PRINCIPAL WASTEWATER PROCESS ENGINEER

Why It's a Great Opportunity :

Maximise your chances of a successful application to this job by ensuring your CV and skills are a good match.

Joining Metro Water Recovery offers a unique chance to be part of a growing organization that serves over 2.2 million people across the Front Range of Colorado, operating two major wastewater facilities : the Robert W.

Hite Treatment Facility (Denver) and the Northern Treatment Plant (Brighton). As Metro continues its growth, this role places you at the forefront of transformation, engaging in cutting-edge research, process optimization, piloting, and the application of advanced technologies.

As a process engineer in our Technology & Innovation Department, you’ll lead high-impact projects, drive treatment process improvements, and mentor others, all while honing your expertise and leadership skills.

Metro is one of the few utilities that not only values but actively promotes a dedicated innovation program, recognized by our CEO as essential to our growth.

This environment offers significant opportunities for professional growth, allowing you to make meaningful contributions to both Metro, the broader community, and the environment.

Why It's a Great Department :

The Technology & Innovation Department is central to Metro Water Recovery’s mission to pioneer advancements in water and energy resource recovery.

We bring together specialists from Instrument Solutions, Data Analytics, and Process Engineering to push the boundaries of wastewater treatment.

Our department focuses on data-driven solutions, innovative research, and process optimization to shape Metro’s long-term strategies.

By integrating cutting-edge technologies, we develop practical solutions to complex challenges. In this dynamic environment, you’ll work with dedicated professionals passionate about improving resource management and environmental protection.

How to Be Successful in the Role :

To succeed in this role, you’ll need a strong technical foundation and deep subject matter expertise in wastewater process engineering and project management.

As a senior or principal engineer, your ability to manage and deliver complex projects is crucial, requiring excellent project management skills and the capacity to lead cross-functional teams toward impactful outcomes.

Strong communication and change management skills are essential. You will be responsible for managing stakeholder expectations, ensuring clear communication across departments, and effectively motivating and guiding your project teams.

Your leadership will be critical in identifying and mitigating project risks, fostering collaboration, and driving the adoption of new technologies and methodologies.

A commitment to continuous learning and staying ahead of industry advancements will be vital to your ongoing success.

Your Future in This Role :

In this role, you’ll be a key player in advancing Metro Water Recovery’s mission, leading and managing a team that drives critical projects in areas like process intensification and energy optimization.

Your work will directly enhance operational efficiency and support data-driven, science-based decision-making. As a senior or principal engineer, you’ll take on high-impact projects that integrate cutting-edge technologies, pilot new solutions, and contribute to Metro’s long-term capital strategies.

Wastewater Process Principal Engineer ($117,124.80 - $170,289.60 Annually)

Responsible for managing wastewater process engineering projects and staff, with a focus on driving innovation, technology adoption, and strategic initiatives.

The Principal Engineer plans and manages work requiring independent judgment in the evaluation, selection, substantial adaptation and modification of standard techniques, procedures, technologies, processes, and bench and full-scale pilot tests.

Independently performs assignments based on information received from management as to the general results expected. Functions as a project and / or program manager, directing and supervising the work of other engineers, engineering technicians, or interns.

This position reports to the Senior Wastewater Process Engineering Manager in the Technology & Innovation Department.

• Manage process engineering projects and initiatives, overseeing the entire project lifecycle and ensuring alignment with organizational goals and strategic objectives.
• Develop and implement innovative solutions and methodologies to address complex technical challenges and drive continuous improvement in wastewater process engineering.
• Proactively identify, investigate, research, and develop solutions for problems in all wastewater treatment plants and collection systems.

Oversee the review, analysis, and interpretation of data to drive operational recommendations and support organizational decisions.

• Design, conduct, and / or manage small and large pilot-scale testing and collaborate with external partners, academia, and research institutions on joint research projects, leveraging external expertise and resources to drive innovation and technology adoption.
• Research and evaluate new and emerging technologies and trends, contributing to the enhancement of existing systems and the application of new products or processes.
• Manage cross-functional teams in designing, developing, and testing process technologies, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and industry standards.
• Manage internal and external stakeholder groups to define project scope, gather requirements, and assess feasibility, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Direct staff in identifying relevant emerging trends, technologies, and industry best practices to track, and in conducting research and experimentation to evaluate potential applications and benefits.

Identify and contextualize consequences of proposed actions and lead implementation recommendations in support of goals.

