Senior/Principal Wastewater Process Engineer (Multi- Level Position)

Metro Water Recovery

Denver, CO

Metro Water Recovery in Denver, CO - a nationally recognized leader among clean water utilities, provides wastewater conveyance and treatment services for 2.2 million people in the Denver Metro area.

At Metro, we help you be your best so we can do our best. You will join a team that offers stability, flexibility, and the opportunity to make a difference. We take pride in being part of an industry-leading team who serves the community by protecting the region’s health and environment.

Description

Why It's a Great Opportunity:
Joining Metro Water Recovery offers a unique chance to be part of a growing organization that serves over 2.2 million people across the Front Range of Colorado, operating two major wastewater facilities: the Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility (Denver) and the Northern Treatment Plant (Brighton). As Metro continues its growth, this role places you at the forefront of transformation, engaging in cutting-edge research, process optimization, piloting, and the application of advanced technologies.

As a process engineer in our Technology & Innovation Department, you’ll lead high-impact projects, drive treatment process improvements, and mentor others, all while honing your expertise and leadership skills. Metro is one of the few utilities that not only values but actively promotes a dedicated innovation program, recognized by our CEO as essential to our growth. This environment offers significant opportunities for professional growth, allowing you to make meaningful contributions to both Metro, the broader community, and the environment.

Why It's a Great Department:
The Technology & Innovation Department is central to Metro Water Recovery’s mission to pioneer advancements in water and energy resource recovery. We bring together specialists from Instrument Solutions, Data Analytics, and Process Engineering to push the boundaries of wastewater treatment. Our department focuses on data-driven solutions, innovative research, and process optimization to shape Metro’s long-term strategies. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, we develop practical solutions to complex challenges. In this dynamic environment, you’ll work with dedicated professionals passionate about improving resource management and environmental protection.

How to Be Successful in the Role:
To succeed in this role, you’ll need a strong technical foundation and deep subject matter expertise in wastewater process engineering and project management. As a senior or principal engineer, your ability to manage and deliver complex projects is crucial, requiring excellent project management skills and the capacity to lead cross-functional teams toward impactful outcomes.

Strong communication and change management skills are essential. You will be responsible for managing stakeholder expectations, ensuring clear communication across departments, and effectively motivating and guiding your project teams. Your leadership will be critical in identifying and mitigating project risks, fostering collaboration, and driving the adoption of new technologies and methodologies. A commitment to continuous learning and staying ahead of industry advancements will be vital to your ongoing success.

Your Future in This Role:
In this role, you’ll be a key player in advancing Metro Water Recovery’s mission, leading and managing a team that drives critical projects in areas like process intensification and energy optimization. Your work will directly enhance operational efficiency and support data-driven, science-based decision-making. As a senior or principal engineer, you’ll take on high-impact projects that integrate cutting-edge technologies, pilot new solutions, and contribute to Metro’s long-term capital strategies.

At Metro Water Recovery, we are committed to your professional growth, offering training and development opportunities that will sharpen your expertise and prepare you for future technical and leadership roles. You’ll build strong relationships across departments and with external partners, contributing to Metro’s strategic goals while making a lasting impact on our community and environment. This role offers a pathway to a rewarding career where your skills and leadership will help shape a sustainable future for the region.

Wastewater Process Senior Engineer ($112,236.80 - $163,176.00 Annually)
Responsible for leading wastewater process engineering activities, with a focus on coordinating efforts associated with planning, design, implementation, and optimization of conventional and advanced treatment processes and innovative technologies. The Senior Engineer plans and conducts work requiring independent judgment in the evaluation, selection, substantial adaptation and modification of standard techniques, procedures, technologies, processes, and bench and full-scale pilot tests. May function as a project or technical manager or focus area lead. Independently performs most assignments based on information received from management as to the general results expected. This position reports to a Principal Engineer or the Senior Wastewater Process Engineering Manager in the Technology & Innovation Department.

