Senior Water Engineer

AKS Engineering & Forestry, LLC; Mississippi; On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking engineering firm as a Senior Water Engineer, where you will lead innovative water projects that support community needs. In this dynamic role, you will collaborate with a diverse team of professionals to design and deliver effective water production, treatment, and distribution solutions. Your expertise will guide project management efforts, mentor junior staff, and foster strong relationships with clients and stakeholders. This established company values personal responsibility and teamwork, offering a supportive environment for professional growth and development. If you're passionate about making a difference in public works, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans

401k matching

Personal and professional development opportunities

Collaborative team culture

Flexible work schedules

Generous paid time off policies

Weekly team lunches

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in water system design and project management.
• Proven leadership and mentoring skills with junior engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and execution of water projects, ensuring compliance with standards.
• Develop project scopes, budgets, and maintain strong client relationships.

Skills

Water Engineering

Project Management

Business Development

Client Relationship Management

Communication Skills

Team Leadership

Technical Expertise

Education

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) License

Tools

AutoCAD Civil 3D

WaterCAD

MS Word

MS Excel

Bluebeam Revu

Job description

Job Summary
The AKS public works team seeks a self-motivated engineer ready to take the lead on design and delivery of water projects supported by a diverse in-house team of engineers, surveyors, wetland scientists, and construction professionals. As a Senior Water Engineer, you will support cities, counties, districts, and other public and private clients to meet their water production, treatment, storage, and distribution goals as we strengthen and grow our public works project delivery group.

What You Will Do
As a Senior Water Engineer, you will be responsible for leading the design of water-related projects in Oregon and Southwest and Southeast (Tri-Cities area) Washington, with an emphasis on the area surrounding your chosen office location. Additional responsibilities, such as business development and project management, will be dependent on your experience. The ideal candidate will endeavor to develop these skills and build their own project team. You will mentor less experienced staff and will receive support and mentoring from AKS leadership within a culture of empowerment. You will use your strong verbal and written communication skills to develop positive client, agency, and in-house relationships. Specific tasks include:

1. Lead planning, design, and execution of water production, treatment, storage, and distribution projects utilizing AutoCAD Civil 3D, WaterCAD, and other industry design/modeling software.
2. Develop project scopes, budgets, schedules, and reports.
3. Build and maintain strong client relationships by understanding their needs, providing expert guidance, and delivering exceptional service.
4. Assist with business development activities, including preparing and reviewing technical and qualifications proposals.
5. Provide technical expertise in water engineering. Prepare specifications, be a technical resource for other engineers, and provide peer review, ensuring compliance with industry standards and effectively addressing technical challenges.
6. Coordinate project staffing and workload, working closely with internal teams and external stakeholders. Mentor junior engineers, fostering their professional growth and ensuring high standards of engineering practice.
7. Prepare and present project reports and technical memoranda, updates, and proposals to clients and senior management. Ensure clear and effective communication across all project phases.

Depending on your experience, you may also:

1. Manage client communications and expectations throughout the project life cycle.
2. Manage quality of work products. Review and approve project designs, documents, and deliverables. Ensure that work products meet company and industry standards.
3. Manage project schedules.
4. Manage project procurement, stakeholder coordination, and project startup and closeout, including administrative, contractual, and financial aspects of projects.

Your Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, or related field.
2. Professional Engineer (PE) license in Oregon or Washington, or ability to obtain licensure within six months.
3. A minimum of 10 years’ experience in design of water production, treatment, storage, and/or distribution systems.
4. Proven increasing responsibility in the preparation of reports, plans, specifications, and cost estimates for water system designs, including the ability to process accurate engineering calculations and to summarize technical information using appropriate grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
5. Track record of coordinating effectively with public agency staff and teaming partners on multidiscipline engineering project teams for project delivery.
6. Demonstrated experience in internal task management, with a track record of organizing and training junior-level staff on project components.
7. Demonstrated leadership skills, communication skills, and ability to work with various teams.
8. A desire and the necessary interpersonal skills to interface with clients.
9. A strong interest in building and leading a water design team.
10. High degree of functionality in AutoCAD Civil3D, WaterCAD, and other industry software for designing/managing/modeling water systems.
11. Proficient in MS Word and Excel.
12. Familiarity with the procedures and methodologies published in major national guidelines, regulations, and standards (e.g. American Water Works Association, US Environmental Protection Agency, etc.).
13. A willingness to seek out and take on additional responsibilities for the benefit of AKS.

Additional Desired Qualifications

1. Project experience with local and state agencies in Oregon and Washington.
2. Experience coordinating surveys, grading, drainage, utilities, environmental, geotechnical, and natural resources as part of projects.
3. Ability to identify and pursue business development opportunities.
4. Experience as a field engineer/inspector on public utility infrastructure projects.
5. Confidence in public speaking before audiences of laypersons, stakeholders, team partners, and owners.
6. Experience managing client relationships, work products, and project scope, schedule, and budget.
7. Experience building, leading, and managing a design team.
8. Experience completing utility master plans and designs.
9. Experience with projects using trenchless technologies.
10. Proficient in Bluebeam Revu.

Who We Are
AKS is a locally owned multidiscipline engineering consulting firm focused on developing infrastructure for private and public clients throughout the Pacific Northwest. Remaining true to our values and diligently maintaining our focus on quality enables our staff to thrive and grow. With seven offices and over 28 years in business, AKS is a well-respected and trusted resource to a broad portfolio of clients, providing a unique and diverse combination of services.

Why Join Us
AKS is recognized annually as one of the Top Workplaces in Oregon and Southwest Washington. With a reputation built on personal responsibility, straight answers, practical solutions, and client and employee service, AKS has become a highly sought-after place to work. We care deeply about building long-term relationships at all levels of our organization and look for opportunities to share meals together every week, go on team-building adventures, make team site visits, and host events that bring people and clients together.

Our collaborative approach is centered around multidisciplinary teams that support projects from inception to completion. We function as one team, one company, one community, and empower our employees to deliver their best work to evolve, grow, and succeed.

Benefits
At AKS, we believe that great work deserves great benefits. That’s why we offer a robust benefits package designed to support your well-being and growth:

1. Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans to keep you and your family healthy. Many and varied options are available: flexible spending account, health savings account, family leave, paid holidays, and disability, life, and pet insurance.
2. Retirement Ready: Immediate 401k matching to help you secure your financial future.
3. Growth Opportunities: Access to personal and professional development, mentorship, and training programs to help you thrive in your career.
4. Team Culture: Collaborative and fun environment with regular staff and team events that foster connection and community.
5. Stability You Can Trust: Work for an established, reputable company known for its stability and success.
6. Unwind Together: Enjoy lunch on AKS once a week, designed for you to connect and recharge with colleagues.
7. Work-Life Balance: Flexible work schedules and generous paid time off policies to support your lifestyle and personal commitments.

Join us and be part of a team that values your contributions and invests in your future.

AKS Engineering and Forestry does not work with third-party recruiters or agencies. Candidates should be warned that third-party recruiters may misrepresent themselves as working on behalf of AKS. Candidates should only communicate directly with AKS employees.

Third-party recruiters and agencies should not contact AKS Engineering and Forestry employees directly. Any resumes sent from third-party recruiters or agencies to an AKS employee or submitted through the AKS website are considered unsolicited and the property of AKS. AKS will not pay a placement fee unless the recruiter or agency has a signed contract with AKS before submitting a candidate for consideration.