Lead Hydraulic Modeller – Flood Risk & Infrastructure

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach have set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world. Our water team works in 90 countries, collaborating across over 50 related technical and advisory disciplines. This is how we’re able to respond to such a wide range of water projects and programmes, from the Shanghai drainage masterplan to the expertise and detailed design on Mansfield Sustainable Flood Resilience.

We use consultancy, engineering and research to bring the most insightful approaches to water projects wherever they are in the world. Arup helps the world manage its water, from the supply of clean drinking water to understanding flood risks, from drainage to sanitation. Across the UK, our multi-disciplinary water professionals support clients on projects ranging from national policy development, adaptive pathways strategies, strategic water resource and wastewater planning, and investment plans and strategic business cases.

The Opportunity: Our Leeds Water team continues to grow, driven by increasing demand for high-quality hydraulic modelling, hydrology and flood risk expertise across major UK infrastructure programmes. To strengthen our technical capability in this critical discipline area, we are seeking a Principal Hydraulic Modeller to take a key leadership role within our hydraulic and flood risk practice.

In this senior position, you will lead and assure complex hydraulic modelling workstreams, providing expert guidance across Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales frameworks, local authority flood risk schemes, and major infrastructure design and Development Consent Order (DCO) projects. You will oversee modelling assignments, develop robust hydrological assessments, ensure modelling outputs feed effectively into appraisal and design processes, and shape the technical direction of modelling delivery across the region.

This is an exciting opportunity to apply deep technical expertise, guide multi-disciplinary teams, mentor emerging talent and influence strategic modelling capacity across Leeds and the wider North.

What You Will Do: You will lead the development, calibration and assurance of 1D/2D hydraulic models using tools such as Flood Modeller, TUFLOW, InfoWorks or equivalent. You will manage modelling across feasibility, optioneering, outline design, full business cases and detailed design, ensuring outputs meaningfully inform economic appraisal, risk assessment and scheme development. You will provide technical sign-off on modelling deliverables at senior (G6) level and ensure modelling approaches meet the standards required for major flood risk and infrastructure programmes.

Acting as technical lead or task manager, you will support major Environment Agency, NRW and local authority projects, developing scopes, resource plans, programme schedules and fees for modelling work packages. You will ensure delivery meets expectations for technical quality, cost control, risk management and programme, while leading internal reviews, audits and quality assurance processes. Where appropriate, you will coordinate external suppliers such as hydrology specialists and subcontracted modelling partners.

You will play a key role in mentoring junior modellers, hydrologists and graduates, an identified priority for the Leeds team. You will provide day-to-day technical guidance, act as a point of escalation for modelling challenges, and contribute to building internal capability to reduce reliance on external supply chains.

You will build strong working relationships with Environment Agency teams, local authorities and delivery partners. You will present modelling outputs to technical and non-technical audiences, support bidding activities, and contribute to work-winning and networking across Leeds and the wider North.

Is This Role Right for You? We are looking for someone with:

• Technical Expertise: Extensive experience in 1D/2D hydraulic modelling and hydrology for flood risk and water infrastructure projects. Proficiency in Flood Modeller, TUFLOW, InfoWorks, with experience of linked river–floodplain models desirable. Strong knowledge of UK flood risk policy, EA technical standards, FCERM guidance and assurance processes. Experience working within major frameworks (EA, CDF, NRW) is highly advantageous. Experience integrating hydraulic modelling with appraisal, economics, environmental assessment and design teams.
• Professional Attributes: Ability to lead technical teams and coordinate multi-disciplinary delivery. Strong communicator capable of managing clients, stakeholders and internal delivery partners. Demonstrable experience providing senior technical oversight and quality assurance. Experience mentoring, coaching and developing early-career professionals.
• Qualifications: Degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology or related discipline. Chartered (ICE, CIWEM or similar) preferred.

What we offer you: At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all our members can belong, grow and thrive through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

Different people, shared values: Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact Ali.wallace@arup.com to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role.