Wastewater Process Principal Engineer (121,222.40 - $176,259.20 Annually)
Responsible for managing wastewater process engineering projects and staff, with a focus on driving innovation, technology adoption, and strategic initiatives. The Principal Engineer plans and manages work requiring independent judgment in the evaluation, selection, substantial adaptation and modification of standard techniques, procedures, technologies, processes, and bench and full-scale pilot tests. Independently performs assignments based on information received from management as to the general results expected. Functions as a project and/or program manager, directing and supervising the work of other engineers, engineering technicians, or interns. This position reports to the Senior Wastewater Process Engineering Manager in the Technology & Innovation Department.

Qualifications

Wastewater Process Senior Engineer

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Knowledge of:

Advanced engineering principles and fundamentals, including mass and energy balances, fluid mechanics, process controls, biological processes and kinetics and chemical reactions. Understanding of laboratory chemical, biochemical or microbiological analyses, wastewater operations, environmental science, or technology discipline.
Municipal wastewater treatment systems and processes including design, optimization, performance analysis, biosolids land application strategies, energy optimization, and operational and compliance strategies.
Basic and advanced biological, physical, and chemical process modeling utilizing tools, their strengths and limitations. Basic and advanced laboratory chemical, biochemical or microbiological analysis methods.
Current and future regulatory requirements, industry standards, policies, and best practices related to the testing, development and implementation of innovative technologies. Knowledge of NPDES permit regulations and requirements.
Intermediate principles and practices of project development and planning, execution, scheduling, and risk management.

Skilled at:

Problem-solving and analytical thinking, with the ability to devise creative solutions to complex technical challenges.
Troubleshooting treatment processes based on the review of physical, biological, and chemical process data to maximize wastewater process operation efficiency and reduce permit compliance risk.
Communication and interpersonal skills, adept at conveying technical concepts to diverse audiences and building consensus among stakeholders.
Experience with computer software including Microsoft Office Suite, hydraulic/process modeling, databases and big data analytics, and data visualization using packages such as Power BI, PiVision, etc.
Engineering design, project management and/or facility planning. Experience with hydraulic, energy and heat balances, lifecycle cost analysis models, and/or biological process modeling (e.g., BioWin, GPS-X, Sumo, SIMBA, or WEST).
Adaptability and flexibility, adept at managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
Leadership and teamwork, with a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive results collaboratively.

Ability to:

Lead complex engineering projects from conception to completion, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
Prepare, review, and critique engineering studies, reports, proposals, presentations, and design documents prepared by staff and/or engineering consultants.
Develop and implement systematic, stepwise workflows to efficiently address and resolve complex engineering problems, ensuring robust and comprehensive solutions.
Critically evaluate academic and technical papers, synthesize their findings, and apply advanced concepts to practical and innovative process engineering challenges. Network and collaborate with peer technologists to exchange knowledge.
Independently analyze plant process data and provide recommendations to optimize operational performance while minimizing life-cycle costs.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, consultants, contractors, and the public. Networks and collaborates with peer technologists to exchange knowledge.
Innovate and think creatively; foster a culture of innovation and learning within the team, encouraging experimentation, knowledge sharing, and continuous professional development.

Education, License, and Certification

Master’s degree in civil, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or other related engineering discipline from an accredited college or university. Registered as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Colorado or equivalent license in another jurisdiction. If registered as a PE in another state, must apply for PE reciprocity in Colorado.

