Water/Wastewater Program Engineer

Water/Wastewater Program Engineer

Slater Infrastructure Group LLC is seeking a Water/Wastewater Process Engineer to serve as a technical leader on municipal water and wastewater infrastructure programs. This position is responsible for the evaluation, design, and optimization of treatment processes across the full spectrum of water supply, water reclamation, and resource recovery facilities. The Process Engineer works at the intersection of engineering design, regulatory compliance, and operational performance, translating client needs into constructable, cost-effective treatment solutions.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in treatment process fundamentals combined with practical experience delivering projects through all phases from planning and preliminary engineering through detailed design, construction support, and commissioning. This role requires independent technical judgment, strong collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and the ability to communicate complex process concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Treatment Process Design and Analysis

• Lead process engineering design for water treatment facilities including coagulation/flocculation, sedimentation, filtration (gravity, pressure, and membrane), disinfection (chlorine, UV, ozone), fluoridation, and corrosion control systems.
• Lead process engineering design for wastewater treatment facilities including preliminary treatment (screening, grit removal), primary clarification, biological treatment (activated sludge, BNR, MBR, MBBR, SBR), secondary clarification, tertiary filtration, and disinfection.
• Design chemical handling and feed systems for treatment chemicals including coagulants, polymers, lime/caustic, sodium hypochlorite, carbon sources, and specialty chemicals.
• Develop and evaluate nutrient removal strategies (nitrogen and phosphorus) to meet increasingly stringent effluent limits and total maximum daily load (TMDL) requirements.
• Design solids handling and biosolids processing systems including thickening, digestion (aerobic and anaerobic), dewatering, drying, and beneficial reuse or disposal.
• Evaluate and recommend resource recovery technologies including biogas utilization, struvite recovery, heat recovery, and water reuse/reclamation systems.
• Perform process capacity analyses, hydraulic profiles, mass balance calculations, and energy assessments for existing and proposed treatment facilities.
• Develop basis of design reports, process design criteria, and technical memoranda to support project deliverables.

Instrumentation, Controls, and Multidisciplinary Coordination

• Develop and review piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), process flow diagrams (PFDs), and process control narratives.
• Specify process instrumentation including flow meters, level sensors, analyzers (pH, DO, turbidity, chlorine residual, nutrient analyzers), and control valves.
• Coordinate with SCADA, electrical, structural, civil, and mechanical engineers to integrate process designs into facility-wide plans and specifications.
• Prepare equipment specifications, data sheets, and procurement evaluations for major process equipment (blowers, pumps, mixers, clarifier mechanisms, membrane systems, UV systems).
• Support development of SCADA control strategies and alarm setpoints for treatment process automation.
• Participate in constructability reviews, value engineering sessions, and interdisciplinary design reviews.

Regulatory Compliance and Permitting Support

• Ensure treatment facility designs meet applicable NPDES permit requirements, state environmental regulations, and federal Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act standards.
• Evaluate facility performance against current and anticipated regulatory requirements; recommend upgrades to achieve and maintain compliance.
• Support permitting activities including preparation of engineering reports, permit applications, and responses to regulatory agency comments.
• Provide technical support for consent decree compliance, integrated planning, and long-term control plan development as applicable.
• Assess emerging regulatory trends (e.g., PFAS, microplastics, lead and copper rule revisions) and advise clients on potential design implications.

Operations Support and Optimization

• Provide process troubleshooting support and root-cause analysis for treatment performance issues at client facilities.
• Conduct process optimization studies to improve effluent quality, reduce chemical consumption, lower energy costs, and increase treatment capacity within existing infrastructure.
• Develop standard operating procedures, O&M manuals, and operator training materials for treatment systems.
• Support facility commissioning, startup, and performance testing for new and upgraded treatment systems.
• Evaluate pilot study results and bench-scale testing data to inform full-scale design decisions.

Construction-Phase Engineering Support

• Review contractor submittals, shop drawings, and RFIs related to treatment process equipment and systems.
• Conduct periodic site visits to assess construction progress and conformance with process design intent.
• Support resolution of field issues, change orders, and design clarifications during construction.
• Participate in factory acceptance testing (FAT) for major process equipment.
• Lead or support functional testing, process startup, and performance acceptance testing of treatment facilities.

