Benefits

Standard Benefits:

• Medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, health saving accounts (with West Yost contribution)
• Paid vacation, paid sick leave and holidays
• Two employee assistance programs, travel assistance program
• 401(k) profit sharing with employer match
• Leaves of absence with additional supplemental paid time off, parental leave
• Life and AD&D insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Pet insurance

Other Unique Benefits:

• 529 college savings plan/student loan repayment program
• Tuition reimbursement, paid professional memberships, paid training, and Leadership Academy programs
• Milestone anniversary benefits, peer to peer recognition programs
• Potential for employee stock ownership
• Annual monetary and paid time off bonuses, performance-based bonus eligibility, merit increase eligibility, employee referral bonuses
• Wellness reimbursement

Pay & Schedule

• Compensation Range: $85,525 – $138,575 (based on Irvine, CA office location; geographic salary differentials apply for other regions)
• Status: Full-time, Exempt
• Location: Irvine, CA (hybrid role with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote)