Planning Engineer

Texas Water Utilities; Sugar Land (TX); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health and wellness benefits

401(k) matching

Professional development

Life insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Resource Groups

Job summary

Texas Water Utilities, headquartered in Texas, is seeking a Planning Engineer based in Sugar Land with a hybrid work arrangement. The role focuses on planning system improvements, forecasting needs, and ensuring compliance with regulations across the state.

The engineer will evaluate capacity, risk, and capital budgets while coordinating with operations staff. The position emphasizes data analysis, modeling, and collaboration with internal stakeholders to support long-range planning and safe,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil, mechanical, sanitary, environmental engineering, or related field.
• Entry-level position; internship encouraged.
• 2 years of progressive water industry experience preferred.
• Experience with water/wastewater modeling software and GIS is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Gathers, analyzes, and compiles highly technical data for reports to management and agencies.
• Obtains and presents engineering information to internal stakeholders.
• Resolves engineering problems and explains new procedures and techniques.
• Prepares memos, letters, reports, and other communications.
• Establishes and updates Risk and Resilience matrices to plan projects.

Skills

Data analysis

Project management

GIS

CAD

Hydraulic analysis

Water/wastewater knowledge

Education

B.S. Degree in Civil/Mechanical/Sanitary/Environmental Engineering

Tools

WaterCAD

GIS software

CAD software

Job description

For over 50 years, Texas Water Utilities has been a trusted provider of water and wastewater utility services. Today, we serve over 143,000 customers in 207 Texas communities. Our service area reaches throughout the state of Texas from Mitchell County in central Texas to Matagorda on the Gulf Shores. It all starts with our people – proud members of their communities, dedicated to delivering safe, reliable, and cost-effective water utility services.

Overview

The Planning Engineer will plan for system improvements and capital needs of water and wastewater systems to ensure reliable delivery of service to our customers within the state. The engineer forecasts, analyzes, and plans water and wastewater systems and growth in accordance with local, state and federal regulations and ensures work is carried out in accordance with the corporate goals and philosophies.

Work Location and Schedule

Primarily based at our Sugar Land, TX office in a hybrid role. May require up to 25% travel within the state of Texas.

What We Offer

• Paid Time Off: Starting at 3 weeks annually along with 11 company-paid holidays.
• Health and Wellness Benefits: The first day of the month after your start, you’ll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well.
• 401(k) Program with Matching Contribution: We offer a 100% match on contributions up to 4% of your salary, plus an additional 3% employer contribution.
• Grow With Us: Professional development opportunities through training, professional certifications, and education allowance.
• Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include company provided life insurance and Employee Assistance Program just to name a few.
• Employee Resource Groups (ERG): ERGs are voluntary employee groups that form based on shared characteristics or backgrounds and are sponsored by the organization.

What You’ll Do

This position will be willing and able to perform the following duties and others as assigned:

• Gathers, analyzes, and compiles highly technical data for the preparation of special reports to management and governmental agencies that may require specialized investigation and analysis within any of the major engineering principles.
• Obtains and presents engineering information and data to internal stakeholders.
• Resolves engineering related problems and explains new procedures and techniques, etc.
• Prepares memos, letters, reports, and other communications.
• Establishes and updates Risk and Resilience of systems and regularly updates risk matrices to determine relative importance of projects, providing input for short- and long-term planning needs.
• Visits system sites for condition assessments and coordinates with operations staff on system performance and issues.
• Provides recommendations and guidance within Engineering and to Area Supervisors based on system modeling for capacity needs for pipelines wells, storage, and treatment facilities.
• Prepares hydraulic analysis and water flow calculations and provides analysis for new and future developments.
• Ranks relative importance of projects through matrices and other methods to aid with the annual and long-range capital budget, both forecasting future equipment needs and planning cost-effective strategies for meeting those needs.
• Promotes safe working conditions and assures that safety standards are followed.
• May oversee work of contracted consultants depending on business needs.
• May have other job-related duties assigned by management.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

What You’ll Bring

Education

B.S. Degree in Civil, Mechanical, Sanitary, Environmental Engineering, or related is required.

Experience

Experience

This is an entry level position as a graduate engineer. Prior engineering experience as an intern during college years is encouraged but not required.

Nice to Have

• 2 years of progressive experience in the water industry, including routine engineering responsibilities, preferably including project management capabilities of public works and/or water and wastewater utility projects.
• Experience with engineering modeling software for water and sewer systems, industry asset management practices, and general project management is preferred.
• Experience with water and wastewater system modeling software such as WaterCAD (or equivalent software) is desired.
• Experience using GIS map viewer software, and field data collection devices such as GPS, valve operating data, etc. is desirable.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Has ability to perform water and wastewater industry routine engineering practices and supervise personnel as assigned.
• Must be detail and goal oriented and able to independently plan and execute projects with minimal supervision.
• Often under deadline pressure, must be able to work effectively with several projects simultaneously.
• Experience with construction engineering/management, reviewing shop drawings and managing construction change orders is desired.
• Must be able to work with land developers, City Engineers and Public Works Directors concerning capital improvement planning/projects.
• Must be able to prepare written reports, letters and master plans.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Software, Microsoft Project, CAD software and/or other industry current and related software, data base program and hydraulic analysis software is required.

This position is primarily an office based-role and may be subjected to prolonged periods of sitting. Ability to traverse rough terrain around construction sites is required along with climbing and stooping to review construction work in progress. Ability to lift light loads of up to 25 lbs.

About Our Company

We are a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state, or local law.

We are an E-Verify participating employer.