Principal/Associate Flood Forecasting Modeller in St Albans

At AECOM, we’re delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

We’re looking for a Principal or Associate to join our growing Water team. You’ll play a senior technical role, leading small teams to deliver real-time flood forecasting projects, while helping to expand our services with the Environment Agency and beyond.

Although your primary focus will be on flood forecasting, you’ll also have opportunities to work on wider hydrology and non-real-time modelling projects.

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Produce and review Flood Forecasting Inception Stage Reports, including assessing the quality of existing models and hydrometric data.
• Develop, calibrate, and check flood forecasting models (e.g. PDM, Flood Modeller).
• Carry out non-real-time modelling and hydrological analysis using tools such as Flood Modeller, ICM, HEC-RAS, MIKE 11, and FEH hydrological methods.
• Produce and review high-quality technical reports, documenting model build and associated uncertainties.
• Lead and contribute to tenders for key clients.
• Mentor and support team members in their professional development.
• Build strong relationships with clients and colleagues across disciplines.
• Stay up to date with legislation and guidelines relevant to our services.
• Use AECOM’s project management systems to deliver high-quality outputs on time and within budget.

We are a growing, close-knit team of engineers, hydrologists, hydraulic modellers, technicians, and project managers. We support a wide range of clients, including local government, water companies, and private developers.

With 700 staff across the UK in locations such as Basingstoke, Belfast, Bristol, Chesterfield, Croydon, Edinburgh, Leeds, and Manchester; we’re flexible on where you’re based across England and Wales.

We value collaboration and development: from weekly team check-ins and client secondments, to site-based assignments and specialist training. You’ll have real opportunities to shape your career, whether that’s developing our international offering, driving innovation through technology, or becoming a mentoring champion for the team.

At AECOM, you’ll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customised to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Significant experience in flood forecasting modelling (Flood Modeller).
• Strong knowledge of Environment Agency requirements, including preparing flood forecasting models compatible with their Incident Management Forecasting Systems.
• Proven ability in applying and calibrating hydrological models in flood forecasting (e.g. Muskingum-Cunge, Probability Distribution Model).
• Excellent analytical skills, with experience in processing and analysing hydrometric data, including gauge rating reviews.
• A Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering or another relevant discipline.
• Strong GIS skills (QGIS, ArcGIS and/or MapInfo).
• Practical knowledge of scripting (Python, Anaconda, Ruby, or similar) would be an advantage.

If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you!