Consulting Engineer

Posting Title: Consulting Engineer

Job Requisition Number: COA090748

Position Number: 106541

Job Type: Full-Time

Division Name: Process Engineering

Minimum Qualifications

Education and/or Equivalent Experience:

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a field related to engineering, plus eight (8) years engineering experience acquired either before and/or after licensing as a professional engineer.

Licenses or Certifications:

• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Texas; or if currently licensed in another state, must have the ability to obtain a Texas P.E. license within six (6) months of employment.

Notes to Applicants

Position Overview:

Join our highly supportive and technical team as a Wastewater Process Engineer! As a Process Engineer, you’ll play a critical role in optimizing and maintaining the performance of our wastewater treatment processes, provide informal group or individual training on advanced technical topics, research how the utility could benefit from innovative technologies, plan and execute bench-scale testing and pilot projects, and work with researchers to advance the industry’s knowledge of wastewater treatment. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues, or immediately contribute your expertise, as you take ownership of process control strategies, technical problem-solving, and troubleshooting. In this meaningful and fulfilling role, you’ll work directly with plant operations staff and other Process Engineers to protect human health and promote environmental stewardship. You will collaborate with some of the best consultants in the industry on innovative and large-scale treatment projects. Don’t miss this opportunity to grow your career and make a difference as part of our team!

Working with Austin Water provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, training opportunities and more. Please click HERE for more information.

When completing a City of Austin employment application:

• Please be sure to detail on the application all previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
• A detailed, complete employment application is required. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine salary if you are selected for this position. Be sure to provide job titles and employment dates for all jobs you wish to be considered.
• A resume is required, but will not substitute for a complete employment application. Please include contact information from previous employers.
• A cover letter is also required. In the cover letter candidates should describe, in concise detail, their interest in this position and highlight any prior experience that is relevant to this position.

Secondary Employment:

• All Austin Water employees are prohibited from accepting or engaging in any secondary employment that might conflict or interfere with an employee’s duty and responsibility to the Department.
• AW must review all secondary employment.
• Employees are required to submit a Secondary Employment Application for review and approval upon being hired with AWU, as well as current AWU employees considering Secondary employment.

Travel:
If you are selected for this position, and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution and proof of your professional licenses or certifications.
• If you are identified as a top candidate and are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
  
  Effective October 1, 2014, all Austin Water worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any AW worksite – including construction sites, parking lots, garages or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

Pay Range: $51.07 – $67.04

Hours

Monday – Friday; 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., with some flexibility (some telework available).
Other hours may be necessary to meet the needs of 24/7 utility operations.

Job Close Date

01/17/2024

Type of Posting: External

Department: Austin Water Utility

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Grant Funded or Pooled Position: Not Applicable

Category: Professional

Location: Waller Creek Center 625 E. 10th St. Austin, TX 78744

Preferred Experience:

• Bachelor of Science in Civil, Environmental, Water Resources Engineering, or related field
• Experience or knowledge in advanced wastewater treatment processes
• Experience or knowledge in design, construction, and/or operation of wastewater treatment plants
• Experience or knowledge in wastewater regulatory compliance and reporting
• Experience with technical writing and presenting to a wide range of technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience building, calibrating, and analyzing process models using SUMO, BioWin, and/or GPS-X
• Expertise in biological nutrient removal (BNR) and anaerobic digestion principles and techniques in municipal wastewater treatment
• Current knowledge of new and existing wastewater and biosolids treatment technologies for future and present challenges
• Experience conducting life cycle cost analyses that include operational considerations (e.g., chemical and power usage, operator maintenance, replacement parts, etc.)
• Ability to learn from and collaborate with peers.
• Ability to travel to more than one work location.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

1. Develops or oversees development of technical specifications and standards by applying knowledge of the principles and practices of discipline engineering, including the methods, materials, equipment and techniques used. Review, analyze and interpret plans, specifications, contracts and other related documents.
2. Manages and coordinates programs/projects by reviewing and/or monitors projects/programs including the review of plans and development proposals for impacts related to project/program.
3. Plans, researches, designs, and implements engineering studies and projects and/or program areas by applying advance technical knowledge of engineering discipline.
4. Manages and negotiates contracts by reviewing monthly progress reports, verifying final quantities and costs, compiling requisite documentation, reviewing change orders, and auditing as-built records. Acts as a liaison among consultants, contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, fabricators or suppliers and City. Negotiates problems of changes, errors or deficiencies and ensures compliance with project specifications and requirements.
5. Interacts with internal and external customers to ensure requirements and needs are satisfied.
6. Reviews plans and provides recommendation changes, solutions, or implementation.
7. Monitors projects for regulatory compliance by providing consultation and determinations in matters involving application and interpretation of regulations and policies.
8. Manages/leads teams of technical personnel including assigning and monitoring tasks. Provides advanced technical training to staff and field personnel by reviewing business needs, evaluation of personnel, creating and applying training documentation, presentation and analysis of training.
9. Develops and monitors budget of projects. Assist in develop, managing and submit proposed budget forecast planning for short and long term city planning.
10. Provides a high level of engineering and technical advice and direction. Possesses ability to troubleshoot advanced technical problems. Possesses ability to perform advanced engineering design.

