Drinking Water Project Engineer

Drinking Water Project Engineer

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 within our communities, we constantly ask 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. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people's lives. This isn't just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.

As part of HDR's Water Business Group, you will help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable supplies and protecting people and property from flooding, your work directly supports public health, environmental stewardship, and infrastructure resilience. We bring together engineers, planners, scientists, and communicators to solve complex challenges with technical excellence and practical thinking. We are committed to equipping our teams with modern digital tools, including AI-enabled solutions that streamline delivery, enhance quality, and improve client experience. You will have access to ongoing training and support to apply these tools in practical, meaningful ways. Project Engineers at HDR contribute to complex, high-profile water projects and work closely with project managers and technical leaders who are recognized experts in their fields. This is more than a production role. It is an opportunity to grow into a trusted technical leader and future project manager.

As a Project Engineer, you will play a key technical role on water, wastewater, and water resources projects and contribute throughout planning, design, and delivery. You will:

• Perform engineering analyses, calculations, numerical simulations, and design for water infrastructure projects
• Prepare and develop plans, specifications, technical reports, and design documentation
• Apply sound engineering judgment in the evaluation, selection, and modification of standard engineering techniques and procedures
• Support project teams with coordinating project tasks, schedules, and deliverables
• Participate in field investigations, condition assessments, and construction support activities
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, environmental, and planning staff
• Interface with clients, regulators, and stakeholders during meetings and work sessions
• Supervise and mentor junior staff and technicians, as needed
• Serve as a technical specialist or task lead, and potentially manage mid-size projects as your responsibilities expand
• Apply digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance project planning, coordination, and documentation

The infrastructure you help design will deliver safe drinking water, improve treatment and water quality, reduce flood risk, support community growth, and protect environmental resources. Your engineering decisions will affect how communities function for decades.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience performing technical studies, analyses, and/or preparing plans and specifications for water, wastewater, stormwater, or water resources projects
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Experience in advancing digital delivery and AI-supported workflows in infrastructure projects

What We Are Looking For:

• An engineer who is curious, collaborative, and motivated to grow
• Someone who enjoys solving real-world problems and wants to see their designs built and used
• Candidates who ask questions and seek to understand the full project context
• Individuals who take ownership of their work and follow through
• People who communicate clearly with both technical and nontechnical audiences
• Those who want increasing responsibility and client interaction

At HDR, you will not be limited to a narrow technical role. You will gain exposure to the full project lifecycle and the decision-making processes that shape each phase of a project. You will work directly with experienced project managers and technical leaders, develop task leadership and project management skills, gain client interaction and meeting experience, see projects through design and into construction, and grow within an employee-owned company that values initiative and collaboration. If you want to design infrastructure that matters and accelerate your professional growth, we would like to meet you.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental or related engineering fields
• A minimum of 3 year's experience executing technical studies, analyses, and/or designing and creating plans and specifications for water focused projects
• Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
• Ability to make independent decisions and be accountable for the results
• Self-motivated, able to work independently and with a project team to completion of a task
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve. Our commitment as employee owners is to create an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected, and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day. Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) Colorado: $84,469.00 - $120,670.00

Primary Location: United States-Colorado-Denver

Industry: Water

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

Business Class: Water Treatment

Job Posting: May 26, 2026

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.