Principal Water Engineer

Arcadis•Los Angeles, CA

13h

About The Position

Arcadis is seeking a dynamic Principal Lead Water Engineer to lead our Resilience Water Quality and Treatment Practice in California. This individual will lead water quality and treatment planning projects, guide long-term strategy development, and support the delivery of complex, multidisciplinary planning projects. The role also includes mentoring a high-performing team of planners, engineers, and scientists. In this role, you will collaborate closely with the regional leadership, national practice leaders, market sector leads, and client account managers to shape the future of water and recycled water planning and treatment across California. You will support municipal and utility clients as they navigate evolving regulatory requirements, climate uncertainty, water supply resilience challenges, and infrastructure investment needs.

Requirements

Masters’ degree in Civil, Environmental, or Chemical Engineering or a related field
10 years of progressive experience in water resources planning, water system planning, or related fields
Professional Engineer (PE) license in California (or ability to obtain within 12 months)
Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage client accounts, and successfully deliver large, complex water planning projects, complemented by in-depth knowledge of California’s regulatory landscape and the municipal water and recycled water utility market.
Demonstrated experience partnering with municipal agencies and utilities to develop and implement long-term planning, resilience, and sustainability strategies.

Responsibilities

Lead Water Quality and Treatment Planning: Direct comprehensive water and recycled water quality and treatment planning efforts, including treatment processes for regulatory compliance (e.g., groundwater and surface water treatment), operations evaluations (e.g., filter assessments or disinfection approaches), distribution system water quality improvement (e.g., nitrification prevention and corrosion control). Develop strategies to address long-term challenges related to water quality and treatment reliability, reuse, sustainability, resilience, and regulatory compliance.
Lead Water and Recycled Water Treatment Improvements and Operations: Lead water and recycled water treatment evaluations of existing infrastructure and plan improvements to improve operability, water quality, and infrastructure reliability. Support water and recycled water treatment utility start-up and commissioning and operations troubleshooting.
Represent Clients/Utilities during Design and Construction: Support municipalities/utilities as the Owner’s Agent on alternative delivery projects. Lead water quality evaluations and review designer treatment approaches, basis of design, and calculations. Lead the development of performance guarantees and the associated start-up and commissioning requirements. Support start-up and commissioning activities to represent the owner’s interests.
Strategic Advisory & Policy Support: Provide technical leadership on water policy, regulatory frameworks, and planning best practices. Advise clients on climate adaptation, drought resilience, water recycling, and sustainability initiatives.
Support Business Development: Partner with Area Managers and Account Leaders across Southern California to develop and implement client engagement strategies. Build and maintain strong client relationships, identify and pursue strategic opportunities, and represent the firm at key industry events and conferences.
Project Leadership & Delivery: Oversee multidisciplinary planning projects, ensuring deliverables are completed in alignment with scope, schedule, budget, and Arcadis quality standards. Provide technical guidance and quality assurance on planning analyses and documentation.
Capital & Asset Planning: Lead development of capital improvement plans and asset investment strategies, incorporating risk-based prioritization, lifecycle costing, funding strategies, and alignment with long-term planning objectives.
Professional Leadership: Actively participate in state and local professional associations to strengthen the Arcadis brand and expand networks. Contribute to industry committees and thought leadership initiatives.
Develop and Inspire Talent: Mentor and develop water planning professionals, support recruitment efforts, and foster a collaborative, inclusive, and growth-oriented team culture.