Wastewater Process Principal Engineer
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:

Advanced and/or subject matter expertise in wastewater engineering principles and fundamentals, including mass and energy balances, fluid mechanics, process controls, and biological processes and kinetics and chemical reactions. Advanced understanding of laboratory chemical, biochemical or microbiological analyses, wastewater operations, environmental science, or technology discipline.
Conventional and advanced municipal wastewater treatment systems and processes and their interactions. Conceptual and detailed design, multi-objective process optimization, performance analysis, biosolids land application strategies, energy optimization, and operational and compliance strategies.
Industry prominent biological, physical, and chemical process modeling utilizing tools, their application, strengths and limitations. Basic and advanced laboratory chemical, biochemical and microbiological analysis methods, their interpretation and limitations.
Current and future requirements, industry standards, design policies, permitting procedures, and best practices related to the testing, development and implementation of innovative technologies in the US and Colorado context. Knowledge of NPDES permit regulations and requirements.
Advanced principles and practices of project development and planning, execution, scheduling, and risk management.
Computer software including Microsoft Office Suite, hydraulic/process modeling, development, use, and maintenance of big data analytics tools, and data visualization platforms (Power BI, PiVision, etc).

Skilled at:

Strategic thinking and decision-making, with the ability to develop and implement innovative solutions to complex challenges.
Independently analyze relevant physical, biological, and chemical process data to troubleshoot and optimize treatment performance to maximize wastewater process operation efficiency, lower operational costs, and reduce permit compliance risk.
Communication and interpersonal skills, adept at conveying technical concepts to diverse audiences and building consensus among stakeholders.
Engineering design, project management and/or facility planning. Extensive expertise within innovative and strategic realms that have potential high value to the organization (e.g., data analytics, sustainability, wastewater technology research, organizational design). Experience in wastewater process modeling (e.g. BioWin, GPS-X, Sumo, SIMBA, or WEST).
Project management and execution, including project planning, resource allocation, risk management, and budget oversight.
Leadership and team management, with a proven track record of effectively leading and supervising multidisciplinary teams.
Active listening skills and training and mentoring staff.
Managing disagreements, de-escalating conflict, and negotiating win-win solutions

Ability to:

Initiate, drive, and manage high-value initiatives and strategic projects, aligning them with organizational goals and objectives.
Critically review and provide improvements to engineering studies and designs prepared by staff and/or engineering consultants.
Manage and direct staff resources in developing and implementing workflows to efficiently address and resolve complex engineering problems, ensuring robust and comprehensive solutions in coordination with other department teams.
Critically evaluate academic and technical papers, synthesize their findings, and apply advanced concepts to practical and innovative process engineering challenges at Metro. Network and collaborate with internal and external stakeholder groups to exchange knowledge.
Guide staff in the analysis of plant process data and development of recommendations to optimize operational performance while minimizing life-cycle costs.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, consultants, contractors, and the public.
Guide staff towards developing creative and innovative ideas; creatively; foster a culture of innovation and learning within the team, encouraging experimentation, knowledge sharing, and continuous professional development.
Guide staff to prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive technical reports, proposals, and presentations.
Implement and enforce policies and procedures fairly and consistently.

Education, License, and Certification

Working Conditions

Typical Work Environment
Variety of floor surfaces including concrete, gravel, asphalt, dirt, tile, loose stones, uneven surfaces, slippery surfaces, and wet surfaces; Inside environment; Outside environment all year in all weather conditions and temperatures; Residential and Commercial Wastewater/Biosolids; Chemicals; Lighting conditions including natural light, fluorescent, head lamps, incandescent, and low light; and low light; Vibration; Moving equipment; Work in confined spaces

Body Position Demands
Standing; Walking; Climbing stairs; Climbing ladders; Reaching forward and overhead; Balancing; Object handling; Simple hand/ Firm hand grasping; Operating controls; Sitting; Stooping; Kneeling; Crouching; Crawling; Typing; Fine hand coordination

Physical Demands (max forces are expected to be infrequent)
Max Weight Lifted: 50 lbs
Max Weight Carried: 50 lbs
Max Force Pushed: 94 lbs
Max Force Pulled: 100 lbs

Sensory Requirements
Wide field of view; Perception - Spatial; Olfactory (Smelling); Vision - Near; Depth perception; Color discrimination; Perception - Form; Feeling without seeing; Speaking; Vision - near and far; Hearing

Metro Water Recovery is an Equal Opportunity Employer.