Principal Engineer - Water Treatment
Job description
Principal Engineer - Water Treatment at Westyost.
About the role
You will own the end to end planning and design of drinking water treatment facilities for public agency clients. You will translate complex water quality requirements into robust, reliable, and cost effective treatment train solutions. You will lead multidisciplinary teams through every phase of project delivery from initial feasibility and permitting, through detailed design and construction support. You will shape client strategy by turning challenging regulatory expectations into practical engineering pathways. You will mentor engineers, elevate the technical quality of deliverables, and safeguard project integrity. You will champion innovation while ensuring every design decision is backed by sound science and verifiable data.
Key facts
What you'll do
Lead the planning, conceptual design, and detailed design of drinking water treatment projects for municipal and regional clients.
Translate regulatory requirements and client objectives into technically sound treatment processes, selecting appropriate technologies and process trains.
Own business development and proposal writing, preparing high quality responses that clearly link technical approach to client value and risk management.
Manage project planning, scope definition, and resource allocation to align technical work with schedule and budget targets.
Develop and maintain deep client relationships through consistent engagement, proactive communication, and thoughtful organizational involvement.
Prepare technical studies, reports, calculations, and design documents that meet firm standards, regulatory standards, and client contract requirements.
Conduct rigorous design reviews and technical verification to ensure designs are safe, reliable, and constructible.
Make informed recommendations on staffing, disciplines, and external resources to support project delivery and firm growth.
Assign and coordinate work across engineering teams, balancing workloads and optimizing the use of technical personnel.
Provide high level technical guidance and mentorship to engineers at various experience levels, supporting professional development and best practices.
Contribute articles, case studies, and presentations to technical journals and industry conferences that enhance the firm's reputation.
Perform quality assurance reviews of plans, specifications, correspondence, and cost estimates to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Determine client invoicing requirements and collaborate with accounting to prepare accurate, timely billing and summary billing descriptions.
Oversee project schedules, budgets, and scopes, tracking progress and proactively managing changes, including contract amendments when necessary.
Serve as a technical authority for the Treatment Business Sector, influencing strategic direction and long term growth initiatives.
Requirements
Hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related field.
Bring a minimum of 15 years' experience in civil engineering consulting or engineering management focused on water treatment or related infrastructure.
Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills in all professional interactions.
Maintain an active Professional Engineer licensure in the State of California, or show ability to obtain this licensure within 6 months of hire.
Be eligible for licensure in other states where West Yost actively practices, as the firm's needs evolve.
Consistently apply strong engineering judgment to evaluate alternatives and solve complex water treatment problems.
Work effectively within multidisciplinary teams and collaborate across disciplines, including scientists, planners, and operations staff.
Commit to upholding the highest standards of professional ethics, accuracy, and integrity in every deliverable.
Engage proactively with regulatory agencies and stakeholders to advance project approvals and address compliance matters.
Nice to have
Proven experience leading design and construction support for large scale municipal water treatment facilities.
Demonstrated success in business development, client relationship management, and proposal leadership.
Experience with emerging water treatment technologies and resilient water supply strategies.
Background in public outreach and stakeholder engagement related to water infrastructure.
Practical notes
This is a Hybrid role with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.
Preferred locations are Irvine or San Diego, CA.
No visa sponsorship is mentioned in the SOURCE text.
No specific application deadline is provided in the SOURCE text.
No working hour details beyond the standard full time expectation are stated in the SOURCE text.