Senior Operations Specialist (Water)

About the role

HDR is seeking an energetic, hardworking problem solver to become a full-time Senior Operations Specialist to work on both municipal and industrial water treatment facilities. This position will allow you to work on a variety of treatment technologies for multiple treatment plants, ranging from small municipalities to some of the most iconic in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Support HDR project leaders on water treatment projects requiring input from Operations Specialists.
• Review drawings for operability review and HazOps analysis with an eye for successful operation of various treatment processes.
• Manage operations and maintenance projects with both municipal and industrial clients, including client interfacing, regulatory reporting, and personnel, subcontractor, and maintenance management.
• Develop startup and commissioning plans and host workshops to ensure these plans work for each specific plant.
• Perform startup and commissioning of new water treatment facilities, working alongside contractors and engineers to ensure the new equipment functions correctly before handing it over to the operations and maintenance staff.
• Provide formal and informal training to help clients' treatment plants operate as well as they can.
• Test facilities to ensure they are ready for startup and after startup, meet the capacity requirements of the design.
• Perform condition assessment and asset management tasks on water and wastewater facilities, using state-of-the-art evaluation tools to efficiently capture information and opinions.
• Conduct operational or maintenance troubleshooting and evaluations on municipal and industrial water facilities.
• Work on a variety of new and innovative projects, providing opportunities for career growth.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years field experience in troubleshooting mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation equipment at water treatment facilities and/or resolving water treatment process problems.
• Additional construction experience is a plus.
• A high-level water treatment operator license or professional engineering license.
• Experience interpreting engineering plans and specifications.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products and computerized maintenance and management systems.
• A strong attitude and commitment to being an active participant in our employee-owned culture.

Preferred Qualifications

• Valid driver’s license.

Pay

The expected compensation range for this position is $71,960 - 128,500 depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location.

Schedule

This position is Full-time.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, health, performance, and success, including medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement.

Location

The work location will be at the HDR office closest to your current location. Please check the HDR website nearest to you.

Company Information

For over 100 years, HDR has specialized in engineering, architecture, environmental, and construction services. We provide solutions to thousands of partners, from small local utilities to the largest global companies. HDR has nearly 13,000 employee owners worldwide and ENR ranked in the top 10 of Water design firms, Water Treatment and Desalination design firms, and Wastewater design firms. Our Water Business Group has over 2,000 employee owners, with over 500 in our Eastern Region.

We believe water is more than a resource; it's a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you'll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience.

We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

We are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer.