Water & Wastewater Project Engineer 1

Why DOWL?
DOWL is a top-ranked, multi-disciplined consulting firm with over 60 years of experience in civil engineering and related services. Our in-house expertise spans Civil and Land Development, Construction-Related Services, Transportation and Structures, and Water and Environmental Services. At DOWL, you’re valued.  We support your growth, offer great benefits, and foster a culture of integrity, professionalism, and teamwork.

Water and Wastewater

Join our team and help shape reliable, efficient water and wastewater systems that make a difference in communities. We take a comprehensive, cost-effective approach to every project, maximizing value while delivering long-lasting solutions. For drinking water systems, we prioritize consistent pressure, exceptional water quality, and straightforward maintenance. Our wastewater and recycled water work reflects a One Water philosophy, supporting utilities as they manage every drop—whether entering the system, leaving it, or returning as a valuable resource that strengthens the entire community. If you’re passionate about smart infrastructure and practical innovation, we invite you to be a part of our team, the People Who Make it Happen!

Lead the Future of Integrated Water Infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest! We’re seeking an experienced civil engineer to help drive the success of our Water and Wastewater group through technical leadership, project management, and meaningful client engagement. In this role, you’ll lead teams delivering high‑impact infrastructure projects while contributing to the growth, strategy, and direction of our practice. Our firm embraces a comprehensive, service‑driven One Water approach—partnering with utilities to manage drinking water, wastewater, and recycled water as interconnected resources. For drinking water systems, we emphasize reliable supply, exceptional quality, and operational efficiency. For wastewater and water reuse, we design systems that align with utility goals for resilience, regulatory compliance, and long-term asset performance.

As a Water and Wastewater team leader, you’ll guide multidisciplinary teams, strengthen client relationships, and support business development. You’ll also help mentor and develop junior staff while advancing innovative, sustainable infrastructure solutions for public utilities throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Summary

The Water & Wastewater Project Engineer 1 provides planning and design on large, complex water and wastewater systems including treatment plants, pipelines, pump stations, storage facilities, and other water-related facilities with limited autonomy. Duties include attending site visits, calculating pressure, flow and capacities, designing underground and above-ground piping systems, selecting and specifying equipment, coordinating with government agencies and other stakeholders, and preparing plans, specifications and estimated costs for project bidding and construction with limited oversight. The person in this position is expected to exercise a strong work ethic, a desire to learn new design concepts, be willing to mentor others with less experience, apply sound judgement to project decisions, and have great organizational and communication skills. A Water & Wastewater Project Engineer 1 should demonstrate advanced proficiency with drafting and water/wastewater design software and be able to quickly learn and apply new design concepts. This person is expected to work well with others, absorb and apply constructive criticism, and seek guidance from more experienced members of the team as necessary.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

To be successful in this position, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Software

• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) - Proficient
• Market Sector Software (C3D/P3D/GIS/WaterCAD/Innovyze/Hammer/Infosurge) - Proficient

Technical Expertise

• Fully proficient understanding of technical fundamentals related to the market sector
• Leads technical efforts on a variety of project types, sizes and complexities
• Mentors others on technical tasks and skills
• Performs quality control of moderately complex deliverables

Teamwork

Team player who leads small teams (1-2 people) to complete challenging assignments. Is an independent thinker, provides clear communication and direction to others, and takes responsibility for their results.

Project Delivery

Produces the following independently and oversees others with less experience:

• Engineering Reports
• Alternatives/economic analysis
• Establish design criteria
• Smaller pump/lift station/storage tank design
• Treatment works component design
• Water distribution system, sewer collection system, and transient event hydraulic modeling with reports
• Hydraulic profiles
• Familiar with instrumentation and controls
• Prepare rate studies (<2,000 connections)
• Construction bidding documents
• Manage construction phase of single discipline projects
• Assist with client presentations

Understanding Budget and Schedule

Advanced understanding of scopes, schedules, and budgets. Develops budgets and schedules for complex tasks. Breaks down complex projects into logical tasks. Able to prioritize multiple assignments to successfully deliver all assigned projects on time and on budget. Mentors others on above.

Industry Standards and Regulations

Interprets, selects from, and employs the following design codes with advanced skill:

• Governing state water/WW rules
• AWWA standards (water)
• Uniform Fire Code
• NFPA820 Fire Code for WW Facilities
• 10 state standards
• LT2 SWTR
• NPDES permits
• Actively mentor others on interpreting design codes
• Understands limitations of design codes

Client Interaction

Frequent direct communications with clients to resolve technical issues on moderate to complex projects. Leads client project meetings. Understand appropriate messaging and legal risks.

Other

Other duties as assigned.

Level of Work/Accountability

Performs advanced levels of technical work on large, complex projects as a trusted technical member of the market sector. Operates with a high level of autonomy. Reviews the work of others. May perform some project management tasks.

Supervisory Duties

May be a supervisor:

• Oversees team operations and the daily workflow of the team
• Organizes workflow and ensures that employees understand their duties or delegated tasks
• Recruits and hires new employees
• Implements training for new hires and identifies training opportunities for current staff
• Communicates information from leadership to employees and vice versa
• Monitors employee productivity and provides constructive feedback and coaching
• Sets goals for performance and deadlines in ways that comply with company’s plans and vision and communicates them to employees
• Provides constructive and timely performance evaluations
• Decides on reward and promotion based on performance
• Handles discipline and termination of employees as needed and in accordance with company policy

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's Degree required
• Years of experience required: 6 years
• Years of experience required with advanced degree: 5 years

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• PE required
• Driving is an essential job function or a valid driver’s license is required to support legitimate business purposes.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.