Senior Operations Specialist; Water

Senior Operations Specialist (Water)

Join to apply for the Senior Operations Specialist (Water) role at HDR.

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 in our communities, we constantly ask ourselves:
What is our impact on the world?

We believe water is more than a resource; it is a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you will help shape how communities manage water for generations to come, delivering safe drinking water, treating wastewater responsibly, 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, working on both municipal and industrial water treatment facilities. You will work on projects ranging from small municipalities to some of the most iconic facilities in the United States, creating solutions with better reliability and improved operability for our clients.

The role is part of HDR’s East Region team and key member of the nationwide Operations Team. We have an extensive project backlog across the United States, so you will be able to contribute immediately.

Work location:

HDR office nearest to your current location. Please check the HDR website for the nearest office.

For over 100 years, HDR has specialized in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services, providing solutions to partners from small local utilities to the largest global companies. HDR has nearly 13,000 employee owners worldwide and is ranked in the top 10 ENR water design firms.

• 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, and personnel, subcontractor, and maintenance management.
• Develop startup and commissioning plans and host workshops to share those ideas with clients’ contractors and operators.
• Perform startup and commissioning of new water treatment facilities, working alongside contractors and engineers to ensure equipment functions correctly before handover.
• Perform formal and informal training to help clients’ treatment plants operate as well as they can.
• Participate in testing of facilities to ensure they are ready for startup and meet 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.

Travel requirement:
This job may require 30–40% travel; weekend travel is not normally required.

• 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 and computerized maintenance and management systems.
• Commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture.
• Valid driver’s license.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience with Microsoft Office.
• General background‑related experience.
• Commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture.

The expected compensation range for this position is $71,960–$128,500, depending on skills, experience, education, and geographic location. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, short and long‑term disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement.

HDR is 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.

Seniority Level: Mid‑Senior

Employment Type:

Full‑time

Job Function:
Management, Consulting, and Engineering

Industry: Water

Schedule:

Full‑time

Employee Status:
Regular

Primary

Location:

Vienna, Virginia, U.S.