Drinking Water Process Engineer

Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, Inc.•Monterey, CA

47d•$88,000 - $176,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a Drinking Water Process Engineer in California to support treatment, 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 municipal drinking water treatment, water reuse, advanced purification, and industrial water treatment work. It involves technical analysis, project and client coordination, feasibility studies, facility planning, pilot testing, research, process optimization, and development of engineering documents. The role also includes collaborating with senior engineers and providing guidance to less experienced staff. The position uses a hybrid home-and-office model, with a minimum of two days per week in the office. The expected salary range is $88,000 to $176,000, depending on education, experience, qualifications, licensure or certifications, and geographic location.

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.
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, 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

Professional Engineer (PE) license in California.

Responsibilities

Assess municipal drinking water treatment, water reuse, and advanced purification processes, including evaluation, selection, engineering studies, and operations optimization.
Partner with project teams and client service managers during pursuits, interviews, technical discussions, and project execution; contribute to 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 enhance treatment operations, efficiency, and reliability at existing facilities.
Work with senior engineers on technical solutions and provide guidance to less experienced staff.
Participate in water-focused professional organizations and submit abstracts and present technical material at regional and national conferences.