Client Engagement and Business Development

• Prepare and present technical findings, design recommendations, and project updates to clients, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Support proposal development including scope narratives, technical approaches, level-of-effort estimates, and staff qualifications.
• Contribute to master planning studies, feasibility analyses, and capital improvement program development for municipal utility clients.
• Mentor junior engineers and support professional development within the process engineering discipline.
• Participate in peer reviews of designs prepared by internal staff, partner firms, or client engineering teams.

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited program.

Licensure: Current registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in at least one U.S. state. Ability to obtain PE licensure by reciprocity in the state(s) where projects are located.

Experience: Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in water and/or wastewater process engineering, including treatment plant design, process evaluation, and construction-phase engineering services.

Demonstrated Project Experience (must meet at least one):

• Managed and served as responsible-in-charge for at least 8 projects involving the design of water or wastewater treatment plant upgrades, pumping stations, or comparable water/wastewater infrastructure with a combined construction value of not less than $30 million.
• Served as lead process engineer on at least 6 projects involving treatment facility evaluations, process design, or facility upgrades for municipal water or wastewater systems.
• Demonstrated experience across at least three of the following treatment disciplines: preliminary/primary treatment, biological nutrient removal, filtration/membrane systems, disinfection, solids handling/biosolids, chemical feed systems, or water treatment (conventional or advanced).

Technical Competencies:

• Strong command of treatment process fundamentals: unit process design, reaction kinetics, hydraulics, mass transfer, and microbiology as applied to water and wastewater treatment.
• Proficiency preparing and reviewing P&IDs, PFDs, hydraulic profiles, mass balances, and equipment specifications.
• Experience with process simulation and modeling software such as BioWin, GPS-X, SUMO, EPANET, WaterGEMS, or equivalent tools.
• Proficiency with engineering design and documentation tools including AutoCAD, MicroStation, or Revit for coordination with design teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience preparing technical reports, design memoranda, and client presentations.

The following qualifications are not required but are highly valued and will strengthen a candidate’s application:

– Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering, with coursework or research focused on water or wastewater treatment processes.

– Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) through the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists.

– Experience with large-scale municipal treatment facility upgrades (50 MGD or greater capacity).

– Experience with alternative project delivery methods including design-build, progressive design-build, and CMAR.

– Familiarity with resource recovery and sustainability initiatives including energy-neutral treatment, nutrient recovery, and water reuse/reclamation.

– Experience supporting consent decree compliance programs or integrated planning efforts for combined sewer systems.

– Demonstrated experience with emerging contaminant treatment (PFAS, pharmaceuticals, microplastics) including pilot testing and full-scale implementation.

– Experience with condition assessment and rehabilitation of existing treatment infrastructure.

– Proficiency with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling for tank and process optimization.

– Publication history or conference presentations in water/wastewater treatment topics.

– Active involvement in professional organizations such as WEF, AWWA, or state water/wastewater associations.

– Valid water and/or wastewater operator’s license (Class I, II, III, or IV) issued by any U.S. state.

The annual salary range for this position is $150,000 to $200,000, commensurate with experience, licensure, and qualifications. Slater Infrastructure Group LLC offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being and professional growth of our team:

– Medical, dental, and vision insurance with multiple plan options

– Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution

– 401(k) retirement plan with company match

– Paid time off (PTO) including vacation, sick leave, and personal days

– Paid holidays (12 company holidays per year)

– Company-paid life insurance and short-term/long-term disability coverage

– PE license renewal and professional society membership dues paid by the company

– Employee assistance program (EAP)

– Flexible work arrangements and hybrid schedule options where project demands allow

This position is primarily office-based with regular visits to active construction sites and operating treatment facilities. Site visits may involve exposure to outdoor weather conditions, confined spaces, elevated platforms, heavy equipment, and treatment chemicals. Candidates must be able to navigate uneven terrain, climb ladders and stairs, and wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) including hard hat, safety glasses, steel-toed boots, and hearing protection. Occasional travel to project sites, client offices, and professional conferences is expected (up to 25%).

Slater Infrastructure Group LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.