Senior Water Conveyance Project Manager

In the past decade, FNI has designed over 610 miles of water and sewer pipelines ranging from 6 to 120 inches in diameter, more than 65 pump stations with a combined capacity exceeding 3.4 billion gallons per day, and over 40 lift stations capable of pumping more than 630 million gallons per day.

Freese and Nichols is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to lead water and wastewater design projects from concept through completion in our Houston, Texas office. This position is part of our Transmissions and Utilities group, which focuses on delivering critical infrastructure projects that support regional water and wastewater systems. This role will be responsible for technical leadership, project delivery, client relationships, and business development in the water/wastewater market within the greater Houston area. The position will also manage and develop staff while being a key leader on the team. The ideal candidate is a licensed PE, has deep municipal/utility experience, and can mentor teams, manage multi-discipline projects, and contribute to growth of the business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the full project lifecycle (planning, design, construction, commissioning) for water towers, pump stations (raw, treated, sewage and stormwater), conveyance pipelines and gravity sewers.
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk; ensure deliverables meet client and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical oversight for multi-discipline design teams and subconsultants; review design calculations, plans/specifications, technical memoranda.
• Act as primary client interface, build/maintain relationships, support business development and proposal efforts.
• Lead, mentor and develop project managers, engineers and staff; contribute to team leadership.
• Participate in industry organizations and professional conferences to support business presence.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental or Mechanical Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in Texas (or ability to obtain within 6 months).
• 10+ years of relevant experience in water/wastewater engineering and project management
• Proven experience delivering municipal water/wastewater projects (treatment, conveyance, pump stations) in Texas.
• Strong technical background in design and construction, and familiarity with alternative delivery (design-build/CMAR) a plus.
• Excellent leadership, communication, client relationship, and business development skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Engineering.
• Established relationships with Houston-area utilities/municipalities/clients.
• Experience with process piping design for water and wastewater treatment facilities or engine-driven pump stations.
• 15+ years of relevant experience in water/wastewater engineering and project management
• Willingness to travel (e.g., up to 10%).
• Active participation in relevant professional associations.

Why Join Us:

• Opportunity to lead high-impact infrastructure projects that serve communities and support sustainable water/wastewater systems.
• Join a collaborative, forward-looking team in a growth market (Houston/Gulf Coast).
• Use your expertise and leadership to influence project outcomes, mentor future engineers, and drive business growth.

About Freese and Nichols

At the heart of our culture is our LEADS values (Learn continuously, Engage as family, Act with integrity, Deliver quality, and Serve always). Each year, our employee engagement survey confirms that our leaders and our employees live our values.

We strive to be the firm of choice for clients and employees through innovative approaches, practical results, and outstanding service. For more than 130 years, we have been planning and designing the infrastructure our communities need: developing water supplies, designing roadways and bridges, preparing for natural disasters, and much more.

Besides our comprehensive benefits package (see more at we offer paid overtime for salaried employees, an annual bonus, and access to company cabins in Red River, New Mexico. We are proud of our flexible work environment which includes a hybrid schedule with up to 40% of remote work, and an alternative work schedule program which provides a day off every other Friday.

Join our team of 1,300+ employees as we grow from Virginia to Colorado. Learn more about working here at

Freese and Nichols is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

#LI-Hybrid