Director of Engineering: Wastewater Treatment Plants

Willdan is a leading, nationwide provider of comprehensive energy and sustainability solutions. The exciting and growing energy sector provides Willdan employees an opportunity to contribute to the clean energy economy. Willdan Performance Engineering, a division of Willdan Group, inspires and empowers communities by creating transformational environments. Our clients include school districts; universities; city, county, and state governments; private enterprises; and healthcare facilities. Our dynamic and inclusive culture embodies the following values:

1. We drive change.
2. We think long-term.
3. We are courageous experts delivering ambitious solutions.
4. Personal growth drives organizational growth; Organizational growth drives personal growth.
5. We succeed when we are accountable as a team.
6. We cultivate diverse, equitable, and inclusive teams committed to serving our communities.

We are looking for an eager and energetic Director of Engineering for Wastewater Treatment Plant that is passionate about the energy and sustainability industry. This individual will be a part of a dynamic team, delivering creative facility and energy solutions to our clients. The selected candidate will become a part of a growing organization that is invested in your career growth, with competitive benefits and a diverse project workload. This individual will be shaped to become the next leader in the energy industry. Come grow with us!

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This role involves driving the optimization, process & performance improvements, renewable energy generation and modernization of water and wastewater treatment plants in the United States. You will act as a subject matter expert (SME) in water and wastewater treatment processes, renewable energy & biogas utilization, and integrating advanced technologies into existing facilities. The role is not focused on new plant design or expansion but on enhancing the efficiency, sustainability, and technological capabilities of existing systems. Proven experience in process engineering consulting for water, wastewater, and hazardous waste projects. You will then support those solutions as they progress through our design process, coordinating with other engineers, drafters, construction professionals, and commissioning agents.

• Evaluate the current performance of water and wastewater treatment plants to identify areas for efficiency improvements.
• Lead secondary treatment process optimization, including but not limited to aeration, pumping systems, nitrification, and denitrification processes.
• Develop and implement strategies to optimize solids train processes, including anaerobic digestion, co-digestion of high-strength organic wastes, and biosolids management.
• Conduct root cause analysis for operational inefficiencies and recommend corrective actions.
• Research, evaluate, and recommend innovative technologies to enhance treatment processes and biogas production/utilization while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations governing water, wastewater, and biogas systems.
• Implement modern automation and control systems to improve plant monitoring and performance.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for treatment plants and biogas systems to track progress and achieve performance goals.