Principal Water Quality Scientist

Job Description

Are you ready to support a team of talented engineers and consultants in shaping the future of the water industry? 

Join our dynamic and multidisciplinary Water Environment team in one of our rapidly growing UK offices, as well as taking advantage of our flexible hybrid working model. At AECOM, we’re at the forefront of innovation, delivering an exceptional portfolio of water programmes and projects through long-term partnerships with key clients.

As a Principal Water Quality Modeller in our growing Water Environment team, you will be a senior technical resource who will guide our more junior staff and proactively aim to enhance our offering to water utilities, as well as industrial clients, Government agencies and local authorities. You will act as technical lead on a range of exciting and challenging water quality projects, collaborating with hydrologists, network modellers and engineers.

Our current and recent modelling projects include:

• Catchment wide chemical investigations for water companies
• Delivering improvements through working on water company’s Environmental Improvement Programme (WINEP), including investigations into causes of algal bloom in reservoirs and developing mitigation to combat these.
• Design, modelling and installation of Natural Flood Management measures plus river restoration schemes
• Developing catchment wide river restoration plans for both the Environment Agency as well as various water companies
• Nutrient modelling within rivers, lakes and estuarine/ coastal environments
• Developing a modelling approach and running these to inform management decisions, such as water level dependent designated sites.
• Delivering improvements through working on water company’s Environmental Improvement Programme (WINEP)
• Undertaking desk studies, consultation, water quality monitoring, and site surveys to assess the impact of major new infrastructure and developments including WFD assessments and Environmental Permitting
• Undertaking UPM studies and storm overflow investigations for water companies
• Deriving strategies to deliver catchment water quantity and quality improvements, driven by WFD and Local Nature Recovery requirements.

The majority of our work is in the fluvial environment, although a significant proportion is also focused on estuaries, lakes and the marine environment.

Here’s what you’ll do

This role will require you to lead water quality assessments in rivers and lakes, and also in transitional and coastal waterbodies, and lead the development of tools that will enable us to deliver efficiencies and innovative solutions for our clients. This position offers an unparalleled opportunity to be a technical lead in a talented and diverse team committed to innovation and efficiency.

Principal accountabilities:

• Conceptualisation and scoping of modelling approaches, with consideration of the risks and opportunities in each.
• Building and checking water quality models to assist in various studies such as Integrated Water management plan projects, permitting studies and EIAs
• Experience of any of the following packages desired: MIKE+, MIKE21/3 HD/AD/Ecolab, InfoWorks ICM, SAGIS-SIMCAT, Cormix.
• Produce and review of high-quality technical reports documenting model build and uncertainties in the model build process
• Lead and input into tenders ranging from innovative one-off projects to multimillion pound framework contracts.
• Mentor staff within the team to support their professional development
• Build relationships with clients and across other technical disciplines
• Keep up-to-date with developments in legislation and guidelines that may affect our services
• Use AECOM’s project management systems to deliver high-quality outputs to our clients in line with the agreed programme and budget
• Work closely with our clients and teams of engineers and technical specialists to help our clients deliver a wide range of fluvial and coastal surface water quality projects.

Being part of the team

We have over 100 Water Environment staff across the UK and Ireland, with hubs in Manchester, Leeds, Basingstoke, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Dublin, Nottingham, Croydon and Exeter. You can be based in any of these offices but will work closely with other teams across the UK.

We are a close-knit team of environmental modellers, hydrologists, water scientists, hydrogeologists, geomorphologists, hydroecologists and project managers.

Our current clients in the UK vary from water companies, private developers and local government. We also have large contracts for Middle Eastern clients where you could be working on some of the most ambitious projects in the world.

We offer a flexible hybrid working model. As a member of our team, you will enjoy a comprehensive benefits package with a range of flexible choices covering health, finance, lifestyle, well-being and more.

Qualifications

Here’s what we will need from you

• Expertise in water quality, including knowledge on compounds such as cryptosporidium, PFAS, geosmin and disinfection by products and effective treatment means
• Significant experience in fluvial and/or coastal water quality modelling software including demonstrable knowledge of Environment Agency requirements for UPM or WINEP studies, and experience of model build for such studies
• Experience completing mass balance calculations including simple, flow-weighted and Monte Carlo statistical approaches plus understanding of hydrological assessments and tools (e.g. REFH2, FEH)
• Practical knowledge of scripting programmes such as Python, Anaconda, R would be advantageous along with strong GIS skills (QGIS, ArcGIS and / or MapInfo)
• Masters degree (or equivalent) in hydrology, engineering, maths or other relevant discipline
• Experienced in technical project delivery (from bid preparation, drafting technical proposals to project management) with strong report writing skills and an ability to clearly present complex technical information visually and orally to a wide audience

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!

Additional Information

Additional information

Interested in the role or curious about life at AECOM? Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects, and much more! 

For further information about the role, reach out to the recruiter on LinkedIn (Melissa Moody). 

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity 

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address ReasonableAccommodations@aecom.com  if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

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.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

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