Associate Drinking Water Process Engineer

Black & Veatch Corporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 91,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

Black & Veatch Corporation in Los Angeles is seeking an Associate Drinking Water Process Engineer to join a global water team. You will apply conventional water treatment knowledge to coagulation, clarification, softening and advanced processes, under supervision from senior engineers.

The role offers diverse project work, opportunities to contribute to design deliverables, support business development, and mentor interns while growing expertise in membrane filtration, desalination, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering with at least 1 year of related work experience.
• Master’s or Doctoral degree in civil/environmental/chemical engineering preferred.
• Working knowledge of municipal water treatment design principles and client services.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparation of engineering deliverables: mass balance calculations, design criteria, P&IDs and studies.
• Support multiple projects under supervision on complex technical challenges.
• Participate in bench, pilot, and full-scale testing for performance assessment of treatment processes.
• Develop recommendations for treatment processes, equipment, and materials selections.
• Coordinate with internal/external teams for successful project execution.
• Contribute to business development activities and proposal development.

Skills

Water treatment

Process design

Team coordination

Communication skills

Problem solving

Mentoring interns

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Advanced degree (Master’s/Doctoral) preferred

Tools

P&IDs

Job description

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Associate Drinking Water Process Engineer

Date: Sep 24, 2026

Location: Los Angeles, CA, US Murrieta, CA, US Irvine, CA, US

Company: Black & Veatch Family of Companies

Together, we own our company, our future, and our shared success.

As an employee-owned company, our people are Black & Veatch. We put them at the center of everything we do and empower them to grow, explore new possibilities and use their diverse talents and perspectives to solve humanity's biggest challenges in an ever-evolving world. With over 100 years of innovation in sustainable infrastructure and our expertise in engineering, procurement, consulting and construction, together we are building a world of difference.

Company :Black & Veatch Corporation

Opportunity Type :Staff

Project Only Hire :No

Why Black & Veatch?

At Black & Veatch, you’ll be part of work that matters—designing, creating, and building the infrastructure communities rely on every day, from concept through execution.

We care about how the work gets done as much as what we build. Safety is built into every decision, and people look out for each other—speaking up, collaborating, and doing the right thing because it affects real lives.

You’ll work alongside teams solving complex challenges and turning ideas into solutions that perform in the real world—gaining hands‑on experience across projects, technologies, and disciplines.

Ownership shows up in how we work. We take responsibility for outcomes, follow through on commitments, and take pride in what we deliver. As a 100% employee-owned company, employees share in the long‑term success we build together.

With flexible ways of working and meaningful development opportunities, you’ll build a career you can be proud to stand behind.

The Opportunity

Functions in a water process engineer role as a mid-level engineer in water treatment. Possesses knowledge of conventional water treatment and is familiar with some of the processes such as coagulation, clarification, softening, media filtration, and advanced water treatment processes, such as membrane filtration (microfiltration/ultrafiltration), reverse osmosis (brackish, seawater), UV/AOP, ozonation, carbon adsorption, and/or distribution system water quality. Any experience in water reuse, brackish and seawater desalination is desirable. Bench‑scale and pilot experience is also desirable.

Under supervision and guidance from senior process experts, applies advanced water treatment and engineering techniques, concepts, and approaches to complex engineering problems for a wide range of water quality and treatment challenges.. Will expand knowledge over time in other areas and will interact with multi‑disciplinary design teams to implement complex treatment solutions. Assists in developing, validating, and presenting specialist/technical output to clients and key stakeholders.Assists in business development activities and external marketing opportunities such as presenting at local/national conferences, building/maintaining client relationships, and supporting new business pursuits and proposal development.

Your role would include diverse opportunities in the water treatment area that range from treatment of conventional water sources, brackish and seawater desalination, and reuse applications. You will be part of a team that directs the process design for projects around the world for a global engineering firm.

The Team

Black & Veatch Process Engineers develop technical solutions that are critical to winning work and drive design deliverables for critical infrastructure projects with community benefits. Our Team of over 200 process engineers support water, industrial, next generation agriculture, LNG, hydrogen, fertilizer, and carbon capture businesses among others. We have transformed our team to align with megatrends associated with water scarcity, limited resources, alternative fuels, and energy sustainability. Our industry leading solutions modernize infrastructure, optimize asset use, reduce cost, and mitigate risk.

