Principal Water Engineer

Mott MacDonald Group; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 153,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

Benefits package

401(k) plan with company matching

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Mott MacDonald seeks a Principal Wastewater Engineer to lead and grow our wastewater practice across NY, NJ, PA and MA. You will balance client leadership with technical oversight, delivering municipal wastewater projects from planning through construction.

You will mentor project managers and technical staff, build strategic accounts, and shape pipeline growth while sustaining high-quality design and performance in a collaborative, hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil, environmental, chemical or related engineering.
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible wastewater engineering experience.
• Demonstrated success developing, managing and growing municipal wastewater client accounts.
• Strong municipal wastewater treatment planning and process design experience.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary projects from planning through final design and construction.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement growth strategies for priority wastewater clients and regional accounts.
• Build trusted relationships with utility leaders, public agencies, plant operators and industry partners.
• Identify upcoming needs, position the team for future opportunities and lead capture planning for strategic pursuits.
• Lead proposals, client interviews, presentations, contract negotiations and account-development activities.
• Serve as project director, project manager or principal-in-charge for major wastewater assignments.
• Provide technical leadership for wastewater treatment planning, process evaluations, troubleshooting, NPDES permitting, facility design and plant upgrades.

Skills

Leadership

Client communication

Project management

Technical leadership

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil, environmental, chemical engineering

Master's degree in civil, environmental or chemical engineering

Job description

At Mott MacDonald, we are driven by purpose and powered by brilliant people. As a trusted engineering, management, and development consultancy, we work with clients to solve complex challenges and deliver sustainable outcomes that make a meaningful difference for the communities we serve.

When you join us as an experienced professional, you will bring your expertise to work that matters while continuing to grow your career. You will collaborate with talented colleagues across disciplines and geographies, contribute your perspective, and help shape better outcomes through technical excellence, innovation, and integrity.

Build on your experience while helping shape what comes next.

At Mott MacDonald, you'll work alongside talented people on complex and rewarding projects that make a real difference. We value fresh perspectives, encourage collaboration, and provide opportunities to expand your skills, take on new challenges, and grow your career. Whether you're deepening your technical expertise, broadening your leadership experience, or exploring new opportunities across our business, you'll be supported by a team that is committed to helping you succeed.

We are seeking a Principal Wastewater Engineer to help lead and grow our wastewater technical discipline across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. This senior role will combine client and account leadership with technical oversight and project delivery, focusing primarily on municipal wastewater treatment with additional involvement in collection, conveyance and pumping systems.

The successful candidate will develop trusted relationships with municipal utilities and public agencies, identify and shape new opportunities, and lead strategic pursuits. This individual will also serve as a senior technical adviser, providing direction and quality oversight for complex wastewater treatment and infrastructure projects from planning through construction.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement growth strategies for priority wastewater clients and regional accounts.
• Build trusted relationships with utility leaders, public agencies, plant operators and industry partners.
• Identify upcoming needs, position the team for future opportunities and lead capture planning for strategic pursuits.
• Lead proposals, client interviews, presentations, contract negotiations and account-development activities.
• Serve as project director, project manager or principal-in-charge for major wastewater assignments.
• Provide technical leadership for wastewater treatment planning, process evaluations, troubleshooting, NPDES permitting, facility design and plant upgrades.
• Oversee the development of design criteria, process calculations, hydraulic profiles, mass balances, equipment sizing and facility layouts.
• Guide evaluations and designs involving headworks, primary and biological treatment, nutrient removal, clarification, disinfection, biosolids treatment and handling, chemical feed systems, advanced treatment, wet weather treatment and ancillary systems.
• Experience with sanitary sewer, force main, pump station, inflow and infiltration, wet-weather management and process-piping projects.
• Direct multidisciplinary teams and oversee project scope, schedule, budget, quality, commercial performance and risk.
• Support projects during bidding, construction, commissioning and start-up, including resolution of complex technical and operational issues.
• Mentor project managers and technical staff while supporting succession planning and regional team development.

The required technical foundation is modelled on experience spanning municipal and industrial wastewater, treatment process development, plant upgrades, advanced oxidation, membranes, intensification and innovative processes, sanitary and storm sewer design, and wastewater conveyance networks.

We invite applications from candidates with the following experience:

• Bachelor's degree in civil, environmental, chemical or related engineering.
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible wastewater engineering experience.
• Demonstrated success developing, managing and growing municipal wastewater client accounts.
• Strong municipal wastewater treatment planning and process design experience.
• Working knowledge of wastewater collection, conveyance and pumping systems is preferred.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary projects from planning and preliminary design through final design and construction.
• Proven ability to manage project financial performance, contracts, schedules, quality and risk.
• Experience leading proposals, client interviews and strategic business-development activities.
• Strong relationships with municipal utilities, public agencies or wastewater authorities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor and develop technical and project-management staff.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation and client communication skills.
• Professional Engineer license in at least one US jurisdiction, with the ability to obtain licensure in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
• Treatment plant optimization, operational troubleshooting, commissioning and start-up.
• Ability to travel to clients and project sites throughout the region.

Preferred experience

• Established wastewater client relationships in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Massachusetts.
• Experience developing account plans and converting client needs into funded projects.
• Activated sludge, biological nutrient removal, plant hydraulics, wet-weather treatment and solids handling.
• Advanced treatment, membranes, intensification and innovative treatment processes, water reuse, industrial wastewater or high-strength waste streams.
• Design and oversight of bench scale, pilot and demonstration studies to evaluate alternative or innovative treatment approaches for full scale applications.
• Wastewater collection-system rehabilitation, inflow and infiltration reduction, force mains and pumping stations.
• Delivery of large or complex public-sector wastewater programs.
• Alternative project delivery, program management or design-build experience.
• Participation in professional organizations and regional water industry activities.
• Master's degree in civil, environmental or chemical engineering.

What success looks like

The successful candidate will become a recognized client and technical leader for the regional wastewater technical discipline. This individual will strengthen relationships with priority accounts, create and convert a sustainable pipeline of opportunities, improve project delivery and commercial performance, and provide senior technical guidance to project teams.

The Principal Wastewater Engineer will also help expand the team's ability to deliver complex wastewater projects, develop future technical and project leaders, and enhance the organization's reputation across the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts wastewater market.

Bring your expertise, curiosity, and drive to make a difference. If you are ready to join a collaborative consultancy where your perspective is valued, your growth is supported, and you are empowered to lead with integrity, we would love to hear from you.

Benefits & Rewards

The expected salary for this position in NY is $153000 - $188000

The expected salary for this position in MA is $156000 - $191000

The expected salary for this position in NJ is $153000 - $187000

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

In addition to base salary, Mott MacDonald offers performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package, giving employees a direct connection to our success.

Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support the health, wellbeing, financial security, and professional growth of our employees. Eligible employees have access to medical, dental, and vision coverage, FSA and HSA accounts, company-paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, and a competitive 401(k) plan with company matching. We also provide paid time off, paid holidays, caregiver leave, employee referral bonuses, professional registration and membership reimbursements, and tuition assistance to support continued learning and career development.

Collaboration at Our Core

At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we're together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet clients, team, and personal commitments.

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.

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.

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