Sr. Water Quality Engineer

QTS Realty Trust

Cedar Rapids (IA)

On-site

USD 120,000 - 170,000

Full time

14 days+

Get more replies from employers

Send a job-specific resume in minutes.

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching contributions

Bonus eligibility

Generous PTO

Stock Purchase Plan

Holidays

Employee wellness programs

Parental Leave

Military benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

QTS Realty Trust is seeking a Senior Water Quality Engineer to lead water quality programs across hyperscale and enterprise data center campuses. You will develop water management strategies, set standards for cooling water chemistry, and evaluate water sources for reliable, efficient cooling systems.

The role requires collaborating with engineering, EHS, operations, and sustainability teams, and entails up to 50% travel to data center locations to guide design, commissioning, and operations for

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Environmental Engineering or equivalent experience
7+ years in industrial water treatment, water quality engineering, cooling water systems, or mission-critical infrastructure
Strong knowledge of cooling water chemistry, corrosion control, scaling prevention, microbiological control, and chemical treatment
Experience with cooling towers, chilled water plants, condenser water systems, and industrial water treatment
Experience managing complex engineering projects across multiple stakeholders
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to interpret water quality data
Excellent communication, technical writing, and presentation skills
Ability to travel up to 50% to data center locations

Responsibilities

Lead development and implementation of water quality strategies for data center campuses
Establish engineering standards for cooling water chemistry and system performance
Support design, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of cooling towers and chilled water systems
Evaluate municipal, reclaimed, groundwater, and alternative water sources for data center cooling
Develop water balance models and optimize Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE)
Collaborate to integrate water-efficient cooling solutions into designs
Analyze water chemistry and treatment performance for long-term reliability
Develop water management plans compliant with regulations and Legionella risk management
Review water treatment vendor performance and improve chemical programs
Support commissioning activities and startup procedures for new facilities
Investigate incidents, perform root cause analyses, implement corrective actions
Evaluate innovative cooling technologies and water reuse strategies
Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership
Support global infrastructure expansion with water quality expertise

Skills

Water quality engineering

Project leadership

Regulatory compliance

Data interpretation

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's of Science in Chemical, Mechanical, or Environmental Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Bluebeam

BIM collaboration platforms

Water chemistry modeling tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Senior Water Quality Engineer Position Summary

The Senior Water Quality Engineer is responsible for providing technical leadership for water quality programs that support the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of mission-critical data center infrastructure. This role focuses on optimizing water quality and treatment for cooling systems, chilled water plants, cooling towers, reclaimed water systems, and other mechanical infrastructure to maximize reliability, efficiency, and sustainability. Working closely with engineering, EHS, operations, and sustainability teams, the Senior Water Quality Engineer develops water management strategies, establishes technical standards, evaluates emerging technologies, and supports portfolio projects from concept through operations.

This role requires work hours to support a 7X24X365 data center environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead the development and implementation of water quality strategies for hyperscale and enterprise data center campuses.

Establish engineering standards for cooling water chemistry, treatment programs, and system performance.

Support the design, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of cooling towers, chilled water systems, heat rejection equipment, and associated water infrastructure.

Evaluate municipal, reclaimed, groundwater, and alternative water sources for data center cooling applications.

Develop water balance models and optimize facility Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE).

Collaborate with engineering and sustainability teams to integrate water-efficient cooling solutions into data center designs.

Analyze water chemistry, corrosion, scaling, microbiological activity, and treatment performance to ensure long-term equipment reliability.

Develop water management plans that comply with applicable regulations and industry standards, including Legionella risk management.

Review water treatment vendor performance and recommend improvements to chemical treatment programs.

Support commissioning activities, startup procedures, and operational readiness for new facilities.

Investigate water quality incidents, equipment failures, and operational issues, performing root cause analyses and implementing corrective actions.

Evaluate innovative cooling technologies, including liquid cooling, closed-loop systems, reclaimed water reuse, and alternative cooling strategies.

Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary project teams.

Support global infrastructure expansion by providing subject matter expertise on water quality and water stewardship initiatives.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's of Science degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Environmental Engineering, OR equivalent professional experience in lieu of degree

Minimum of seven years of experience in industrial water treatment, water quality engineering, cooling water systems, or mission-critical infrastructure.

Strong knowledge of cooling water chemistry, corrosion control, scaling prevention, microbiological control, and chemical treatment programs.

Experience with cooling towers, chilled water plants, condenser water systems, and industrial water treatment.

Experience managing complex engineering projects across multiple stakeholders.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret water quality data and operational trends.

Excellent communication, technical writing, and presentation skills.

Ability to travel (up to 50%) to other Data Center locations as required.

Preferred Qualifications

Ten or more years of experience in industrial water treatment, water quality engineering, cooling water systems, or mission-critical infrastructure, four or more years of which were conducted in hyperscale or enterprise data centers.

Knowledge of liquid cooling technologies for high-density computing environments.

Experience with ASHRAE guidance related to data center cooling and water systems.

Familiarity with water sustainability strategies, water reuse, and alternative water sourcing.

Experience supporting commissioning and startup of mission-critical facilities.

Knowledge of environmental permitting, industrial wastewater management, and stormwater compliance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Advanced knowledge of industrial water treatment and cooling water systems.

Strong understanding of corrosion science, scaling mechanisms, microbiological control, and water chemistry.

Knowledge of water efficiency metrics, including Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE).

Familiarity with CFD-informed cooling strategies and heat rejection systems is desirable.

Ability to develop engineering standards and best practices for global infrastructure.

Strong project management and organizational skills.

Ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, BIM collaboration platforms, and water chemistry modeling and data analysis tools.

Working Conditions

Combination of office, laboratory, and field work. Periodic travel (up to 40%) to domestic and international data center sites. Site visits may include active construction environments, operating mission-critical facilities, and industrial mechanical plants. Occasional after-hours support during commissioning activities or critical operational events.

Core Competencies

Mission-Critical Infrastructure

Water Quality Engineering

Industrial Water Treatment

Cooling Systems

Optimization

Sustainability & Water Stewardship

Engineering Standards Development

Root Cause Analysis

Project Leadership

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Continuous Improvement

We conform to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action.

We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information & Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or discrimination claim.

The "Know Your Rights" Poster is included here: Know Your Rights (English) Know Your Rights (Spanish) The pay transparency policy is available here: Pay Transparency

QTS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to talentacquisition@qtsdatacenters.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

It's exhilarating to find yourself at a pivotal moment in history- and even more so to be leading the way. At QTS Data Centers, we are proud to stand at the forefront of today's dynamic digital transformation. Our world-class data centers empower our customers' most strategic growth initiatives, positioning us as a global leader in digital infrastructure. As AI and cloud technologies fuel the demand for increased speed, capacity, and innovation, QTS has emerged as the global digital infrastructure leader. We are committed to connecting the globe for good. Driven by purpose and a spirit of innovation, we design, build, and operate some of the most advanced data centers worldwide. In addition to our cutting-edge technology, we are dedicated to sustainability, incorporating renewable energy solutions to minimize our environmental footprint and drive meaningful impact. As a proud portfolio company of Blackstone, QTS is uniquely positioned to achieve ambitious growth and innovation goals. At QTS, we are Powered by People. Our team members are the cornerstone of our culture, innovation, and growth. They are mission-driven, resourceful, and committed to making a positive impact in the communities where we live and work. Together, we're achieving remarkable things and shaping the future of digital infrastructure. And we'd like to invite you to join us.

Benefits