Demo

Water and Wastewater Engineer -- Senior Lead/Consultant

Sargent & Lundy
Sargent & Lundy Salary
Chicago, IL Full Time
POSTED ON 5/28/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/25/2027

Description

This position offers the opportunity to take a leading role in growing Sargent & Lundy's water and wastewater practice while applying deep technical expertise across a diverse portfolio of clients in the energy, industrial, and municipal markets. In this position, you will:

  • Lead and manage the design, evaluation, and review of water supply and wastewater treatment systems for power generation, data centers, industrial facilities, and municipal clients.
  • Assist in the selection, training, development and management of technical personnel
  • Prepare and oversee preliminary engineering studies for new installations, system modifications, and retrofits of water and wastewater treatment systems.
  • Independently verify designs of vendor-supplied treatment equipment and systems, including reverse osmosis, zero liquid discharge (ZLD), biological treatment, and chemical conditioning systems.
  • Analyze complex water quality and treatment challenges, develop technical solutions, and present findings and recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders.
  • Evaluate the impact of federal, state, and local regulatory requirements (e.g., Clean Water Act, Effluent Limitation Guidelines, NPDES) on water and wastewater systems for new and existing facilities.
  • Prepare complex technical reports, specifications, and mass/water balances.
  • Travel to client offices and project sites as needed for project reviews and client engagement.
  • Serve as a key leader in expanding S&L's water and wastewater practice, including identifying supporting proposal development, and cultivating client relationships.
  • Collaborate with project managers and practice leadership to establish work priorities across multiple concurrent projects.
  • Maintain and enhance knowledge of emerging technologies, regulatory trends, and industry standards relevant to water and wastewater treatment.
  • Represent S&L at industry conferences, code committees, and professional organizations to elevate the firm's visibility in the water sector.

Qualifications

We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related discipline from an ABET-accredited program.
  • Ten or more years of experience in water and/or wastewater treatment engineering, with demonstrated expertise in systems serving the power, industrial, municipal or data center markets.
  • Strong Leadership and organization skills.
  • Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary project teams and manage complex, concurrent projects.
  • Experience in business development activities such as proposal writing, scope development, and client management.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presenting technical material to non-technical audiences.
  • Mentor and develop junior and mid-level engineers, fostering a collaborative and technically rigorous team culture.

Valued but Not Required Skills and Experience:

  • Professional Engineer (PE) license.
  • Hands-on experience with water treatment technologies such as reverse osmosis, ion exchange, ZLD, biological nutrient removal, cooling water treatment, and industrial wastewater systems.
  • Familiarity with federal environmental regulatory programs including the Clean Water Act, NPDES permitting, Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELGs), and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
  • Experience with water modeling or simulation software.
  • Background supporting environmental permitting for power generation, data centers, or industrial facilities.
  • Familiarity with water reuse, water recycling, or closed-loop treatment system design.

Award-Winning Benefits

At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award-winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

 

Health & WellnessFinancial BenefitsWork-Life Balance
  • Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
  • Life & Accident Insurance
  • Disability Coverage
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Back-Up Daycare
  • FSA & HSA
  • 401(k)
  • Pre-Tax Commuter Account
  • Merit Scholarship Program
  • Employee Discount Program
  • Corporate Charitable Giving Program
  • Tuition Assistance
  • First Professional Licensure Bonus
  • Employee Referral Bonus
  • Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Paid Bereavement Leave
  • Flexible Work Arrangements

Compensation Range

$134,546 - $205,557

Transparency Statement

Sargent & Lundy discloses compensation ranges that comply with all local and state regulations. The total compensation package for eligible positions will include a base salary or an hourly rate and a comprehensive benefits package, reflecting our commitment to rewarding performance and supporting the overall well-being of our employees. Individuals may also be eligible to participate in our yearly discretionary bonus.

Awards & Recognition

Equal Opportunity

Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.

Salary : $134,546 - $205,557

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Water and Wastewater Engineer -- Senior Lead/Consultant?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Water and Wastewater Engineer -- Senior Lead/Consultant career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$102,054 - $131,688
Income Estimation: 
$112,905 - $142,242
Income Estimation: 
$125,123 - $161,688
Income Estimation: 
$162,237 - $199,353
Income Estimation: 
$222,110 - $256,974
Income Estimation: 
$224,976 - $270,947
Income Estimation: 
$205,834 - $254,869
Income Estimation: 
$242,530 - $287,120
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Sargent & Lundy

  • Sargent & Lundy Wilmington, DE
  • Description This position allows for a hybrid work schedule with a mix of work spent in office and working remote from home. This position will offer you t... more
  • Just Posted

  • Sargent & Lundy Wilmington, DE
  • Description You will be leading the group on interesting and challenging projects that include investigating, troubleshooting, and solving a wide variety o... more
  • Just Posted

  • Sargent & Lundy Wilmington, DE
  • Description Our electric power generation clients are updating and replacing the power plant control systems with new digital control systems. This is expa... more
  • Just Posted

  • Sargent & Lundy Wilmington, DE
  • Description This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid schedule. Under the direction of a project lead, this position will offer you the opportunity ... more
  • Just Posted


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Water and Wastewater Engineer -- Senior Lead/Consultant jobs in the Chicago, IL area that may be a better fit.

  • TKDA Downers Grove, IL
  • Join our team as a Lead Water-Wastewater Engineer in Bloomington, MN where you will have the opportunity to be a technical lead, design innovator, and ment... more
  • 23 Days Ago

  • Ramboll US Corporation Chicago, IL
  • Company Description Senior Technical Lead, Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Remote position. Able to work anywhere in the USA. Subject Matter Expert (SME) -... more
  • Just Posted

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!