Principal Engineer - Water, Wastewater & Recycled Water

Overview

Location(s): Southern California/Northern California Work Environment: Hybrid Compensation: $195,000-$220,000 annually*

Dudek’s journey began in 1980 with a vision to serve Southern California’s water and wastewater agencies.

Today, we are a 100% employee-owned firm supporting clients nationwide and delivering projects that improve and protect the built and natural environments of communities throughout the United States. Our work has been recognized by leading industry organizations, and we’ve been honored with multiple national Top Workplace Awards.

Our employee-owners are unified by a singular commitment to supporting projects that address key societal issues, such as the transition to renewable energy, infrastructure hardening and repair, environmental protection, and community resilience.

Learn more about our award-winning culture , the benefits and perks of being a Dudekian, and the projects you will have the opportunity to shape.

Position Overview

Who You Are

As an employee-owner , you embrace accountability, working safely, and collaboration while thinking resourcefully and independently.

Like all Dudekians, you are curious and solution-oriented , with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit of innovation .

How You’ll Make an Impact

Dudek is seeking an experienced Principal Engineer to lead our Treatment Team. This is a building role, where you will shape the strategy, capabilities, and long-term growth of treatment services across California while remaining personally engaged in the technical work that earns client trust.

You will lead complex treatment projects that strengthen community resilience and expand regional water supply, grow client relationships with municipal agencies and special water and wastewater districts, mentor the engineers who carry the practice forward, and help establish Dudek as a recognized treatment leader in the California market. As an employee-owner, you'll have both the autonomy to build and a direct stake in what you build.

Duties and Responsibilities

Practice Leadership

• Lead and grow Dudek's Treatment Team, establishing strategy, priorities, technical capabilities, and long-term growth objectives.
• Serve as a principal-level advisor for treatment services across the Engineering practice.
• Collaborate with leaders across Infrastructure, Electrical, Planning, and Environmental teams to expand integrated service offerings.
• Mentor and develop engineers, and help attract, recruit, and retain talent as the team grows.

Client and Market Growth

• Drive business development including client relationship development, pursuit strategy, proposal leadership, and interview participation.
• Identify and cultivate opportunities with municipal agencies, special districts, and regional regulatory agencies.
• Represent Dudek as a visible industry leader through conferences, technical presentations, and professional organizations.

Project Delivery

• Lead the planning, design, and implementation of water, wastewater, recycled water, and advanced treatment facilities.
• Direct preparation of technical deliverables including basis-of-design reports, P&IDs, design drawings, specifications, cost estimates, and permitting packages.
• Provide executive oversight of scope, schedule, budget, risk management, QA/QC, and change control.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams across civil, mechanical, electrical, process, and controls engineering, coordinating with Dudek's in-house hydrogeology and environmental professionals.
• Direct and manage subconsultants supporting project delivery.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering.
• California Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 15+ years of relevant water, wastewater, recycled water, or treatment experience.
• Demonstrated success leading client relationships and business development activities.
• Experience leading teams and mentoring staff.
• Proven success managing municipal capital improvement projects in the $2M to $5M range and above.
• Strong command of treatment technologies including filtration, GAC, ion exchange, biological treatment, disinfection, RO/NF, brine management, and recycled water compliance.
• Working proficiency with California regulatory frameworks (SWRCB, DWR, DDW, RWQCB).
• Strong communication, leadership, and client service skills with an owner mindset.
• Valid driver's license and active personal automobile liability insurance by the first day of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• 18+ years of relevant experience.
• M.S. in Civil or Environmental Engineering.
• Advanced treatment design and implementation experience, including MBR and potable reuse.
• Experience with major California funding programs (SRF, Prop 1, WIFIA, and similar).
• Construction management, commissioning, or startup experience.
• Experience with alternative delivery, including design-build and progressive design-build.

Travel and Work Arrangement

Travel within California is expected in support of client meetings, project sites, and industry engagement. Office presence is preferred; remote arrangements can be accommodated for the right candidate, with the expectation of regular in-office leadership presence to support team development and mentorship.

Compensation: $195,000-$220,000 annually*

*Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location. Successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check prior to beginning employment.

Working Conditions Environment

• This job operates in a remote or office-based environment and this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc.

• This job requires occasional project site visits, based outdoors which can include excessive noise, uneven walking surfaces, extreme weather, and moving vehicles and equipment.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This job requires the following:

• Working on a computer, sitting, or standing for long periods of time in an office or remote office setting.

• Attending meetings, both in person and virtually, and speaking on the phone with peers, clients, etc.
• Specific vision abilities, including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

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Dudek Talent Community

Dudek is committed to creating a workplace where all employees, regardless of their background, feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities to succeed. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our business success, and we are dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. We are committed to fair and equitable processes, based on merit, free from any discrimination.

Dudek is genuinely committed to equal employment opportunities within our company and on our project teams. Dudek is also committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Dudek’s operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of Dudek, including supervisors and coworkers. Equal employment opportunities will be extended to all persons (including those with disability and veteran status) in all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination. Any employee who violates this policy and Dudek’s commitment to equal employment opportunities will be subject to disciplinary action.

Dudek is a U.S.-based employer. All positions are based in the United States and require U.S. work authorization.