Staff / Senior Wastewater Process Engineer ( Multi - Level Position )

Metro Water Recovery in Denver, CO - a nationally recognized leader among clean water utilities, provides wastewater conveyance and treatment services for more than 2 million people in the Denver Metro area.

At Metro, we help you be your best so we can do our best. You will join a team that offers stability, flexibility, and the opportunity to make a difference. We take pride in being part of an industry-leading team who serves the community by protecting the region’s health and environment.

Description

This position will be filled at one of the following levels depending upon the candidate's qualifications:

Staff Wastewater Process Engineer ($98,134.40 - $142,708.80 Annually)
Responsible for conducting wastewater process engineering activities related to the planning, design, implementation, and optimization of conventional and advanced treatment processes and innovative technologies. The Staff Engineer will perform and coordinate bench, pilot, and/or full-scale testing and may also conduct applied research. May function as a task manager or focus area leader. This position reports to a Principal Engineer or the Senior Wastewater Process Engineering Manager in the Technology & Innovation Department.

Senior Wastewater Process Engineer ($114,483.20 - $166,441.60 Annually)
Responsible for leading wastewater process engineering activities, with a focus on coordinating efforts associated with planning, design, implementation, and optimization of conventional and advanced treatment processes and innovative technologies. The Senior Engineer plans and conducts work requiring independent judgment in the evaluation, selection, substantial adaptation and modification of standard techniques, procedures, technologies, processes, and bench and full-scale pilot tests. May function as a project or technical manager or focus area lead. Independently performs most assignments based on information received from management as to the general results expected. This position reports to a Principal Engineer or the Senior Wastewater Process Engineering Manager in the Technology & Innovation Department.

Qualifications

Staff Wastewater Process Engineer

Knowledge of:

• Intermediate engineering principles and fundamentals, including mass and energy balances, fluid mechanics, biological processes and kinetics, and chemical reactions. 
• Conventional and advanced municipal wastewater treatment systems and processes including conceptual and detailed design, optimization, and performance analysis.
• Biological, physical, and chemical process modeling utilizing tools. Understanding of laboratory chemical, biochemical or microbiological analysis methods.
• Current and future regulatory requirements, industry standards, and best practices related to the development and implementation of innovative technologies.
• Basic project management principles and practices, including project planning, execution, and risk management.

Skilled at:

• Problem-solving and analytical thinking, with the ability to conceptualize and implement creative solutions to complex technical challenges.
• Review of physical, biological, and chemical processes to maximize wastewater process operation efficiency and meet permit requirements.
• Effectively conveying technical concepts and findings to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience with platforms including Microsoft Office Suite, with emphasis on Excel, Power BI, or other data analytics and data visualization packages.
• Experience with hydraulic, energy and heat balances, lifecycle cost analysis models, and/or biological process modeling (e.g., BioWin, GPS-X, Sumo, SIMBA, or WEST).
• Adaptability and flexibility, with the ability to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and deadlines concurrently.

Ability to:

• Execute engineering projects from conception to completion, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
• Prepare, review, and critique engineering studies, reports, proposals, presentations, and design documents prepared by staff and/or engineering consultants.
• Read and understand academic and technical papers and apply their content to practical process challenges. Network and collaborate with peer technologists to exchange knowledge.
• Analyze plant process data and provides recommendations to optimization operational performance while minimizing life-cycle costs.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, consultants, contractors, and the public. 
• Innovate and think creatively, exploring new ideas and approaches to solve technical challenges and drive continuous improvement.

