Drinking Water Process Engineer

Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, Inc.•Santa Clara, CA

47d•$97,000 - $194,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a Drinking Water Process Engineer in California to support drinking water treatment, reuse, and advanced purification projects for local and national clients. The role applies technical expertise to complex water challenges, supports project delivery, and collaborates with experienced engineers and multidisciplinary teams. The engineer evaluates treatment approaches, prepares technical deliverables, supports facility planning, and advances sustainable water solutions. The position includes technical analysis, project and pursuit support, client coordination, and process improvement. The engineer contributes to feasibility studies, facility planning, pilot testing, and water quality and treatment research, and works with municipal and private-sector teams on water quality and industrial treatment projects. Work is performed in a hybrid home-and-office model, with at least two days per week in the office.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Civil, Environmental, or Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
At least 5 years of experience in drinking water treatment engineering.
Background in drinking water treatment engineering, including process design, system optimization, or operational evaluation.
Knowledge of municipal treatment, reuse, advanced purification, process evaluation, and engineering studies.
Clear communication skills for working with clients, project managers, client service managers, and multidisciplinary teams.
Ability to evaluate alternatives and develop practical engineering recommendations.
Experience preparing basis of design reports, engineering drawings, specifications, process flow diagrams, and process instrumentation diagrams.
Strong writing, analytical thinking, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Active participation in water-focused professional organizations, with the ability to submit abstracts and confidently present technical material at regional and national conferences.
Collaborative, curious, growth-oriented work style and willingness to mentor others.
Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Professional Engineer (PE) license in California, or ability to obtain one.

Nice To Haves

Professional Engineer (PE) license in California.

Responsibilities

Assess municipal drinking water treatment, water reuse, and advanced purification processes, including process evaluation and selection, engineering studies, and operations optimization.
Partner with project teams and client service managers on pursuits, interviews, technical discussions, project execution, treatment process innovations, technical approaches, and scope development.
Contribute to feasibility studies, facility planning, pilot testing, and related technical evaluations.
Collaborate with the Applied Research Group on water quality and treatment research.
Collaborate with municipal and private-sector water treatment staff on water quality, industrial water treatment, and treatment process improvement projects.
Prepare basis of design reports, preliminary and detailed engineering drawings, specifications, process flow diagrams, and process instrumentation diagrams.
Identify opportunities to improve treatment operations, efficiency, and reliability at existing facilities.
Work with senior engineers on technical solutions and provide guidance to less experienced staff.
Communicate and coordinate with clients, project managers, client service managers, and multidisciplinary teams.
Participate in water-focused professional organizations and submit abstracts and present technical material at regional and national conferences.