Principal Wastewater Engineer

Parsons; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons seeks a Senior Wastewater Engineer to join our Water and Wastewater team in the United States. This role provides technical leadership and process engineering expertise for municipal, industrial, manufacturing, groundwater, and advanced water treatment projects.

You will support projects from feasibility evaluations to detailed design, procurement, construction, startup, and operational troubleshooting, while collaborating with clients, vendors, and multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (or related field) required.
• Master's degree in Water/Wastewater Engineering preferred.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible design experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead process engineering activities for wastewater projects across multiple sectors.
• Develop and evaluate treatment solutions for contaminants including PFAS.
• Prepare design calculations, reports, and construction documents.
• Coordinate with civil, mechanical, electrical, and other disciplines.
• Mentor junior engineers and support project teams on technical matters.
• Represent Parsons in client meetings and provide technical direction.

Skills

Wastewater design

Process engineering

Feasibility studies

Project management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Master's degree in Water/Wastewater Engineering

Tools

CAD

BIM

Job description

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next!
At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what's possible.

Job Description:

Parsons is seeking a highly capable Senior Wastewater Engineer to join our Water and Wastewater team. This position will provide technical leadership and process engineering expertise for municipal, industrial, manufacturing, groundwater, leachate, and advanced water treatment projects throughout the United States, Canada, and potentially international locations.The successful candidate will support projects from feasibility evaluations and treatment process development through detailed design, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup, and operational troubleshooting. The role requires strong technical knowledge, excellent communication skills, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to work effectively with clients, vendors, constructors, and multidisciplinary project teams.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and perform process engineering activities for municipal, industrial, manufacturing, groundwater, leachate, and advanced water and wastewater treatment projects.
• Develop and evaluate treatment solutions for conventional and emerging contaminants, including PFAS.
• Apply wastewater treatment principles, process selection criteria, hydraulic fundamentals, equipment selection practices, and treatment system integration requirements.
• Lead or support feasibility studies, alternatives evaluations, white papers, treatability studies, and process development activities, including:
  • Bench- and pilot-scale testing
  • Laboratory testing and data interpretation
  • Biological and physical-chemical treatment evaluations
  • Emerging contaminant assessments
• Design and evaluate treatment systems incorporating technologies such as:
  • Headworks and preliminary treatment
  • Primary and secondary clarification
  • Biological treatment, aeration, and advanced biological processes
  • Membrane bioreactors and other membrane processes
  • Ozone, ultraviolet, and disinfection systems
  • Reverse osmosis and high-purity water treatment
  • Anaerobic digestion and biogas cogeneration
  • Solids handling and dewatering
  • Groundwater, soil, and leachate treatment
• Prepare and review process design calculations, design reports, technical memoranda, process flow diagrams, piping and instrumentation diagrams, equipment specifications, technical specifications, and construction documents.
• Prepare equipment requisitions, material takeoffs, cost estimates, scopes of work, and vendor or subcontractor requirements.
• Lead or support the design of wastewater treatment facilities, lagoons, wet utilities, conveyance systems, and related municipal infrastructure.
• Conduct field investigations, site assessments, process evaluations, and data collection to develop reliable design information and support troubleshooting.
• Support equipment selection, procurement, vendor coordination, construction, commissioning, startup, and operations.
• Review vendor submittals, contractor shop drawings, equipment documentation, and other technical deliverables.
• Observe and evaluate treatment system installation and confirm that construction aligns with design intent.
• Coordinate with civil, mechanical, electrical, structural, environmental, instrumentation and controls, CAD, BIM, and other technical disciplines.
• Work effectively with vendors, contractors, constructors, and design-build partners.
• Provide technical direction and mentoring to engineers, designers, and other project team members.
• Manage or support small- to medium-sized projects, tasks, and technical work packages.
• Represent Parsons in client meetings, presentations, interviews, proposal activities, and other business development efforts.
• Communicate technical recommendations, project goals, risks, costs, schedules, and results to clients, senior management, and internal stakeholders.
• Anticipate technical, schedule, cost, safety, and constructability issues and develop practical solutions.
• Support process safety activities, including HAZOP and PHA studies, and help ensure compliance with applicable health and safety requirements.
• Travel to client offices, project sites, laboratories, equipment suppliers, and construction locations as required. International travel may be available for qualified and interested candidates.
• Perform other responsibilities associated with this position as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (or related field)
• Master's degree in Water /Wastewater Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline preferred
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in the design, evalua