Water Production Engineer

JOB SUMMARY

Why Work at Des Moines Water Works?
At Des Moines Water Works (DMWW), every employee plays a vital role in delivering Water You Can Trust for Life to over 600,000 central Iowans. We’re looking for team members who are customer-focused and committed to our mission.

When you join DMWW, you become part of a team that values environmental stewardship—protecting our most essential natural resource: water. Just as importantly, we recognize that our people are our greatest asset. Your wellbeing matters to us—from physical and psychological safety to wellness, fitness, and professional growth, we’re committed to supporting your health and development at work and beyond.

About the Position: Under the direction of the Director of Water Production, supervises a team of Water Production staff, coordinates schedules for staffing decisions, serves as designer and technical reviewer of engineering designs and studies, assists in providing oversight of utility facilities ensuring finished drinking water within the system meets all applicable utility, state, and federal standards.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Supervises a team of Water Production staff.  Assigns, plans, and organizes work.  Conducts problem resolution, along with identifying and coordinating training needs.

• Establishes proper safety techniques, provides proper equipment, and training to ensure a safe working environment.

• Monitors and tracks performance of treatment plants to ensure that both the work being performed by employees and the finished product meets all federal, state, and DMWW drinking water standards.   Must have detailed knowledge of Safe Drinking Water Act and Surface Water Treatment Rule.

• Engineer’s treatment plant modifications and improvements of less than $250,000.  Completes necessary bills of material, equipment specifications, drawings, schematics, and required process diagrams required to obtain necessary DNR Construction Permits.

• In cooperation with Maintenance Managers and Maintenance Analyst/Planner, participates in daily approval and scheduling meetings to assist in prioritization of maintenance activities.

• Manages projects and personnel related to design and modifications of water treatment, pumping, electrical systems, operating systems and networks, telemetry systems, and automatic control systems.

• Collaborates with the Engineering Department in the planning, design, and review of projects related to Water Production facilities, equipment, or processes to address operation and maintenance issues.

• Coordinates capital improvements to water treatment plants, including troubleshooting and optimizing water treatment process or process equipment.

• Creates and maintains operator manuals for water production equipment and facilities.

• Coordinates with Supervision on the use of available staff to perform maintenance assignments.

• Assists in the completion of required monthly operations reports for the Department of Natural Resources.  Optimizes data management and automated reporting forms, schedules, and regulatory reports.

• Ensures compliance with company policies and the strategic plan, along with all applicable local, state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.

• Prepares annual operating and capital budgets; compiles and reviews historical data, assesses needs, new technology and projects material, equipment, purchased services and labor expenses.

• Develops and delivers professional product presentations to internal staff members, external committees, and other interested parties.

• Represents utility at local and state committees and meetings to discuss issues and/or coordinate efforts.

• Produces written reports for the Board of Trustees and various members of management, including the CEO and Chief Operating Officer.

• Serves on-call duty week, available 24/7 to respond in a timely manner to water production emergent tasks.  May be asked to work various shift schedules for additional staffing requirements, emergent tasks, and training needs, including when off duty if needed.  Required to carry an active cell phone and must live within 1 hour of the Fleur Water Treatment Plant.

• Performs other duties of similar nature.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field.

Experience:
At least five (5) years of progressively advanced engineering experience in water treatment, including a minimum of three (3) years of effective lead/supervisory and project management responsibility or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job listed above.

Licenses/Certifications:

• Active registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Iowa, or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months.

• Valid Iowa Driver’s License with good driving record.

• Grade IV Water Treatment License within 3 years of hire within three (3) years of hire.

• Grade II or higher Water Distribution Operator certificate within two (2) years of hire.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Ability to use applicable software.

• Advanced communication skills.

• Advanced teamwork skills.

• Advanced time management skills.

• Knowledge of safety policies and procedures.

• Knowledge of water treatment plant operations and standards.

• Knowledge of DMWW rules and regulations.

• Knowledge in Ultra filtration and reverse osmosis membranes and water chemistry.

• Advanced project management and leadership skills.

• Knowledge of water distribution.

• Advanced engineering skills.

HARDWARE/SOFTWARE/EQUIPMENT/TOOLS NEEDED TO PERFORM JOB:
Frequently/Often

• GIS

• EAM (Enterprise Asset Management)

• SCADA

• Microsoft Word

• Microsoft Excel

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Microsoft Outlook

• Smartphone

• Personal Computer

• Laptop or Notebook

• Tablet or other mobile device

• General Office Equipment

• Safety Equipment

• Wonderware

• Adobe Acrobat

Sometimes

• Microstation

• GPS Equipment

• Radio

• Ladders/Scaffolding

• Lab Equipment

• Electrical Equipment

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Occasionally lifts up to 25 pounds

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Frequently works in office or similar indoor environment, outdoor environment, confined spaces or the community

• Occasionally works in street environment, construction site or shop environment

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Des Moines Water Works is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
 All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Selection Process:
 The hiring process includes a review of qualifications, interviews, and job-related assessments. The selected candidate must pass a criminal background check, which includes a sex offender registry search, a pre-employment drug screen, and physical examination.

E-Verify Participation:
 Des Moines Water Works participates in the federal E-Verify program. We will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. All candidates offered a position must complete Section 1 of Form I-9 and present documentation verifying their identity and eligibility to work in the United States prior to starting employment. For questions about acceptable documents, please contact Human Resources at 515-283-8717.