UTILITY WATER/WASTEWATER ENGINEER

Arapahoe County Water And Wastewater Authority; Centennial (CO); On-site; USD 73,654 - 117,712; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% employer paid health insurance, 1

HRA contributions

11 paid holidays

3% employer contributions to employee

Wellness reimbursement

Volunteer time off

Vacation

Sick time

Short term disability

Job summary

Arapahoe County Water And Wastewater Authority seeks a Utility Water/Wastewater Engineer to deliver water and wastewater infrastructure projects in Centennial, Colorado. Working under the Engineering Manager, you will manage capital improvement projects through planning, design, permitting, bidding, construction and closeout.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams, coordinate with regulators, prepare reports, ensure compliance with CDPHE, manage scopes and budgets, and strive to minimize service

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering; ABET-accredited program preferred.
• 0–5 years of experience in water/wastewater/civil engineering.
• Colorado PE licensure or eligibility to obtain within 6 months.
• Combination of education and experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Manage water and wastewater CIP through planning, design, permitting, bidding, construction, and closeout.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams including consultants, contractors, utility staff, and regulators.
• Develop and manage scopes, schedules, budgets, and change management processes.
• Serve as primary point of contact for project stakeholders.
• Oversee construction administration: submittals, RFIs, pay applications, change orders, field observations.
• Review plans, specifications, reports for quality and compliance.
• Identify risks and develop proactive mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate with Operations and Maintenance to minimize service disruptions.
• Support CIP development: prioritization, budgeting, long-range planning.
• Prepare project reports, presentations, and management recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with CDPHE and other regulations.
• Support asset management and other programs to improve reliability.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder coordination

Regulatory compliance

Construction administration

Communication skills

Team leadership

Reading engineering plans

Hydraulic modeling familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering

0–5 years of water/wastewater/civil engineering experience

Professional Engineer in Colorado or eligible within 6 months

ABET-accredited program preferred

Job description

More information about ACWWA can be found at www.ACWWA.com.

Job Summary

The Utility Water/Wastewater Engineer plays a key role in delivering high-quality water and wastewater infrastructure projects that support our growing community. Working under the direction of the Engineering Manager, the engineer manages capital improvement projects through every phase from planning and design to construction and project closeout while collaborating with consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, and operations staff.

• Manage water and wastewater capital improvement projects through planning, design, permitting, bidding, construction, and closeout.
• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams, including consultants, contractors, utility staff, and regulatory agencies, to ensure successful project delivery.
• Develop and manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, cost forecasts, and change management processes.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for project stakeholders, ensuring effective communication throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee construction administration, including reviewing submittals, responding to RFIs, processing pay applications, negotiating change orders, conducting field observations, and coordinating construction activities.
• Perform engineering analyses and review plans, specifications, technical reports, and design documents to ensure quality and compliance.
• Identify project risks and develop proactive solutions to minimize schedule delays and budget impacts.
• Coordinate with Operations and Maintenance staff to ensure projects are practical, maintainable, and minimize service disruptions.
• Support the development and implementation of the Authority's Capital Improvement Program (CIP), including project prioritization, budgeting, and long‑range planning.
• Prepare project reports, technical presentations, and recommendations for management, advisory committees, and the Board of Directors.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations, including Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) requirements.
• Support utility initiatives such as asset management, regulatory compliance, industrial pretreatment, and other engineering programs that improve system reliability and operational efficiency.

Benefits

• 100% employer paid health insurance, dental, vision
• HRA contributions
• 11 paid holidays
• 3% employer contributions to employee retirement plus up to 5% matching retirement contribution program
• Wellness reimbursement
• Volunteer time off
• Vacation
• Sick time
• Short term disability and many more.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of project management principles for public infrastructure projects.
• Experience managing or supporting design and construction of water/wastewater facilities, pumping systems, and pipelines.
• Knowledge of engineering design standards, construction practices, and contract administration.
• Familiarity with Colorado regulatory environment (e.g., CDPHE) and special district operations.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize competing deadlines.
• Strong communication skills, including ability to present to management, public groups, and board or directors.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering plans, specifications, and legal/contract documents.
• Experience with construction administration and field coordination.
• Familiarity with hydraulic modeling or system analysis tools (preferred).
• Ability to analyze problems, evaluate alternatives, and make sound engineering decisions.

Education and Skills

1. Required: A bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university with a major in civil engineering. Preference given to applicants with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from a 4‑year ABET accredited college or university.
2. Required: 0–5 years of experience in water / wastewater / civil engineering.
3. Registered as a Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado or have the ability to obtain registration within 6 months.
4. Any combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities will be considered.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and fax machines. The performance of this position may require exposure to construction areas which may require the use of personal protective equipment such as hard hat and safety glasses.

Hiring Range (Based on Qualifications and Experience)

• Utility Water/Wastewater Engineer I: $73,654–$92,067
• Utility Water/Wastewater Engineer II: $77,269–$96,586
• Utility Water/Wastewasser Engineer III: $94,169–$117,712

The pay range for this position is listed above. This pay range is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels for this position. In addition, ACWWA considers several other factors when extending an offer including but not limited to the role, function and associated responsibilities, the candidate’s work experience, education/training and key skills.