Consulting Engineer - Austin Water

About This Position

• ABOUT AUSTIN WATER:
• For over 100 years, Austin Water has been committed to providing safe, reliable, high-quality, and affordable water services to our customers. Today, we serve over 1,000,000 people in the Austin metropolitan area, across more than 548 square miles. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, we’re not just keeping up—we’re leading the way with sustainable infrastructure, advanced treatment technology, and environmental innovation.

Austin Water consistently ranks among the best in the country when it comes to water quality. We also treat, return, and recycle wastewater in ways that protect environmental resources. Austin Water exceeds federal and state requirements for clean water and environmental compliance at our water and wastewater treatment plants.

Job Description:

Consulting Engineer

Purpose:

Under nominal direction, this position is accountable for interpreting, organizing, executing, and coordinating assignments. This position plans and develops engineering projects concerned with unique or controversial problems which have an important effect on major City programs or projects. This position serves as technical expert in a related area.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

Develops or oversees development of technical specifications and standards by applying knowledge of the principles and practices of discipline engineering including the methods, materials, equipment, and techniques used. Reviews, analyzes, and interprets plans, specifications, contracts, and other related documents.

Manages and coordinates programs or projects by reviewing and monitoring projects or programs, including the review of plans and development proposals for impacts related to project or program.

Plans, researches, designs, and implements engineering studies and projects or program areas by applying advanced technical knowledge of engineering discipline.

Manages and negotiates contracts by reviewing monthly progress reports, verifying final quantities and costs, compiling requisite documentation, reviewing change orders, and auditing as-built records. Acts as a liaison among consultants, contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, fabricators, or suppliers and the City. Negotiates problems of changes, errors, or deficiencies and ensures compliance with project specifications and requirements.

Interacts with internal and external customers to ensure requirements and needs are satisfied.

Reviews plans and provides recommendation changes, solutions, or implementation.

Monitors projects for regulatory compliance by providing consultation and determinations in matters involving application and interpretation of regulations and policies.

Manages or leads teams of technical personnel including assigning and monitoring tasks. Provides advanced technical training to staff and field personnel by reviewing business needs, evaluating personnel, creating and applying training documentation, and presenting and analyzing training.

Develops and monitors budget of projects. Assists in developing, managing, and submitting proposed budget forecast planning for short- and long-term City planning.

Provides a high level of engineering and technical advice and direction. Possesses ability to troubleshoot advanced technical problems. Possesses ability to perform advanced engineering design.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

Knowledge of diversified, fundamental scientific and civil engineering concepts, phenomena, and relationships and utilize such changes in solution of theoretical or practical civil engineering problems.

Knowledge of advanced mathematical techniques such as trigonometry, calculus, and coordinate geometry.

Knowledge of modern methods, materials, and techniques of assigned discipline.

Knowledge of one or more of the following disciplines: Civil, Environmental, Structural, Architectural, Mechanical or Electrical engineering terminology and techniques.

Knowledge of City of Austin budget planning, purchasing, and contract policies and procedures.

Knowledge of applicability of established engineering principles and methods and solutions.

Knowledge of phases of the plans review and inspections processes.

Knowledge of preparation of cost estimates and engineering and feasibility reports.

Knowledge of regulatory requirements within Local and State ordinances and laws.

Skill in oral and written technical and/or general communication including preparation of written reports.

Skill in negotiations and handling conflict resolution.

Ability to perform more complex engineering computations, calculus, geometry, and trigonometry rapidly and accurately.

Ability to communicate and provide direction to peers and assigned personnel.

Ability to organize, analyze, interpret, and evaluate scientific civil engineering problems and provide practical, cost-effective solutions.

Ability to observe, compare, or monitor objects and data to determine compliance with prescribed operating or safety standards.

Ability to use graphic instructions such as blueprints, schematic drawings, layouts, or other visual aids.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a field related to engineering, plus eight (8) years of engineering experience acquired before and/or after licensing as a professional engineer.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Texas; or if currently licensed in another state, must have the ability to obtain a Texas P.E. license within six (6) months of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

Expertise in water loss management, including AWWA M36 and ILI

Experience preparing and validating TWDB‑compliant water loss audits

Strong background in non‑revenue water analysis, data validation, and audit defensibility

Ability to lead cross‑functional teams across operations, engineering, finance, and field services

Experience developing data‑driven water loss reduction strategies and internal control.

Technical knowledge of leak detection technologies and advanced analytics tools

Experience managing consultant contracts, procurement, and performance‑based agreements

Strong communication skills, including presenting complex technical information to leadership and stakeholders

Notes to Candidate:

Position Overview:

For over 100 years, Austin Water has been committed to providing safe, reliable, high-quality, and affordable water services to our customers. Today, the utility serves over one million people in the Austin metropolitan area, across more than 548 square miles. Austin Water is a department of the City of Austin and has over 1,400 employees who work every day to provide water for people and care for the environment.

Austin Water sources its supply from the Colorado River via the Highland Lakes system, treating it at three regional water treatment plants — Handcox, Davis, and Ullrich — which have a combined capacity of 335 million gallons per day. The utility also operates two major wastewater treatment plants, Walnut Creek and South Austin Regional, which together can treat up to 150 million gallons of wastewater daily. This water is cleaned to high-quality effluent standards and safely returned to the Colorado River to support environmental flows. Each year, more than a billion gallons of this