Wastewater Treatment Design Engineer

What You Will Do

GFT is seeking a Wastewater Treatment Design Engineer to join our Water team! This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring attendance at one of our many offices.

Joining the water resources team at GFT means contributing to innovative solutions for sustainable water management and infrastructure. Our team excels in dams and levees, advanced water and wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and conveyance, collection, and transmission. With a focus on integrating technology, sustainability, and compliance, we consider each water resources and environmental remediation project a chance to innovate and evolve to protect public health and enhance quality of life.

In this role you will lead and support design, optimization, and management of systems that treat and transport wastewater to ensure safety, efficiency, and environmental compliance.

• System Design: Designing wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, and collection networks, including detailed CAD drawings and equipment selection. Design new treatment systems or upgrade existing ones, including biological nutrient removal, sludge handling, and filtration processes.
• Process Optimization: Analyzing and enhancing treatment techniques (e.g., pH adjustment, chemical dosing, aeration) to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• System Hydraulics: Performing hydraulic analysis of existing and new wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, and piping systems, making pump selections, and evaluating performance of existing pumps.
• Testing and Monitoring: Analyzing lab data, operator reports, and chemical usage to resolve operational issues and improve efficiency.
• Compliance and Safety: Ensuring that treated wastewater meets municipal or industrial regulatory standards, protecting public health and the environment.
• Project Management: Conducting feasibility studies, upgrading existing infrastructure, and managing projects from design to completion. Developing cost projections, feasibility studies, and supervising construction or commissioning of new technology.
• Data Analysis: Monitoring operator reports and lab results to refine treatment techniques.
• Technical Expertise: Functioning as a technical specialist in conventional and advanced wastewater treatment, including physical/chemical primary treatment, conventional activated sludge, biological nutrient removal, fixed‑film processes, membrane bioreactors (M ), side‑stream treatment, tertiary filtration, auxiliary wet‑weather treatment, and disinfection.

What you will bring to our firm:

• BS in Civil, Environmental or Chemical Engineering (MS preferred).
• Professional Engineer license required (PE) or ability to obtain one within 6–12 months.
• 8+ years of experience in wastewater disciplines, particularly designing water and/or wastewater infrastructure (treatment and collection/distribution projects).
• Expert knowledge of standard engineering techniques and procedures.
• EPC project experience preferred; design and construction of wastewater treatment facilities, including at least three years leading process design of wastewater projects with full responsibility for budget, schedule, contractual obligations, client service, and quality standards.
• Demonstrated experience in preliminary treatment, primary treatment, biological treatment (including BNR), disinfection, hydraulics, and solids processing and handling.

The salary range for this role is $90,000 – $200,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.

• Hybrid (in‑person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, pet insurance, medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax‑deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid‑time‑off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where…