Senior Water Wastewater Design Engineer

GFT; Owings Mills (MD); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Wellness programs

Parental leave

Pet insurance

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401(k) plan

PTO accrual

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Incentive compensation

Job summary

GFT is seeking a Senior Water / Wastewater Engineer to join our Water team on a hybrid schedule with regular office attendance.

You will lead design, optimization, and construction support for water treatment and pumping facilities, applying CAD tools, hydraulics, and advanced treatment processes, while ensuring regulatory compliance and project management. This role emphasizes engineering leadership and client collaboration to deliver resilient water infrastructure.

Qualifications

• BS in Civil, Environmental, or Chemical Engineering (MS preferred).
• PE license required or ability to obtain within 6–12 months.
• 8+ years in water/wastewater design and construction projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead design of water and wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations with detailed CAD drawings.
• Optimize treatment processes to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Perform hydraulic analysis for existing and new facilities and select pumping equipment.
• Test and monitor lab data and chemical usage to resolve issues.
• Ensure compliance with municipal/industrial standards and safety.
• Manage projects from feasibility to commissioning and develop cost projections.
• Analyze operator reports and refine treatment techniques.
• Serve as a technical specialist in conventional and advanced treatment.

Skills

Water/Wastewater design

Project management

Data analysis

Education

BS in Civil Engineering

MS preferred

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

CAD software

Hydraulics modelling

Job description

What You Will Do

GFT is seeking a Senior Water / Wastewater Engineer to join our Water team! This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at one of our many offices.

Joining the water resources team at GFT means contributing to innovative solutions for sustainable water management and infrastructure. Our team excels in dams and levees, advanced water and wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and conveyance, collection, and transmission. With a focus on integrating technology, sustainability, and compliance, we consider each water resources and environmental remediation project a chance to innovate and evolve to protect public health and enhance quality of life. Explore some of our signature water resources and environmental projects here.

What You’ll Be Challenged To Do

In this role you will lead and support design, optimize, and manage systems that treat and transport drinking water and wastewater to ensure safety, efficiency, and environmental compliance.

In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

• System Design: Designing water and/or wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations, including detailed CAD drawings and equipment selection. Design new treatment systems or upgrade existing systems, including pre-treatment, various filtration processes including granular media and membranes, chemical storage and feed, UV and other advanced treatment technologies, and pumping equipment
• Process Optimization: Analyzing and enhancing treatment techniques (e.g., pH adjustment, chemical dosing, aeration) to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• System Hydraulics: Performing hydraulic analysis of existing and new treatment plants, pump stations, and piping systems, making pump selections, and evaluating performance of existing pumps.
• Testing and Monitoring: Analyze lab data, operator reports, and chemical usage to resolve operational issues and improve efficiency.
• Compliance and Safety: Ensure that treated water meets municipal or industrial regulatory standards, protecting public health and the environment.
• Project Management: Conducting feasibility studies, upgrading existing infrastructure, and managing projects from design to completion. Develop cost projections, feasibility studies, and supervise construction or commissioning of new technology.
• Data Analysis: Monitoring operator reports and lab results to refine treatment techniques.
• Technical: Function as a technical specialist in the areas of conventional and advanced water and/or wastewater treatment

Education | Experience:

• BS in Civil, Environmental, Chemical Engineering (MS is preferred)
• Professional Engineer Licensed required (PE) or the ability to obtain in 6-12 months
• 8 + years of experience preferred in water and / or wastewater discipline, particularly as an engineer designing (study, plans and specifications) infrastructure (i.e. treatment and pumping station projects)
• Expert knowledge in standard engineering techniques and procedures.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in primary treatment, filtration processes, chemical storage and feed, advanced water treatment, disinfection, hydraulics, and solids processing and handling preferred.
• Successful track record leading design and plant facilities projects
• Demonstrated ability in both conventional filtration as well as membrane filtration is preferred. In addition, experience in hydraulics, chemical feed systems, alternate disinfection would be preferred.
• Progressive experience in the evaluation, design, permitting and construction administration of water treatment facilities, pumping stations, and water storage and distribution facilities

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $100,000 - $220,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.

Featured Benefits

• Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

Company Overview

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.

GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.

Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property GFT.

GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.

Location:

Fairfax, Newport News, Richmond, Virginia Beach,VA; Raleigh,NC; Baltimore or Owings Mills, MD

Core Business Hours:

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Employment Status:

Full-Time