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. We foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, constantly asking 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.

HDR is looking for an energetic, hard‑working problem solver to become a full‑time Senior Operations Specialist to work on both municipal and industrial water treatment facilities. If you are someone who wants to work on a variety of treatment technologies for multiple treatment plants, this position is for you.

• 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 to ensure successful operation of a variety of treatment processes.
• Manage operations and maintenance projects with municipal and industrial clients, including client interfacing, regulatory reporting, personnel, subcontractor, and maintenance management.
• Develop startup and commissioning plans and host workshops to share ideas with client’s contractors and operators.
• Perform startup and commissioning of new water treatment facilities, working alongside contractors and engineers to ensure equipment functions correctly before hand‑over.
• Provide formal and informal training to help clients’ treatment plants operate at optimal performance.
• Participate in testing of facilities to ensure startup readiness and post‑startup capacity requirements are met.
• Perform condition assessment and asset management tasks on water and wastewater facilities.
• Execute operational or maintenance troubleshooting and evaluations on municipal and industrial water facilities.

• Minimum 10 years field experience 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.
• Experience with Microsoft Office products and computerized maintenance and management systems.
• Commitment as an active participant in our employee‑owned culture.
• Valid driver’s license.

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Microsoft Office product experience.
• General background‑related experience.
• Commitment as an active participant in our employee‑owned culture.

Estimated annual salary: $71,960 – $128,500, based on skills, experience, education, and location. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, short and long‑term disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, paid time off, parental leave, paid holidays, retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement.

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.

United States – Virginia – Vienna

Mid‑Senior level

Full-time