Project Engineer - Water/Wastewater

Job ID: 1448Req ID: 219Location: Federal Way, WA, USAPosted: 2026-09-23Job Family: Technical Professional - EngineersPay Type: SalaryFounded in 1919, KJ has always looked to the future. With a talented team of professionals and a culture of continuous improvement, we deliver exceptional engineering and environmental consulting services today, with a focus on innovation and sustainability. Using new advanced analytics, technology, and tools, KJ improves designs, reduces risk, and finds better ways to deliver projects. KJ is at the forefront of developing sustainable solutions for clients, including green infrastructure design, strategies to reduce energy use and environmental impacts, and award-winning water reuse projects. We are known for our dedication to industry-leading client service and tailored solutions. Kennedy Jenks is seeking a dynamic Project Engineer to join our Washington team. This role is ideal for an individual skilled in managing multiple tasks and deadlines while working with multi-disciplinary teams across water, wastewater, recycled water, utility infrastructure, and treatment process improvement projects. This is an opportunity to step into a project-focused engineering role where you will support larger projects, lead smaller projects or project components, and coordinate with Project Managers, team members, and sub-consultants to deliver high-quality infrastructure solutions. You’ll play a key role in planning, design, construction support, field coordination, and technical documentation while helping advance critical municipal water and wastewater infrastructure projects for our clients and communities. What You’ll Do As a Project Engineer, you’ll contribute across key focus areas, including engineering design and analysis, project coordination, technical support, field work, documentation, and client collaboration. Design and analyze: Prepare detailed designs, drawings, specifications, and calculations for water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Manage technical tasks: Support planning, design, and construction support activities for civil infrastructure projects while helping manage scope, schedules, budgets, and deliverables. Coordinate project delivery: Support larger projects or lead smaller projects and components by coordinating with Project Managers, internal teams, and sub-consultants. Provide technical guidance: Apply industry standards, client requirements, and regulatory guidelines to support multi-disciplinary teams working on pipelines, tanks and reservoirs, pump stations, and treatment facilities. Conduct field work: Perform site inspections, collect field measurements, and support accurate data collection and analysis for project teams. Prepare documentation and communicate with stakeholders: Prepare engineering and contract documents, review shop drawings and submittals, respond to requests for information, prepare site observation reports, assist with client presentations, and coordinate with other disciplines to support design intent. What Makes This Role Different Broad infrastructure impact: You will support a variety of water, wastewater, recycled water, utility infrastructure, and treatment process improvement projects that directly serve communities. Balanced technical and project ownership: You will contribute technical knowledge while also supporting project budgets, schedules, deliverables, coordination, and client communication. Multi-disciplinary collaboration: You will work closely with other engineers, Project Managers, sub-consultants, clients, and other disciplines to advance design quality and project delivery. What You Bring Communication and collaboration : Ability to coordinate with Project Managers, team members, sub-consultants, clients, and other disciplines to support project alignment and design intent. Industry background : Background in water, wastewater, recycled water, utility infrastructure, pipelines, tanks and reservoirs, pump stations, and/or treatment facilities. Problem-solving or execution : Strong ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, prioritize competing needs, and deliver accurate, timely work across project phases. Tools, systems, or methods : Experience preparing engineering documents, contract documents, construction specifications, plans, calculations, submittal reviews, RFI responses, and site observation reports. Work style or leadership approach : Collaborative, detail-oriented, and adaptable, with the ability to support larger project teams while taking ownership of smaller projects or defined project components. Qualifications Education : Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related scientific discipline required; master’s degree preferred. Experience : 5+ years of relevant experience in the planning, design, and analysis of water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Areas of Knowledge : Broad understanding of municipal engineering, site development design, construction methods, and design and construction codes. Certifications or licenses : Professional Engineer (PE) license in Washington preferred, or ability to obtain PE within 6 months of hire. Kennedy Jenks supports a healthy work-life balance and utilizes a hybrid model of home and office work, with a minimum of two days per week in the office. This approach empowers our people to thrive, collaborate, and do their best work. Salary range for this position is anticipated to be between $88,000 and $147,000 , and may vary based upon education, experience, qualifications, licensure/certifications, and geographic location. Benefits summary: Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; a health savings account; a 401(k); bonus programs; tuition reimbursement; employee ownership opportunity; professional registration support; business travel assistance; competitive paid time off and holidays; an employee assistance program; and additional programs that support your wellbeing and professional growth. #LI-Hybrid Kennedy Jenks is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability, citizenship status, genetics, protected veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.