• Direct staff in preparing well-written technical reports, white papers, facility plans / reports, and presentations, effectively communicating findings, insights, and recommendations to key stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Oversee the evaluation and selection of third-party vendors, technologies, and tools, guiding staff in how to assess their suitability, reliability, and compatibility with organizational requirements and working towards organizational alignment.
• Develop scopes of work for engineering consultant services contracts and evaluate proposals and bids. Establish and monitor budgets, including labor hours and schedules, for department projects.
• Lead and supervise engineering staff, providing guidance and technical expertise to facilitate their professional development and growth within the organization.
• Contribute to the development of strategic plans and initiatives, providing insights and recommendations based on your expertise and industry knowledge.
• Foster a culture of innovation and excellence within the team, encouraging experimentation, data-driven decision-making, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning.
• Manage updates and utilization of planning and financial models for Capital Expenditure Schedule updates and capacity planning, ensuring accuracy and reliability of data.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of :

Advanced and / or subject matter expertise in wastewater engineering principles and fundamentals, including mass and energy balances, fluid mechanics, process controls, and biological processes and kinetics and chemical reactions.

Advanced understanding of laboratory chemical, biochemical or microbiological analyses, wastewater operations, environmental science, or technology discipline.

• Conventional and advanced municipal wastewater treatment systems and processes and their interactions. Conceptual and detailed design, multi-objective process optimization, performance analysis, biosolids land application strategies, energy optimization, and operational and compliance strategies.
• Industry prominent biological, physical, and chemical process modeling utilizing tools, their application, strengths and limitations.

Basic and advanced laboratory chemical, biochemical and microbiological analysis methods, their interpretation and limitations.

Current and future requirements, industry standards, design policies, permitting procedures, and best practices related to the testing, development and implementation of innovative technologies in the US and Colorado context.

Knowledge of NPDES permit regulations and requirements.

• Advanced principles and practices of project development and planning, execution, scheduling, and risk management.
• Computer software including Microsoft Office Suite, hydraulic / process modeling, development, use, and maintenance of big data analytics tools, and data visualization platforms (Power BI, PiVision, etc).

Skilled at :

• Strategic thinking and decision-making, with the ability to develop and implement innovative solutions to complex challenges.
• Independently analyze relevant physical, biological, and chemical process data to troubleshoot and optimize treatment performance to maximize wastewater process operation efficiency, lower operational costs, and reduce permit compliance risk.
• Communication and interpersonal skills, adept at conveying technical concepts to diverse audiences and building consensus among stakeholders.
• Engineering design, project management and / or facility planning. Extensive expertise within innovative and strategic realms that have potential high value to the organization (e.

g., data analytics, sustainability, wastewater technology research, organizational design). Experience in wastewater process modeling (e.

g. BioWin, GPS-X, Sumo, SIMBA, or WEST).

• Project management and execution, including project planning, resource allocation, risk management, and budget oversight.
• Leadership and team management, with a proven track record of effectively leading and supervising multidisciplinary teams.
• Active listening skills and training and mentoring staff.
• Managing disagreements, de-escalating conflict, and negotiating win-win solutions.

Ability to :

• Initiate, drive, and manage high-value initiatives and strategic projects, aligning them with organizational goals and objectives.
• Critically review and provide improvements to engineering studies and designs prepared by staff and / or engineering consultants.
• Manage and direct staff resources in developing and implementing workflows to efficiently address and resolve complex engineering problems, ensuring robust and comprehensive solutions in coordination with other department teams.
• Critically evaluate academic and technical papers, synthesize their findings, and apply advanced concepts to practical and innovative process engineering challenges at Metro.

Network and collaborate with internal and external stakeholder groups to exchange knowledge.

• Guide staff in the analysis of plant process data and development of recommendations to optimize operational performance while minimizing life-cycle costs.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, consultants, contractors, and the public.
• Guide staff towards developing creative and innovative ideas; creatively foster a culture of innovation and learning within the team, encouraging experimentation, knowledge sharing, and continuous professional development.
• Guide staff to prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive technical reports, proposals, and presentations.
• Implement and enforce policies and procedures fairly and consistently.

Education, License, and Certification

Master’s degree in civil, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or other related engineering discipline from an accredited college or university.

Registered as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Colorado or equivalent license in another jurisdiction. If registered as a PE in another state, must apply for PE reciprocity in Colorado.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of the job, the employee is exposed to outdoor weather conditions 1 / 3 to 2 / 3 of the time and to work near moving mechanical parts;

environmental conditions; and risk of electrical shock less than 1 / 3 of the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of the job, the employee is required to talk or hear more than 2 / 3 of the time. The employee is required to walk;

sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl less than 1 / 3 of the time.

The employee must lift and / or move up to 50 pounds less than 1 / 3 of the time. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

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