Why BVs Process Engineering Team?

• The work is rewarding and meaningful
• The team is comprised of supportive and appreciative professionals
• Career opportunities exist in many rapidly expanding business solutions

Key Responsibilities

• Assists in preparation of a variety of engineering deliverables, including process/mass balance calculations, design criteria/basis of design memoranda, process flow diagrams, process and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), tradeoff studies, and master planning studies
• Under the guidance of a senior process engineer, supports multiple projects simultaneously with complex technical challenges
• Active role in applied research activities involving bench, pilot, and full-scale testing to select or assess performance of alternative treatment processes
• Capable of independently developing recommendations for appropriate treatment processes, equipment and/or materials selection
• Assists in collection, assimilation, analysis, and management of data for process design work
• Prepares moderately complex engineering calculations following standard methods and principles
• With guidance from senior process engineers, applies advanced engineering techniques and problem‑solving analyses
• Demonstrates strong technical writing skills and effective communication
• Actively coordinates with internal and external team members for successful project execution

Client Focus:

• Actively seeks to understand client interests and drivers through normal client contact and through interaction and communication with project leadership
• Applies understanding of client interests and drivers to their own behavior and performance of the work under his/her responsibility
• Working closely with senior professionals, may provide support to business development or pursuit activities, including involvement in pre-positioning meetings and proposal development,

People Management:

• Helps support knowledge management and provides mentoring to interns and junior engineers
• May assist with performance management process, mentoring, and recognition for interns and junior engineers
• Continues to learn and remains current on departmental design guides, standards, systems, applicable engineering codes and Black and Veatch Policies and Procedures
• Applies standards to assigned tasks as appropriate

Quality / Continuous Improvement:

• Begins to independently apply knowledge and complies with Black & Veatch quality program relative to assigned tasks
• Supports continuous improvement and change management efforts

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or Doctoral) in civil, environmental, or chemical engineering preferred.
• 5 years of experience in water treatment
• Working knowledge of process design for treatment of municipal effluent for reuse, brackish and seawater desalination, brine management, engineering design principles and applicable design guides and standards related to assigned engineering discipline
• Understanding of consulting, project execution, client services, and business development.
• Effective written and oral communications, Learning on the Fly, Drive for Results, Priority Setting, Planning, Informing, Listening, And Dealing with Ambiguity

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering from either a recognized accredited program in their home country or the country in which the professional is practicing.
• Minimum of 1 year related work experience.
• All applicants must be able to complete pre‑employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

Hybrid or flexible work options may be offered after the first 90 days of employment based upon manager discretion, job performance and work assignments.

Salary Plan

Job Grade

015

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Black & Veatch is committed to being an employer of choice by creating a valuable work experience that keeps our people engaged, productive, safe and healthy.

Our comprehensive benefits portfolio is a key component of this commitment and offers an array of health care benefits including but not limited to medical, dental and vision insurances along with disability and a robust wellness program.

To support a healthy work‑life balance, we offer flexible work schedules, paid vacation and holiday time, sick time, and dependent sick time.

A variety of additional benefits are available to our professionals, including a company‑matched 401k plan, adoption reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, vendor discounts, an employment referral program, AD&D insurance, pre‑taxed accounts, voluntary legal plan and the B&V Credit Union. Professionals may also be eligible for a performance‑based bonus program.

We are proud to be a 100 percent ESOP‑owned company. As employee‑owners, our professionals are empowered to drive not only their personal growth, but the company’s long‑term achievements - and they share in the financial rewards of the success through stock ownership.

By valuing diverse voices and perspectives, we cultivate an authentically inclusive environment for professionals and are able to provide innovative and effective solutions for clients.

BVH, Inc., its subsidiaries and its affiliated companies, complies with all Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations. Black & Veatch does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender Identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status or other status protected by law.

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In accordance with local law, the following Annual compensation range is applicable for the job and location associated with this requisition:$91,047.00-$158,965.00