Project Engineer III

About the role

Aqua Texas is seeking a Project Engineer III to support statewide operations, playing a critical role in Capital Improvement Projects in the East Texas region. You will collaborate with key stakeholders to develop solutions for operational and compliance excellence, evaluate growth opportunities, and prepare short- and long-term comprehensive plans for water and wastewater systems, including project justifications, capital expenditures, budget forecasting, scheduling, and project tracking.

Essential duties

• Provide direct project management support in the design and construction management of capital projects
• Manage third party consulting design firms
• Manage and execute the preparation of technical, bidding and contractual documents associated with delivery of assigned capital investment projects
• Oversee scope and quality of work to achieve design intent and Company standards for capacity, performance, reliability, safety and regulatory compliance
• Serve as a senior technical manager for water and wastewater treatment process design and review, water resource assessments, safe yield analysis, hydraulic and pumping evaluations, risk assessments and other pertinent subjects
• Conduct technical review of water and wastewater treatment and conveyance designs prepared by others
• Manage capital project delivery from planning through construction and commissioning and serve as a technical resource during construction, commissioning, and initial operation of assets
• Recommend and support pilot studies and investigate new treatment technologies
• Work directly with Operations Teams to optimize existing treatment processes and apply new technologies as appropriate
• Participate in the Capital Planning process to assist in prioritizing water and wastewater process treatment needs
• Work with Asset Management Team to coordinate and prepare strategic water and wastewater system studies including Master Plans and specialty studies
• Assess system capacity, asset condition, facility performance, resiliency level and operational efficiency, and recommend associated improvements
• Conduct process evaluations and facility inspections to identify capital improvements necessary to reliably meet future water supply needs
• Develop design concepts for new or expansion/renovation of existing treatment facilities
• Develop, review, maintain and communicate standards, guidance and internal processes for water and wastewater treatment design and operation
• Support source change and corrosion control program
• Assist in the development, management, and application of Enterprise-wide and State-specific standards and guidance, including: 5-Year Capital Planning Workbook, AQUA Project Punch List Template, AQUA Standard Specifications, AQUA Recommended Design Standards
• Support engineering forensic and root cause analyses
• Support plant Operations Teams as needed across the State, such as during new process startups, process upsets, or emergency response
• Represent the Company at various federal, state, and local levels
• Establish and maintain positive public relations with key customers, local officials, state and federal regulators, other state agencies, elected officials and industry groups
• Participate in special assignments including professional conferences, regulatory workshops, business development, rate case testimony, technology research and other matters of strategic interest
• Represent Aqua America as subject matter expert on national industry and regulatory forums
• Assist business development function in pursuit of business development opportunities
• Deliver and/or lead technical deliverables
• Schedule and conduct regular meetings with 3rd party consultants to ensure project clarification, meet specific requirements, and make adjustments according to needs as they arise
• Manage daily delivery of projects, including staffing, schedule, scope and budget
• Coordinate and prepare planning studies to identify future capital improvements necessary to maintain proper water and wastewater service and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements
• Conduct system capacity evaluations, analysis of distribution, storage, or other system deficiencies as assigned
• Serve as a technical resource on capital planning, demand projection, transmission and distribution adequacy, water conservation, and other pertinent subjects
• Conduct site visits as part of defining project scope and during pre-bid activities
• Assist with engineering due diligence for company acquisitions by identifying capital improvement needs for candidate systems and estimate the costs and timing of needed improvements
• Assist in the review and application of new technologies that would improve service to customers
• Maintain awareness of current trends and advancements in the field and their applicability to company operations
• Perform other assignments as required

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering or related engineering field required
• Professional Engineer's License (PE) in the State of Texas or ability to achieve within 6 months of hire
• 6+ years of professional experience in Water and/or Wastewater and budget management of projects over $1M
• Wastewater experience preferred
• Project Management experience preferred, PMI Certification a plus
• Experience conducting field testing, data collection programs, and master planning for water distribution systems and sewer collection systems
• Current Driver's License and ability to drive to project sites within the assigned region, for on-site meetings and inspections, as required

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite: Word, PowerPoint, Excel
• Project Management experience preferred
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills; communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• Knowledge/familiarity in permitting processes with local groundwater conservations districts, cities, counties, flood districts, TCEQ, PUC etc.
• Knowledge in public water supply and wastewater safety/design standards that include AWWA, TCEQ, OSHA, NEC, etc.
• A team player able to work effectively in a team fostered multi-tasking environment
• Ability to work well under pressure and with tight deadlines
• Ability to manage multiple projects and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Familiarity with modeling software platforms (WaterGems, WaterCAD, EPAet, InfoWorks / Infowater etc.) preferred but not required

Working conditions and physical demands

• Perform sedentary work - exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body
• Sedentary work involves sitting the majority of time
• See, hear, talk, and perform tasks requiring manual dexterity
• Operate standard office equipment
• Working conditions will include travel to work sites of Aqua Texas, Essential Utilities and/or other constituents, as required
• Ability to occasionally traverse loose, uneven ground, industrial stairwells and perform duties in inclement weather (up to 20% of the time)
• Travel Requirements up to 20%, mostly local to the regional office