Senior Process Design Engineer (Technical Lead)

Kennedy Jenks Consultants; Federal Way (WA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Bonus programs

Tuition reimbursement

Employee ownership

Professional registration support

Business travel assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Kennedy Jenks Consultants seeks a Senior Process Design Engineer in Washington to lead industrial water and wastewater design, guide delivery teams, and develop practical, sustainable solutions across sectors.

The role shapes design strategy from planning to startup, with a employee-owned culture and a hybrid work model. PE licensed engineers with 10+ years in consulting are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Chemical, Environmental, Mechanical, Civil or related engineering field.
• 10 years of engineering experience in investigation, planning, design, construction, and commissioning.
• Experience supporting or leading scope, schedule, and budget oversight for engineering projects.
• Experience applying process design solutions across sectors such as mining and metals, pulp and paper, food and beverage, data centers, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, or similar.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Washington.
• Willingness to travel to client and project sites as needed.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD, BlueBeam, Revit or similar CAD tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead process design strategy on complex industrial projects, including wastewater and facilities engineering.
• Develop and test process design solutions, flow diagrams, mass balances, and pilot testing.
• Evaluate options and prepare design recommendations balancing performance and cost.
• Coordinate delivery across disciplines from planning through startup.
• Support client relationships, scope and fee development, staffing, and growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and travel to client sites and offices.

Skills

Technical leadership

Project management

Client communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Chemical/Environmental/Mechanical/Civil engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license in Washington

Tools

AutoCAD

BlueBeam

Revit

Job description

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a Senior Process Design Engineer in Washington to lead complex industrial water and wastewater process design work, guide multidisciplinary delivery teams, and help clients develop practical, sustainable, and efficient solutions across diverse market sectors.

This role offers the opportunity to shape process design strategy, support delivery from planning through startup, and contribute to the growth of KJ's industrial water and wastewater practice. As an employee‑owned firm, KJ offers you the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our projects, our clients, and the future of our company.

What You’ll Do

• Lead process design strategy: Serve as Project Technical Lead on complex industrial engineering projects, including wastewater, facilities engineering, and metals finishing work.
• Develop and test technical solutions: Establish process design approaches, develop process flow diagrams, guide water and mass balances, and direct bench and pilot testing for complex treatment systems.
• Evaluate alternatives: Prepare options analyses and detailed process design recommendations that balance performance, cost, constructability, and sustainability.
• Coordinate project delivery: Align technical disciplines, project teams, and client priorities from planning and design through construction, commissioning, and startup.
• Support project development and client relationships: Support scope, schedule, fee development, negotiation, staffing, and service expansion opportunities with existing clients.
• Collaborate across KJ: Partner with multidisciplinary teams and travel to client sites, project locations, and KJ offices as needed.

What Makes This Role Different

• Technical influence: Shape solutions for complex industrial water and wastewater challenges where strong process design decisions improve efficiency, reliability, and long‑term client outcomes.
• Full lifecycle impact: Influence projects from early planning and alternatives analysis through design, construction, commissioning, and startup, creating continuity between strategy and execution.
• Practice growth: Support client relationships, strengthen KJ's industrial water and wastewater capabilities, and contribute to sustainable, high‑impact project delivery.

What You Bring

• Technical leadership and process knowledge: Ability to guide process design decisions, advise project teams, and apply industrial water and wastewater treatment knowledge to complex technical challenges.
• Project delivery perspective: Understanding of how technical decisions support successful delivery across planning, design, construction, commissioning, and startup.
• Client and team communication: Ability to collaborate clearly with clients, multidisciplinary teams, and internal stakeholders.
• Analytical approach: Ability to evaluate options, interpret testing results, and recommend solutions that balance performance, cost, schedule, constructability, and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical, Environmental, Mechanical, Civil, or a related engineering field.
• Experience: 10 years of engineering experience in investigation, planning, design, construction, and commissioning, including relevant consulting experience.
• Project management: Experience supporting or leading scope, schedule, and budget oversight for engineering projects.
• Market sector experience: Experience applying process design solutions across sectors such as mining and metals, pulp and paper, food and beverage, data centers, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, or similar industrial environments.
• Licensure: Professional Engineer (PE) license in Washington required.
• Travel: Ability to travel to client and project sites as needed for client visits, meetings, project coordination, and collaboration with other KJ offices.
• Additional preferred qualifications: Familiarity with computer‑aided drafting and design tools such as AutoCAD, BlueBeam, Revit, or similar platforms.

Kennedy Jenks supports a healthy work‑life balance and utilizes a hybrid model of home and office work, with a minimum of two days per week in the office. This approach empowers our people to thrive, collaborate, and do their best work.

Salary range for this position is anticipated to be $140,000 to $200,000, and may vary based upon education, experience, qualifications, licensure/certifications, and geographic location.

Benefits summary: Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; a health savings account; a 401(k); bonus programs; tuition reimbursement; employee ownership opportunity; professional registration support; business travel assistance; competitive paid time off and holidays; an employee assistance program; and additional programs that support your wellbeing and professional growth.

Kennedy Jenks is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy and pregnancy‑related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability, citizenship status, genetics, protected veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.