Responsibilities – Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:

• May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Advanced knowledge of diversified, fundamental scientific and civil engineering concepts, phenomena, and relationships, and utilize such changes in solution of theoretical or practical civil engineering problems.
• Knowledge of advanced mathematical techniques such as trigonometry, calculus, and coordinate geometry.
• Knowledge of modern methods, materials, and techniques of assigned discipline.
• Knowledge of one or more of the following disciplines: Civil, Environmental, Structural, Architectural, Mechanical and/or Electrical engineering terminology and techniques.
• Knowledge of City of Austin budget planning, purchasing and contract policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of applicability of established engineering principles and methods and solutions.
• Knowledge of phases of the plans review and inspections processes.
• Knowledge of preparation of cost estimates and engineering and feasibility reports.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements within the local and state ordinances and laws.
• Skill in oral and written technical and/or general communication including preparation of written reports.
• Skill in negotiations and handling conflict resolution.
• Ability to perform more complex engineering computations, calculus, geometry, and trigonometry, rapidly and accurately.
• Ability to communicate and provide direction to peers and assigned personnel.
• Ability to organize, analyze, interpret, and evaluate scientific civil engineering problems and provide practical, cost effective solutions.
• Ability to observe, compare, or monitor objects and data to determine compliance with prescribed operating or safety standards.
• Ability to use graphic instructions, such as blue prints, schematic drawings, layouts, or other visual aids.

Criminal Background Investigation

This position does not require a Criminal Background Investigation

EEO/ADA

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1. 

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

Information For City Employees: If you are an employee within

the department, are in good standing and meet both the minimum and preferred qualifications, then you will receive an initial interview.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * The minimum qualifications for the Consulting Engineer position are: Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a field related to engineering, plus eight (8) years of engineering experience acquired before and/or after licensing as a professional engineer. Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Texas; or if currently licensed in another state, must have the ability to obtain a Texas P.E. license within six (6) months of employment. Do you meet these minimum qualifications?
   • Yes
   • No
2. Tell us about the wastewater treatment process topics you have experience or knowledge in (check all that apply).
   • Headworks
   • Primary clarifiers
   • Aeration basin design (diffusers, blowers, tapering of zones, alpha, etc.)
   • Conventional activated sludge
   • Biological nutrient removal (BNR)
   • Chemical phosphorus removal
   • Secondary clarifiers
   • Chlorine/sodium hypochlorite disinfection
   • UV disinfection
   • Tertiary filtration
   • Anaerobic digestion
   • Biosolids composting
   • Process modeling in SUMO, BioWin, or GPS-X
   • Advanced biological nutrient removal treatment strategies like anammox, comammox, or activated granular sludge
   • Wet weather treatment technologies like high-rate clarifiers, wet weather filters, etc.
   • Bench-scale testing and pilot projects
   • Alkalinity balance, mass balance, solids retention time, food to microorganism ratio, solids loading rate calculations
   • Life cycle cost analysis
   • Municipal chemical contracts/contract negotiation
3. How many years of experience do you have in biological nutrient removal (BNR) principles and techniques in municipal wastewater treatment?
   • None
   • 1-3 years
   • 3-5 years
   • 5-7 years
   • More than 7 years
4. How many years of experience do you have building, calibrating, and analyzing process models using SUMO, BioWin, and/or GPS-X?
   • None
   • 1-3 years
   • 3-5 years
   • 5-7 years
   • More than 7 years
5. How many years of experience do you have in anaerobic digestion principles and techniques in municipal wastewater treatment?
   • None
   • 1-3 years
   • 3-5 years
   • 5-7 years
   • More than 7 years
6. How many years of experience do you have conducting life cycle cost analyses that include operational considerations (e.g., chemical and power usage, operator maintenance, replacement parts, etc.)?
   • None
   • 1-3 years
   • 3-5 years
   • 5-7 years
   • More than 7 years
7. * Do you have the ability to travel to multiple sites as part of the regular job duties?
   • Yes
   • No
8. * Were you referred to this opportunity by an Austin Water employee? If yes, please provide employee’s full name.

(Open Ended Question)

Required Documents

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume