Sr. Project Manager/Principal Engineer – Water, Wastewater & Recycled Water

Dudek; California; Hybrid; USD 195,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote arrangements available

Job summary

Dudek seeks a Senior Project Manager/Principal Engineer to lead the Treatment Team in California. You will set strategy, expand technical capabilities, and drive long-term growth while remaining engaged in technical work that builds client trust.

You will cultivate municipal relationships, mentor engineers, and collaborate with leaders across the Engineering Practice Group to deliver multidisciplinary projects across California.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering required; M.S. preferred.
• California PE license required.
• 15+ years of relevant water/wastewater/treatment experience.
• Experience managing municipal capital projects in the $2–$5 million range.
• Familiarity with CA regulatory frameworks (SWRCB, DWR, DDW, RWQCB).

Responsibilities

• Lead the Treatment Team with strategy, goals, and long-term growth in California.
• Develop client relationships, pursue opportunities with municipal agencies and districts.
• Oversee planning, design, and delivery of water/wastewater facilities within multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic thinking

Mentoring

Education

B.S. in Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering

M.S. preferred

Job description

Overview

Location(s): Southern California/Northern California Work Environment: Hybrid Compensation: $195,000-$220,000 annually*

Dudek’s journey began in 1980 with a vision to serve Southern California’s water and wastewater agencies.

Today, we are a 100% employee-owned firm supporting clients nationwide and delivering projects that improve and protect the built and natural environments of communities throughout the United States. Our work has been recognized by leading industry organizations, and we’ve been honored with multiple national Top Workplace Awards.

Ouremployee-ownersare unified by a singular commitment to supporting projects that address key societal issues, such as the transition to renewable energy, infrastructure hardening and repair, environmental protection, and community resilience.

Learn more about ouraward-winning culture, thebenefits and perksof being aDudekian, and theprojectsyou will have the opportunity to shape.

Position Overview

Who You Are

As anemployee-owner, you embrace accountability, working safely, andcollaborationwhile thinking resourcefully and independently.

Like allDudekians, you are curious andsolution-oriented, with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit ofinnovation.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Dudek is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager/Principal Engineer to lead and grow our Treatment Team. In this practice-building role, you will set strategy, expand the team’s technical capabilities, and drive the long-term growth of treatment services across California while remaining actively engaged in the technical work that builds client trust. You will also collaborate with leaders across the Engineering Practice Group and the firm to deliver multidisciplinary projects throughout California. You will lead complex treatment and infrastructure projects that strengthen community resilience and address regional water and wastewater needs. You will cultivate relationships with municipal agencies and special districts, mentor the engineers who will advance the practice, and help expand Dudek’s reputation as a recognized engineering leader in California. As an employee-owner, you will have the autonomy to build the practice and a direct stake in its success.

Duties and Responsibilities

Practice Leadership

• Serve as a senior-level technical and strategic advisor for treatment services across the Engineering Practice Group.
• Collaborate with leaders across Infrastructure, Electrical, Planning, and Environmental teams to expand integrated, multidisciplinary service offerings.
• Mentor and develop engineers, and help attract, recruit, and retain talent as the team grows.
• Lead and grow Dudek’s Treatment Team by establishing strategy, priorities, technical capabilities, and long-term growth objectives in collaboration with practice leadership.

Client and Market Growth

• Lead business development activities, including client relationship development,pursuit strategy, proposal development, and interview participation.
• Identify and cultivate opportunities with municipal agencies, special districts, andregional regulatory agencies.
• Represent Dudek as a visible industry leader through conferences, technicalpresentations, and professional organizations.

Project Delivery

• Lead the planning, design, and implementation of water, wastewater, recycledwater, and advanced treatment facilities within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Manage the preparation and quality of technical deliverables, including basis-ofdesign reports, P&IDs, design drawings, specifications, cost estimates, andpermitting packages.
• Provide oversight of project scope, schedule, budget, risk management, QA/QC,and change control to support predictable, high-quality project delivery.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams across civil, mechanical, electrical, process, andcontrols engineering, coordinating with Dudek's in-house hydrogeology andenvironmental professionals.
• Direct and manage subconsultants supporting project delivery.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering required; M.S.preferred.
• California Professional Engineer (PE) license
• 15+ years of relevant water, wastewater, recycled water, or treatmentexperience.
• Success managing municipal capital improvement projects, including projects inthe $2 million to $5 million range.
• Strong understanding of current treatment technologies, including filtration, GAC,ion exchange, biological treatment, disinfection, RO/NF, MBR, brinemanagement, and recycled water compliance.
• Working proficiency with California regulatory frameworks and agencies,including SWRCB, DWR, DDW, and RWQCB requirements.
• Experience supporting projects funded through major California and federalprograms, including SRF, Proposition 1, WIFIA, and similar programs.
• Strong communication, leadership, and client skills with an owner mindset.
• Valid driver's license and active personal automobile liability insurance by the firstday of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• 18+ years of relevant experience.
• M.S. in Civil or Environmental Engineering.
• Advanced treatment design and implementation experience, including MBR and potable reuse.
• Experience with major California funding programs (SRF, Prop 1, WIFIA, and similar).
• Construction management, commissioning, or startup experience.
• Experience with alternative delivery, including design-build and progressive design-build.

Travel and Work Arrangement

Travel within California is expected in support of client meetings, project sites, and industry engagement. Office presence is preferred; remote arrangements can be accommodated for the right candidate, with the expectation of regular in-office leadership presence to support team development and mentorship.

Compensation

$195,000-$220,000 annually*

*Finalagreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location. Successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check prior to beginning employment.

Working Conditions

Environment

• This joboperatesin a remote or office-basedenvironmentand this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc.

• Thisjob requires occasional project site visits, based outdoors which can include excessive noise, uneven walking surfaces, extreme weather, and moving vehicles and equipment.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This job requires the following:

• Working on a computer, sitting, or standing forlong periodsof time in an office or remote office setting.

• Attending meetings, both in person and virtually, and speaking on the phone with peers, clients, etc.
• Specific vision abilities, including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Connect with us!

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Dudek Talent Community

Dudek is committed to creating a workplace where all employees, regardless of their background, feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities to succeed. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our business success, and we are dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. We are committed to fair andequitableprocesses, based on merit, free from any discrimination.

Dudek is genuinely committed to equal employment opportunities within our company and on our project teams. Dudek is also committed to compliance with all applicable lawsprovidingequal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to allpersonsinvolved in Dudek’s operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of Dudek, including supervisors and coworkers. Equal employment opportunities will be extended to all persons (including those with disability and veteran status) in all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination. Any employee who violates this policy and Dudek’s commitment to equal employment opportunities will be subject to disciplinary action.

Dudek is a U.S.-based employer. All positions are based in the United States and require U.S. work authorization.