Applied Research Engineer – Water

Jobtailor; Hanover (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Hanover, MD seeks an experienced environmental engineer to conduct applied research on emerging contaminants and microbial water quality, leading pilot-scale studies and coordinating with utilities to deploy solutions.

The role involves planning and delivering municipal water and wastewater projects, coordinating with cross-functional teams, and supporting business development through proposals and client engagement. Occasional travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of relevant experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental, Mechanical or related field.
• EIT Certification or Professional Engineering (PE) License.
• Experience developing and leading laboratory, field, and pilot-scale research programs.
• Experience with experimental design, data analysis, technical reporting, and implementation of findings.
• Project leadership experience, including managing project delivery expectations, prioritizing tasks, and mentoring.
• Client management skills, including proposal preparation and client relationship building.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Preferred: Ph.D. or M.S. in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Microbiology, or related field.
• Preferred experience with emerging contaminants, PFAS, water quality, disinfection and microbial systems, treatment process evaluation, managed aquifer recharge, wastewater treatment, or regulatory research.
• Preferred record of technical writing, publications, presentations, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Conduct applied research and technical evaluations related to emerging contaminants, microbial water quality, and advanced treatment technologies.
• Partner with utilities to pilot, validate, and implement science-based solutions.
• Support drinking water and wastewater treatment projects through process evaluations, optimization studies, PFAS investigations and treatment solutions, pilot testing, regulatory compliance assessments, and implementation planning.
• Support planning, design, and delivery of municipal water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary project teams and support project managers in developing scopes, schedules, budgets, and project deliverables.
• Participate in client meetings, workshops, business development efforts, and proposal preparation.
• Travel periodically for project site visits, conferences, and client engagements.
• Contribute to innovative solutions for municipal and utility clients.

Skills

EIT Certification

Project Leadership

Client Management

Excellent Verbal Communication

Excellent Written Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental, Mechanical or related field

Ph.D. or M.S. preferred in Environmental/ Civil/ Microbiology or related field

Job description

• Conduct applied research and technical evaluations related to emerging contaminants, microbial water quality, and advanced treatment technologies
• Partner with utilities to pilot, validate, and implement science-based solutions
• Support drinking water and wastewater treatment projects through process evaluations, optimization studies, PFAS investigations and treatment solutions, pilot testing, regulatory compliance assessments, and implementation planning
• Support planning, design, and delivery of municipal water and wastewater infrastructure projects
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary project teams and support project managers in developing scopes, schedules, budgets, and project deliverables
• Participate in client meetings, workshops, business development efforts, and proposal preparation
• Travel periodically for project site visits, conferences, and client engagements
• Contribute to innovative solutions for municipal and utility clients

Requirements

• Minimum 4 years of relevant experience
• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental, Mechanical or a related field of study
• EIT Certification or Professional Engineering (PE) License
• Experience developing and leading laboratory, field, and pilot-scale research programs
• Experience with experimental design, data analysis, technical reporting, and implementation of findings
• Project leadership experience, including managing project delivery expectations, prioritizing tasks, and mentoring
• Client management skills, including proposal preparation and client relationship building
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Preferred: Ph.D. or M.S. in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Microbiology, or a related field
• Preferred experience with emerging contaminants, PFAS, water quality, disinfection and microbial systems, treatment process evaluation, managed aquifer recharge, wastewater treatment, or regulatory research
• Preferred record of technical writing, publications, presentations, and interdisciplinary collaboration

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in applied research and technical evaluations related to emerging contaminants and microbial water quality, with a strong focus on project leadership and client management in municipal water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• EIT Certification
• Professional Engineering (PE) License
• Project Leadership Experience
• Client Management Skills
• Experience with Emerging Contaminants

Hard Skills

• Experimental Design
• Data Analysis
• Technical Reporting
• Implementation of Findings
• Process Evaluations
• Optimization Studies
• PFAS Investigations
• Pilot Testing
• Regulatory Compliance Assessments
• Treatment Process Evaluation

Soft Skills

• Excellent Verbal Communication
• Excellent Written Communication
• Mentoring

Certifications & Qualifications

• EIT Certification
• Professional Engineering (PE) License

Industry Keywords

• Emerging Contaminants
• Microbial Water Quality
• Wastewater Treatment
• Drinking Water
• Managed Aquifer Recharge
• Regulatory Research
• Disinfection Systems
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration