Water Treatment Facility Design Engineer

GFT; State College (Centre County); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Tuition reimbursement for education

Incentive compensation for eligible positions

Job summary

GFT is looking for a Water Treatment Design Engineer in State College, PA who will lead design projects for water treatment infrastructure. The role requires optimizing water treatment systems to ensure efficiency and compliance. Candidates should have 8+ years of experience in the water discipline, a BS in Engineering, and a Professional Engineer license. GFT offers a hybrid work model, with a comprehensive benefits package and salary ranging from $90,000 to $200,000 depending on experience.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience preferred in water discipline, particularly in designing water infrastructure.
• Demonstrated experience in primary treatment, filtration processes, and chemical storage.
• Successful track record leading water design and plant facilities projects.

Responsibilities

• Design water treatment plants and pumping stations, including detailed CAD drawings.
• Analyze and enhance treatment techniques to improve efficiency.
• Perform hydraulic analysis of water treatment plants and pumping stations.
• Ensure compliance with municipal or industrial regulatory standards.
• Conduct feasibility studies, managing projects from design to completion.

Skills

Water treatment design

Process optimization

Hydraulic analysis

Project management

Data analysis

Education

BS in Civil, Environmental, or Chemical Engineering

Professional Engineer Licensed

Job description

What You Will Do

GFT is seeking a Water Treatment Design 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.

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 to ensure safety, efficiency, and environmental compliance.

Responsibilities

• System Design: Designing water 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 such as 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 water treatment plants, pump stations, and piping systems, making pump selections, and evaluating performance of existing pumps.
• Testing and Monitoring: Analyzing lab data, operator reports, and chemical usage to resolve operational issues and improve efficiency.
• Compliance and Safety: Ensuring 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. Developing cost projections, feasibility studies, and supervising 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 treatment.

What You Will Bring To Our Firm

• BS in Civil, Environmental, or 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 discipline, particularly as a water engineer designing (study, plans, and specifications) water 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 water design and plant facilities projects.
• Demonstrated ability in both conventional filtration as well as membrane filtration is preferred. Additionally, 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 $90,000 - $200,000. 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, pet insurance, 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 measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for over 5,000 of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

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.

Location: Phila, Audobon, Ebensburg, Mechanicsburg, Allentown, Pittsburgh, State College, Mercer, PA.

Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Employment Status: Full‑Time.