Water and Wastewater Engineer - Senior Lead/Consultant

Sargent Lundy; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 134,546 - 205,557; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans: Medical, Dental, Vision

Disability coverage

401(k)

Job summary

Sargent Lundy in Chicago is seeking a leader to expand its water and wastewater practice. This role involves managing engineering projects, overseeing system designs, and ensuring compliance with regulations in the water sector.

The ideal candidate will have over ten years of experience in water treatment engineering, strong leadership skills, and the ability to mentor junior engineers. This position includes a comprehensive benefits package and a competitive salary range.

Qualifications

• Ten or more years of experience in water and/or wastewater treatment engineering.
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and review of water supply and wastewater treatment systems.
• Prepare and oversee engineering studies for system modifications.
• Analyze complex water quality and treatment challenges.

Skills

Leadership and organization skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Experience in business development

Education

BS in Chemical Engineering or Environmental Engineering

Job description

Description

This position offers the opportunity to take a leading role in growing Sargent & Lundy's water and wastewater practice while applying deep technical expertise across a diverse portfolio of clients in the energy, industrial, and municipal markets. In this position, you will:

• Lead and manage the design, evaluation, and review of water supply and wastewater treatment systems for power generation, data centers, industrial facilities, and municipal clients.
• Assist in the selection, training, development and management of technical personnel
• Prepare and oversee preliminary engineering studies for new installations, system modifications, and retrofits of water and wastewater treatment systems.
• Independently verify designs of vendor-supplied treatment equipment and systems, including reverse osmosis, zero liquid discharge (ZLD), biological treatment, and chemical conditioning systems.
• Analyze complex water quality and treatment challenges, develop technical solutions, and present findings and recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Evaluate the impact of federal, state, and local regulatory requirements (e.g., Clean Water Act, Effluent Limitation Guidelines, NPDES) on water and wastewater systems for new and existing facilities.
• Prepare complex technical reports, specifications, and mass/water balances.
• Travel to client offices and project sites as needed for project reviews and client engagement.
• Serve as a key leader in expanding S&L's water and wastewater practice, including identifying supporting proposal development, and cultivating client relationships.
• Collaborate with project managers and practice leadership to establish work priorities across multiple concurrent projects.
• Maintain and enhance knowledge of emerging technologies, regulatory trends, and industry standards relevant to water and wastewater treatment.
• Represent S&L at industry conferences, code committees, and professional organizations to elevate the firm's visibility in the water sector.

Qualifications

We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

• BS in Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related discipline from an ABET-accredited program.
• Ten or more years of experience in water and/or wastewater treatment engineering, with demonstrated expertise in systems serving the power, industrial, municipal or data center markets.
• Strong Leadership and organization skills.
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary project teams and manage complex, concurrent projects.
• Experience in business development activities such as proposal writing, scope development, and client management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presenting technical material to non-technical audiences.
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level engineers, fostering a collaborative and technically rigorous team culture.

Valued but Not Required Skills and Experience:

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Hands-on experience with water treatment technologies such as reverse osmosis, ion exchange, ZLD, biological nutrient removal, cooling water treatment, and industrial wastewater systems.
• Familiarity with federal environmental regulatory programs including the Clean Water Act, NPDES permitting, Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELGs), and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
• Experience with water modeling or simulation software.
• Background supporting environmental permitting for power generation, data centers, or industrial facilities.
• Familiarity with water reuse, water recycling, or closed-loop treatment system design.

Health & Wellness

• Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life & Accident Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Back-Up Daycare
• FSA & HSA

Financial Benefits

• 401(k)
• Pre-Tax Commuter Account
• Merit Scholarship Program
• Employee Discount Program
• Corporate Charitable Giving Program
• Tuition Assistance
• First Professional Licensure Bonus
• Employee Referral Bonus

Work-Life Balance

• Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Bereavement Leave
• Flexible Work Arrangements

Compensation Range

$134,546 - $205,557

Transparency Statement

Sargent & Lundy discloses compensation ranges that comply with all local and state regulations. The total compensation package for eligible positions will include a base salary or an hourly rate and a comprehensive benefits package, reflecting our commitment to rewarding performance and supporting the overall well-being of our employees. Individuals may also be eligible to participate in our yearly discretionary bonus.

Equal Opportunity

Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.