Water Design Engineer

Join Tetra Tech’s Water Team in Irvine, CA, and begin building your career in municipal and regional water systems across Southern California. As a Water Design Engineer, you will support the design and delivery of water and wastewater treatment projects, including PFAS treatment systems, conventional and advanced treatment facilities, and infrastructure rehabilitation efforts. This is an excellent opportunity for an early‑career engineer who is eager to strengthen technical skills, gain hands‑on project experience, and learn from senior engineers in a collaborative environment.

At Tetra Tech, we are Leading with Science® to solve the world’s most complex challenges. Our industry‑leading experts in engineering and consulting are committed to driving positive change in communities around the world. For over 50 years, we have been at the forefront of innovation and sustainability. Today we stand as a market leader, offering cutting‑edge solutions in water, environment, energy, and international development.

Our work has improved more than 625 million lives around the world.

Join Tetra Tech to make a real difference. Our work leverages cutting‑edge technologies, advanced analytics, and the expertise of world‑class scientists and engineers to create meaningful change around the world. Discover your full potential – join us to advance your career while leaving a lasting legacy.

The Water Design Engineer will support the planning and design of municipal water and wastewater treatment facilities. This role focuses on developing technical skills, performing engineering calculations, preparing design documentation, and assisting with project execution under the guidance of senior staff. The position offers structured growth and increasing responsibility as experience develops.

The following duties are considered essential to the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Support process design efforts for water and wastewater treatment systems, including PFAS, GAC, ion exchange, RO, filtration, and disinfection processes.

Assist with engineering calculations, hydraulic evaluations, equipment sizing, and preparation of process flow diagrams.

Prepare technical memoranda, reports, and supporting documentation for design submittals.

Assist in the development of construction drawings, specifications, and cost estimates.

Support senior engineers and project managers with alternatives analyses and conceptual evaluations.

Provide construction‑phase support, including reviewing submittals and assisting with responses to RFIs.

Participate in field visits, pilot testing, and site observations as needed.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support coordinated project delivery.

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Environmental, or Civil Engineering.

0 to 3 years of experience in water or wastewater treatment design, internships included.

Engineer‑in‑Training (EIT) certification or ability to obtain within 6 months.

Fundamental understanding of water and wastewater treatment processes and hydraulics.

Strong analytical and technical writing skills.

Ability to work effectively in a team‑oriented environment.

Internship or academic project experience related to municipal treatment systems.

Exposure to advanced treatment technologies such as PFAS, GAC, ion exchange, or membrane systems.

Familiarity with process modeling tools or hydraulic calculation software.

Interest in pursuing Professional Engineer licensure.

Prolonged periods working at a computer and performing design work in an office environment.

Occasional walking, standing, bending, or lifting up to 25 pounds may be required.

Field visits may include exposure to outdoor environments, variable weather, and construction activity.

Work is primarily conducted in an office setting with occasional fieldwork.

Field activities may involve exposure to construction sites, noise, and environmental conditions typical of water treatment facilities.

The perks of working at Tetra Tech include:

• Comprehensive…