Senior Engineer/Scientist (Hydrodynamics and Metocean) in Wallingford

At HR Wallingford, we design smart, resilient solutions across the natural and built environments to help everyone live and work more sustainably with water. By harnessing research, data insights and the power of our collective expertise, we help the world to better understand the changing influence and impact of water.

We are currently expanding our Hydrodynamic and Metocean Team, where support and problem sharing is an important part of our culture. We will provide you with an opportunity to keep developing your career in a world‑leading organisation.

In our Coasts and Oceans Group, within the Hydrodynamic and Metocean Team, we have projects involving modelling of hydrodynamics. We predict winds, waves, water levels and currents for design of coastal structures and investigate the impact of developments such as offshore wind farms, harbours or coastal developments.

• Analysis and interpretation of measured and hindcast metocean data
• Delivery of metocean analysis and computational wave modelling studies
• Lead and support the preparation of bids for metocean and coastal wave modelling studies
• Project management, including communication with the client
• Contribute to the development of in‑house tools and models
• Participate in internal forums, working groups, conferences to stay current with industry best practices and be at the forefront of research and technology.

For the role you will need to demonstrate:

• BSc/BEng and preferably MSc/MEng or PhD in a relevant field (e.g. oceanography, meteorology, applied mathematics, physics, civil engineering).
• Track record in estimating metocean extreme values for design criteria, including the quantification of uncertainties.
• Experience in the application of numerical wave models (e.g. SWAN, SWASH, FUNWAVE)
• Experience in programming using one or more languages: Python, Matlab, R
• Experience in managing projects
• Highly numerate with strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities
• Strong, effective communication skills, both verbally and in writing
• Collaborative teamwork
• Good attention to detail, record keeping, presentation and report writing skills
• Adaptability and self‑motivation

• Experience in the application of numerical wind models (e.g. WRF, WASP)
• Code management (GIT, branch management, unit testing)
• Knowledge of machine learning techniques and their limitations
• Knowledge of relevant industry standards
• GIS

Helping our people achieve a healthy work–life balance is important to us, and we would be happy to explore flexible working and job share arrangements. Please talk to us about the flexibility you need. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.

We deliver smart solutions where water interacts with people, infrastructure and the environment. It’s our exceptional people that make us who we are. A diverse range of individuals, we work together to push the boundaries of conventional thinking. We are innovators, bridging the gap between academia and industry. As a not‑for‑profit company, we don’t have shareholders; instead our profits are used to advance our research and to develop our people, our tools and our technology. We value the independence this brings us, our business and our environment in the long term, creating a company that we are all proud to be part of. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our workplace. We do not discriminate, and work to create an inclusive culture across our business.

Salary range: £42,000 - £55,000 dependant on experience. The closing date for applications is 25th May 2026.

If you are excited about this role but unsure whether you’re the right fit, we encourage you to apply. We’re also happy to answer any questions by emailing careers@hrwallingford.com. Interested? Please apply providing your CV with covering letter.