Systems Operations Engineer

Arlington County Government•Arlington, VA

19h•$106,184 - $164,570•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Environmental Services’ Water, Sewer, & Streets Bureau is seeking a senior-level Systems Operations Engineer to provide day-to-day planning and oversight of the County’s potable water distribution system programs and engineering projects. The role manages programs, investigates system abnormalities, and has a significant impact on other operational areas. It includes managerial oversight of the Meter Section and may involve serving as acting Operating Engineer/Manager in that person’s absence. The engineer leads complex water-system programs and projects, assesses needs and develops implementation strategies, prepares schedules and scopes of work, and oversees specialized engineering functions. The position provides technical leadership, evaluates emerging technologies, manages personnel and program resources, and coordinates with internal and external partners. The work is primarily office-based with occasional field work. Core hours are 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with occasional shift rotation and emergency call-back availability. This is not a remote position; teleworking one day per week may be allowed with supervisor approval.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited college or university.
Significant and progressively responsible experience in civil engineering design, water-system programs, engineering project management, or a closely related field.
Two years of utilities operations and/or infrastructure systems management experience.
Possess or obtain by the time of appointment a valid driver’s license, or have the ability and willingness to use alternative transportation to perform assigned duties at locations other than the primary worksite.
Complete a pre-employment background check covering criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history.

Nice To Haves

Extensive experience working for a water-utilities organization or in a water-utilities environment.
Experience managing emergency responses.
Experience supervising staff, including employees under a collective bargaining agreement.
Experience using Asset Management software (AMS), Computerized Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) such as Cartegraph, SCADA software, and/or Utility Billing software.
Professional Engineer (PE) registration in Virginia or a state with reciprocity.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Applicable engineering experience in water-system operations and maintenance, hydraulic grade line analysis, water-metering technologies, and water-system construction.
Ability to apply water-system and engineering expertise to new or untested situations, anticipate impacts, and evaluate technical, political, and managerial factors when recommending strategies.
Utilities operational experience, strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to interpret and convey complex technical material, and leadership presence to represent the organization to customers, media, and regional partners.

Responsibilities

Lead planning, implementation, monitoring, and oversight of complex water-system programs and engineering projects to support section goals, operational objectives, regulatory compliance, and system reliability.
Assess program needs and develop short- and long-range implementation strategies.
Prepare project schedules, monitor progress, and develop scopes of work, contract specifications, RFPs, grant proposals, and procurement strategies.
Plan, coordinate, and oversee specialized engineering programs and functions, including water-main repair strategies, utility undergrounding, meter telecommunications upgrades, hydraulic analysis, water-quality and low-pressure troubleshooting, cost engineering, and water-system improvements such as booster chlorination stations.
Provide technical leadership and engineering expertise by reviewing plans and specifications, conducting field inspections, resolving complex engineering issues, developing analytical models, and recommending improvements to system performance, efficiency, reliability, and customer service.
Research, evaluate, and integrate emerging technologies and industry developments; assess impacts and recommend implementation strategies.
Supervise first-line supervisors and trades staff and oversee personnel activities for assigned sections.
Manage programmatic, contractual, financial, and regulatory activities, including budget administration, contract management, compliance monitoring, reporting, and identifying funding opportunities.
Coordinate with internal and external partners and stakeholders, including the Washington Aqueduct, Pentagon, National Airport, and local jurisdictions.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.