Drinking Water Process Engineer

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

47d•$84,000 - $169,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a Drinking Water Process Engineer in California to support drinking water treatment, water reuse, and advanced purification projects for local and national clients. The role applies technical knowledge 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 contributes to technical analysis, project delivery, client coordination, and process improvement. Work includes evaluating municipal and industrial treatment processes, supporting project pursuits and execution, contributing to studies and research, preparing engineering documents, improving existing facility performance, and collaborating with and mentoring colleagues. The role uses a hybrid work model, with at least two days per week in the office. Kennedy Jenks describes the work as an opportunity to contribute to safe, reliable, and sustainable water solutions; gain experience across varied local and national projects; and develop technical expertise and responsibility with support from experienced engineers.

Requirements

BS or MS in Civil, Environmental, 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.
Ability to communicate clearly 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.
Collaborative, curious, and growth-oriented work style, with willingness to mentor others.
Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Professional Engineer (PE) license in California, or ability to obtain.

Nice To Haves

California Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred.
Experience or ability to contribute to water-focused professional organizations, submit abstracts, and confidently present technical material at regional and national conferences.

Responsibilities

Assess municipal drinking water treatment, water reuse, and advanced purification processes, including process evaluation, selection, engineering studies, and operations optimization.
Partner with project teams and client service managers on pursuits, interviews, technical discussions, and project execution, contributing to 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 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.