CDM Smith

Water Resources Engineer - Water Distribution and Wastewater Systems Modeling & Utility Master Planning

CDM Smith$110K — $192K *
Energy & Utilities
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Environmental, Civil, Coastal, or Chemical) or related discipline.
  • Professional Engineering (PE) license required.
  • 10 years of related experience in water and wastewater systems.
  • Advanced experience in hydraulic modeling for both water distribution and wastewater systems.
  • Strong proficiency with hydraulic modeling software and GIS-based tools.

Responsibilities

  • Perform complex engineering calculations and hydraulic modeling for water and wastewater systems.
  • Develop, calibrate, and analyze hydraulic models for utility planning and operational evaluations.
  • Conduct system analyses including pressure evaluations, fire flow assessments, and resiliency studies.
  • Lead utility master planning efforts, including demand forecasting and capital improvement planning.
  • Integrate GIS, SCADA, and operational data into modeling and planning efforts.
  • Develop technical reports and engineering recommendations for clients.
  • Mentor and provide quality assurance to junior engineers and technical staff.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead significant projects impacting municipal utilities.
  • Collaborative environment with multidisciplinary teams.
  • Engagement in professional development through workshops and conferences.
  • Legacy of technical innovation through participation in knowledge management initiatives.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Water Distribution and Wastewater Systems Modeling & Utility Master Planning

CDM Smith is seeking a highly motivated Water Resources Engineer with expertise in hydraulic modeling, utility planning, and infrastructure evaluation for water distribution and wastewater collection systems. This position serves as a senior technical resource supporting municipal utility clients through master planning, hydraulic analysis, capital improvement planning, resiliency assessments, and infrastructure investment strategies.

The successful candidate will have extensive experience developing, calibrating, and applying hydraulic models to evaluate existing and future system performance, identify operational and capital improvements, and support long-term utility planning initiatives. This individual will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, provide technical leadership to junior staff, and engage directly with clients to solve complex water infrastructure challenges.

Duties and Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Project Delivery
  • With high-level goals provided, will perform complex engineering calculations, hydraulic modeling, system analyses, design evaluations, and planning studies for water distribution and wastewater collection systems.
  • Develops, calibrates, maintains, and analyzes hydraulic models to support utility planning, operational evaluations, and infrastructure improvement programs.
  • Performs water distribution system analyses including pressure evaluations, fire flow assessments, storage optimization, water quality evaluations, and system resiliency studies.
  • Performs wastewater collection system analyses including capacity assessments, inflow and infiltration evaluations, wet weather modeling, and system improvement planning.
  • Leads utility master planning efforts, including demand forecasting, growth projections, capital improvement planning, asset prioritization, and long-range infrastructure planning.
  • Evaluates and integrates GIS, SCADA, billing, field testing, and operational data into hydraulic modeling and planning efforts.
  • Develops technical reports, planning documents, feasibility studies, alternatives analyses, and engineering recommendations.
  • Signs and seals engineering plans, reports, and other professional work products as appropriate.

Client Service & Business Development
  • Serves as a trusted technical advisor to municipal utility clients on system planning, operational performance, and infrastructure investment decisions.
  • Meets with current and prospective clients to identify challenges, evaluate needs, and develop innovative technical solutions.
  • Collaborates with sales and project teams to develop scopes of work, budgets, technical approaches, and proposals in response to client requests and procurement opportunities.
  • Participates in presentations, workshops, client meetings, and industry events to support business development efforts and strengthen client relationships.

Technical Mentorship & Quality Management
  • Provides technical leadership, mentoring, and training to engineers, planners, and hydraulic modelers.
  • Reviews and provides quality assurance oversight of technical work prepared by junior staff.
  • Establishes and maintains hydraulic modeling standards, best practices, documentation requirements, and quality control procedures.
  • Supports staff development through coaching, technical review, and knowledge sharing.

Technical Knowledge Management
  • Contributes to CDM Smith's Technical Knowledge Management (TKM) initiatives through the development of white papers, technical guidance documents, modeling standards, and innovative engineering solutions.
  • Authors and presents technical papers, conference presentations, and industry publications.
  • Attends and participates in conferences, workshops, professional societies, and industry events to advance technical expertise and


Skills & Abilities

Technical Qualifications
  • Advanced experience developing and calibrating hydraulic models for water distribution systems and wastewater collection systems.
  • Expertise using multiple hydraulic modeling platforms, including:
    • InfoWater Pro
    • InfoSewer
    • InfoSurge
    • WaterCAD
    • WaterGEMS
    • HAMMER
  • Advanced proficiency with ArcGIS and GIS-based data management.
  • Strong understanding of hydraulic principles, utility operations, and infrastructure planning.
  • Experience utilizing field testing, customer demand data, SCADA systems, and other operational datasets to support modeling efforts.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Environmental, Civil, Coastal or Chemical Engineering or related discipline. Professional engineering (PE) license. 10 years of related experience. Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands. Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience leading water and wastewater utility master planning projects.
  • Experience supporting utilities serving populations greater than 100,000.
  • Experience with capital improvement planning and asset management programs.
  • Experience conducting model calibration using fire flow testing, pressure monitoring, and system operational data.
  • Experience supporting utility resiliency, redundancy, and climate adaptation planning initiatives.
  • Experience with data analytics, scripting, or automation tools such as Python, SQL, or similar technologies.
  • Established participation in professional organizations including AWWA, WEF, ASCE, or related industry groups.

Amount of Travel Required

10% or less
Driving Requirements

An appropriate and valid driver's license is required.
Pay Range Min

USD $110,240.00
Pay Range Max

USD $192,899.00
Additional Pay Range Information

CDM Smith is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. This pay range is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels for the geographic location assigned to the position. In addition to geographic location, a candidate's salary is determined by several other factors including, but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, relevant work experience, skills, required certifications, and education/training.
Additional Compensation

All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.
Visa Sponsorship Available

No - We are not open to sponsoring for this position
Agency Disclaimer

All vendors must have a signed CDM Smith Placement Agreement from the CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Manager to receive payment for your placement. Verbal or written commitments from any other member of the CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries staff will not be considered binding terms. All unsolicited resumes sent to CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries and any resume submitted to any employee outside of CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Team will be considered property of CDM Smith. CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries will not be held liable to pay a placement fee.

About CDM Smith

CDM Smith is an engineering and construction company that provides a wide range of services to clients in the public and private sectors. The company was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. CDM Smith offers services in areas such as water resources, transportation, environmental engineering, and more. The company is committed to sustainability and has implemented a number of initiatives to reduce its environmental impact. CDM Smith has offices throughout the United States and around the world.
Learn more about CDM Smith
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1986

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