Senior Process Design Engineer (Technical Lead)

Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, Inc.•Sacramento, CA

30d•$140,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a Senior Process Design Engineer in California to lead complex industrial water and wastewater process design work, guide multidisciplinary delivery teams, and help clients develop practical, sustainable, and efficient solutions across diverse market sectors. The role offers the opportunity to shape process design strategy, support delivery from planning through startup, and contribute to the growth of KJ’s industrial water and wastewater practice. As an employee-owned firm, KJ offers employees the opportunity to make an impact on projects, clients, and the future of the company. The Senior Process Design Engineer serves as a Project Technical Lead on complex industrial engineering projects, including wastewater, facilities engineering, and metals finishing work. The role establishes process design approaches, develops process flow diagrams, guides water and mass balances, and directs bench and pilot testing for complex treatment systems. It also includes preparing options analyses and detailed process design recommendations that balance performance, cost, constructability, and sustainability. The position coordinates technical disciplines, project teams, and client priorities from planning and design through construction, commissioning, and startup. It supports scope, schedule, fee development, negotiation, staffing, and service expansion opportunities with existing clients, and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams. Travel to client sites, project locations, and KJ offices may be needed. The position uses a hybrid home-and-office model, with a minimum of two days per week in the office. The anticipated salary range is $140,000 to $200,000, varying based on education, experience, qualifications, licensure or certifications, and geographic location.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical, Environmental, Mechanical, Civil, or a related engineering field.
10 years of engineering experience in investigation, planning, design, construction, and commissioning, including relevant consulting experience.
Experience supporting or leading scope, schedule, and budget oversight for engineering projects.
Experience applying process design solutions in sectors such as mining and metals, pulp and paper, food and beverage, data centers, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, or similar industrial environments.
Professional Engineer (PE) license in California required.
Ability to travel to client and project sites as needed for client visits, meetings, project coordination, and collaboration with other KJ offices.
Ability to guide process design decisions, advise project teams, and apply industrial water and wastewater treatment knowledge to complex technical challenges.
Understanding of how technical decisions support successful delivery across planning, design, construction, commissioning, and startup.
Ability to communicate and collaborate clearly with clients, multidisciplinary teams, and internal stakeholders.
Ability to evaluate options, interpret testing results, and recommend solutions balancing performance, cost, schedule, constructability, and sustainability.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with computer-aided drafting and design tools such as AutoCAD, BlueBeam, Revit, or similar platforms.

Responsibilities

Serve as Project Technical Lead on complex industrial engineering projects, including wastewater, facilities engineering, and metals finishing work.
Establish process design approaches and develop process flow diagrams.
Guide water and mass balances and direct bench and pilot testing for complex treatment systems.
Prepare options analyses and detailed process design recommendations balancing performance, cost, constructability, and sustainability.
Coordinate technical disciplines, project teams, and client priorities from planning and design through construction, commissioning, and startup.
Support scope, schedule, fee development, negotiation, staffing, and service expansion opportunities with existing clients.
Partner with multidisciplinary teams and travel to client sites, project locations, and KJ offices as needed.
Guide process design decisions, advise project teams, and apply industrial water and wastewater treatment knowledge to complex technical challenges.
Evaluate options, interpret testing results, and recommend solutions balancing performance, cost, schedule, constructability, and sustainability.