Education, License, and Certification
Master’s degree or equivalency in civil, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or other related engineering discipline from an accredited college or university. Enrolled as an Engineer Intern (EI) in the State of Colorado or equivalent designation in another jurisdiction. 
A combination of education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Senior Wastewater Process Engineer
Knowledge of:

• Advanced engineering principles and fundamentals, including mass and energy balances, fluid mechanics, process controls, biological processes and kinetics and chemical reactions. Understanding of laboratory chemical, biochemical or microbiological analyses, wastewater operations, environmental science, or technology discipline.
• Municipal wastewater treatment systems and processes including design, optimization, performance analysis, biosolids land application strategies, energy optimization, and operational and compliance strategies.
• Basic and advanced biological, physical, and chemical process modeling utilizing tools, their strengths and limitations. Basic and advanced laboratory chemical, biochemical or microbiological analysis methods.
• Current and future regulatory requirements, industry standards, policies, and best practices related to the testing, development and implementation of innovative technologies. Knowledge of NPDES permit regulations and requirements.
• Intermediate principles and practices of project development and planning, execution, scheduling, and risk management.

Skilled at:

• Problem-solving and analytical thinking, with the ability to devise creative solutions to complex technical challenges.
• Troubleshooting treatment processes based on the review of physical, biological, and chemical process data to maximize wastewater process operation efficiency and reduce permit compliance risk.
• Communication and interpersonal skills, adept at conveying technical concepts to diverse audiences and building consensus among stakeholders.
• Experience with computer software including Microsoft Office Suite, hydraulic/process modeling, databases and big data analytics, and data visualization using packages such as Power BI, PiVision, etc.
• Engineering design, project management and/or facility planning. Experience with hydraulic, energy and heat balances, lifecycle cost analysis models, and/or biological process modeling (e.g., BioWin, GPS-X, Sumo, SIMBA, or WEST).
• Adaptability and flexibility, adept at managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Leadership and teamwork, with a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive results collaboratively.

Ability to:

• Lead complex engineering projects from conception to completion, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives. 
• Prepare, review, and critique engineering studies, reports, proposals, presentations, and design documents prepared by staff and/or engineering consultants.
• Develop and implement systematic, stepwise workflows to efficiently address and resolve complex engineering problems, ensuring robust and comprehensive solutions.
• Critically evaluate academic and technical papers, synthesize their findings, and apply advanced concepts to practical and innovative process engineering challenges. Network and collaborate with peer technologists to exchange knowledge.
• Independently analyze plant process data and provide recommendations to optimize operational performance while minimizing life-cycle costs.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, consultants, contractors, and the public. Networks and collaborates with peer technologists to exchange knowledge.
• Innovate and think creatively; foster a culture of innovation and learning within the team, encouraging experimentation, knowledge sharing, and continuous professional development.

Education, License, and Certification
Master’s degree in civil, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or other related engineering discipline from an accredited college or university. Registered as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Colorado or equivalent license in another jurisdiction. If registered as a PE in another state, must apply for PE reciprocity in Colorado.
A combination of education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Working Conditions

Typical Work Environment   
Variety of floor surfaces including concrete, gravel, asphalt, dirt, tile, loose stones, uneven surfaces, slippery surfaces, and wet surfaces; Inside environment; Outside environment all year in all weather conditions and temperatures;  Residential and Commercial Wastewater/Biosolids; Chemicals;   Lighting conditions including natural light, fluorescent, head lamps, incandescent, and low light; and low light;   Vibration; Moving equipment; Work in confined spaces

Body Position Demands
Standing; Walking; Climbing stairs; Climbing ladders; Reaching forward and overhead; Balancing; Object handling; Simple hand/ Firm hand grasping; Operating controls; Sitting; Stooping; Kneeling; Crouching; Crawling; Typing; Fine hand coordination

Physical Demands (max forces are expected to be infrequent)
Max Weight Lifted: 50 lbs
Max Weight Carried: 50 lbs
Max Force Pushed: 94 lbs
Max Force Pulled: 100 lbs
 
Sensory Requirements
Wide field of view; Perception - Spatial; Olfactory (Smelling); Vision - Near; Depth perception; Color discrimination; Perception - Form; Feeling without seeing; Speaking; Vision - near and far; Hearing

Benefits

Metro Water Recovery offers a wide range of employee benefits including:
* Medical
* Dental
* Vision
* Life Insurance
* Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
* Retirement
* Leave Time (Vacation, Sick Leave, Personal Leave, & Holiday)
* Additional Voluntary Benefits

Metro Water Recovery is an Equal Opportunity Employer.