Senior Operations Specialist; Water

Senior Operations Specialist (Water)

At HDR, our employee‑owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves:
What is our impact on the world?

We believe water is more than a resource, it’s a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you’ll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience.

We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you’re modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.

Primary

Location:

United States – Virginia, Vienna

Work location will be at the HDR office closest to your current location. Other sites across the United States are available.

This job may require 30% to 40% travel; more is possible. Weekend travel is normally not required.

• Support HDR project leaders at the local, state, and regional level on water treatment projects requiring input from Operations Specialists.
• Review drawings for operability review and Haz Ops analysis with an eye for what it takes to successfully operate a variety of treatment processes.
• Manage operations and maintenance projects with both municipal and industrial clients, including client interfacing, regulatory reporting, and personnel, subcontractor, and maintenance management.
• Develop startup and commissioning plans and host workshops to share those ideas with contractors and operators to ensure the plan will work for each specific plant.
• Perform startup and commissioning of new water treatment facilities, working alongside contractors and engineers to ensure new equipment functions correctly before handover to operations and maintenance staff.
• Perform formal and informal training to help our clients’ treatment plants operate as well as they can.
• Participate in the testing of facilities to ensure they are ready for startup and, after startup, meet the capacity requirements of the design.
• Perform condition assessment and asset management tasks on water and wastewater facilities, using state‑of‑the‑art evaluation tools.
• Perform operational or maintenance troubleshooting and evaluations on municipal and industrial water facilities.

• Minimum 10 years field experience in troubleshooting mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation equipment at water treatment facilities and/or resolving water treatment process problems; additional construction experience is a plus.
• High level water treatment operator license or professional engineering license.
• Ability to interpret engineering plans and specifications.
• Microsoft Office product and computerized maintenance and management systems experience required.
• Attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must.
• Valid driver’s license.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Microsoft Office product experience.
• General background‑related experience.
• Attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, including medical, dental, vision, short and long‑term disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position is $71,960 - $128,500 depending on skills, experience, education and geographical location.

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.