Water Quality and Treatment Process Technical Lead

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water.

We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story.

As a principal engineer, with experience in drinking water quality and treatment process evaluation, assessment and design for water infrastructure projects, you will serve as technical lead for drinking water treatment process evaluation, planning studies and designs for projects that address treatment deficiencies, new regulations and aging infrastructure for both surface water and groundwater sources of supply.  You will also provide expertise in the troubleshooting and optimization of facilities and in addressing distribution system water quality issues and be responsible for the development of technical proposals. 

You will provide industry-leading drinking water treatment solutions right through the project lifecycle, with value added through client-side support as well as construction phases, including startup and commissioning. 

The position will play a critical role in Mott MacDonald’s Water Sector growth. Demonstrated knowledge of water treatment processes is required as wells as a background working with water utilities. Your range of drinking water treatment process experience may include but not be limited to the following:

•    Water treatment chemistry, including coagulation, oxidation and disinfection
•    Conventional and high-rate clarification technologies such as DAF, ballasted flocculation, plate settlers, tube settlers and traditional sedimentation
•    Conventional filtration facilities, including dual media filtration, GAC filtration and slow sand filtration
•    Membrane filtration technologies, including UF, MF, NF and RO systems
•    Ion exchange
•    Carbon adsorption
•    Disinfection methods, including both chemical and UV processes, and disinfection byproduct reduction strategies
•    Advanced oxidation techniques such as UV AOP, Ozone and Ozone AOP
•    Residuals treatment approaches, such as thickening and dewatering
•    Distribution system water quality troubleshooting to address issues such as disinfection byproducts, nitrification, or lead and copper corrosion.
•    You will ideally have extensive experience mentoring and supervising the work of others.

Your purpose:

• Manage a team to undertake technical work following relevant design standards and codes, and to high-quality levels.
• Prepare technical memos, scopes of work, and assist with the preparation of bid proposals.
• Successfully manage time and budgets to key project milestones and programs.
• Work closely with teams to deliver solutions for optimized water treatment and distribution system water quality.
• Adhere to quality assurance standards in design.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership for drinking water treatment  and distribution system water quality projects, using appropriate engineering methodology to give assurance that intended outcomes are identified and achieved. 
• Leadership in compiling quality deliverables for drinking water treatment facility and distribution system water quality assessment, identification of alternatives, bench and pilot scale tests, and preliminary and detailed design.
• Manage and coordinate multiple projects as part of a multidisciplinary design approach.
• Provide specialist advice on the interpretation of treatment process water quality data, resolving complex or contentious technical queries and issues and enabling others to take appropriate actions.
• Leading, mentoring, and supporting the technical development of junior staff.
• Manage water treatment process and water quality evaluations; provide stakeholders with accurate and relevant information and key recommendations.
• Act as subject matter expert in an area of technology, policy, regulation, or operational management for the team. 
• Manage and liaise with equipment suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors working in an integrated team.
• Liaise with customers, internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery. 
• Maintain external accreditations and in-depth understanding of current and emerging regulations and industry best practices through continuing professional development, attending conferences, and reading specialist media.
• Present at industry association conferences and author publications.
• Building on the strong foundation of water, wastewater and stormwater projects, help us increase our market share across North America.
• Growing and nurturing external relationships and build and maintain strong networks with key clients, business partners and competitors.
• Ensure technical excellence and best practice in the delivery of project outputs.
• Quality assurance following the relevant company Check, Review and Approve processes and QA management requirements.

The ideal candidate will have the following experience:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering. Master’s degree preferred.
• 15+ years’ experience in drinking water quality and treatment process evaluation, design and optimization.
• Professional engineering license (PE) in any State with eligibility for reciprocal licensing in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania.
• In-depth understanding of water chemistry, including lead and copper corrosion chemistry and disinfection byproducts mitigation.
• In-depth understanding and knowledge of current drinking water quality regulations as well as developing regulations.
• Sound knowledge of alternative process technologies, strategies, and configurations.
• Proficiency in developing bench and pilot scale testing protocol to select appropriate process strategies and formulate suitable basis of design for implementation.
• Identification, evaluation, and implementation of suitable innovative or novel approaches to water treatment process optimization and control, corrosion control strategies, and disinfection byproduct mitigation strategies.
• Experience in startup and monitoring of treatment processes and facilities.
• Significant experience in water utility infrastructure projects.
• Significant experience in managing project teams of multiple concurrent projects.
• Working in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Ability to network within a regional and global organization. 
• Demonstrated innovation and creative thinking.
• Demonstrated ability to develop technical skills amongst junior staff.

Our teams are comprised of bright and enthusiastic people who wish to make a difference to the world that we live in. If you share that vision and don’t have all the experience outlined in this posting, we still want to hear from you!

Let’s discuss how we can help you take the next step in your career and how you can participate in an exciting new chapter for Mott MacDonald in North America.

At Mott MacDonald, we provide a comprehensive benefit package that includes 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave and company paid life insurance. 

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills. 

Equal opportunity is the law. 

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.

Hybrid working policy

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.