Project Engineer - Water/Wastewater Utility

Aqua, Inc.; Hamilton (NJ); On-site; USD 112,288 - 129,131; Full time

Job summary

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, in New Jersey, seeks a Project Engineer II to support the Engineering Manager and State President in leading capital projects from planning through design and bidding. You will coordinate with the Operations Team and other stakeholders to deliver cost-effective, compliant solutions for water and wastewater facilities.

Join a team focused on growth, reliability, and long-term efficiency, with responsibilities spanning planning, design, permitting, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering required.
• Registered Professional Engineer in NJ or ability to obtain within 12 months.
• 4+ years of relevant water/wastewater experience.
• Valid NJ Driver’s License required.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage engineering projects across multiple divisions.
• Design water and sewer improvement projects and oversee permits.
• Coordinate with operations, engineering, and public officials.
• Manage construction bidding, scheduling, and cost estimation.
• Ensure compliance with Aqua NJ design standards.
• Assist in capital work planning and execution.

Skills

MS Office

Communication

Customer service

Time management

Team player

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Job description

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities. If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.

Are you looking for a fantastic career at Aqua? We have a great opportunity for a Project Engineer under the direction of the Engineering Manager.

The Project Engineer II position manages assists the State Engineering Manager and State President to manage the Engineering & Construction Team and overall State Capital Budget. The position will manage personnel responsible for water and wastewater capital projects, from planning through design, and initial construction bidding and award, as well as manage projects directly and independently. This position will work closely with department managers, operations and engineering personnel, public officials, and developers to plan, design, permit, and execute capital work and ensure Aqua NJ can meet future compliance, growth, and operational efficiency demands.

The role oversees all aspects of project planning and design, including close coordination with the Operations Team to understand near- and long-term issues and translate those into the most cost effective (capital, O&M, and life-cycle costs) solutions. This is one of two additional Engineer positions requested by Aqua NJ, to address the significant capital workload associated in the 2025 5 YP, including PFAS treatment systems, lead service line replacement, growth, rehabilitation, and SCADA implementation, to be installed over the next 10 years and beyond.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Responsible for planning engineering projects in multiple divisions.
• Manage the design of both water and sewer improvement projects i.e. tanks, boosters, lift stations, WTP projects, WWTP projects, regulating vaults, etc.) as needed.
• Work with hydraulic modeling team to evaluate and mitigate system-wide challenges
• Responsible for submittal of any required permits and approvals. Prepares and/or supervises the permit applications for selected projects and ensure all required permits are obtained with necessary approvals.
• Coordinates and manages construction projects including bidding, scheduling, and cost estimating. Enforces contract requirements and performs construction administration on assigned projects.
• Work with consultants to necessary easements for all assigned projects. Negotiates and prepares property easements and oversees the preparation of property descriptions, survey and legal recording as required.
• Responsible for managing project financials i.e. work orders, purchase orders, invoicing etc.
• Collaborate with various departments statewide: operations, engineering, accounting, customer service.
• Responsible for due diligence for possible new acquisitions.
• Responsible for reviewing water main extension plans to ensure the plans are in compliance with the Aqua NJ design standard.
• Assists with other tasks or projects as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering is required.
• Selected candidate must be a Registered, Professional Engineer in the State of New Jersey or have the ability to obtain a PE license within 12 months from hire date.
• 4+ years of relevant experience is required.
• Experience working within water, wastewater and buried utilities is required.
• Valid NJ Driver’s License required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Email, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills; communicate effectively (clearly, concisely and professionally) with internal customers.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• A team player able to work effectively in a team fostered multi-tasking environment.

WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Perform sedentary work — exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
• Working conditions may include travel to work sites of Essential Utilities and/or other constituents within the State of NJ.

Base salary range: $112,288.42 – $129,131.68

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affluentential Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered‑veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law. Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1‑877‑271‑9012). To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship.
• Family members cannot work in the same department.