PFAS Water Treatment Technical Specialist

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
Introduction
We are seeking a PFAS Water Treatment Technical Specialist to support HDR’s industrial water, landfill leachate and remediation practices. The role has a senior responsibility level and will support PFAS treatment design, pilot testing, system optimization, and integration with industrial, solid waste and remediation projects across HDR’s multidisciplinary teams.
Primary Responsibilities

Provide strong technical expertise in PFAS treatment, industrial wastewater processes, and remediation system integration.
Lead bench-scale and pilot-scale treatability studies, including adsorption, foam fractionation and membrane performance, AOP evaluation, destruction technologies, residuals management and hydraulic stress testing.
Conduct field diagnostics, process optimization, mass-balance evaluations, and full-scale performance validation for industrial and remediation systems.
Support and provide subject matter expertise.
Perform data analytics and modeling to support treatment design, including breakthrough analysis, fouling assessments, reactor sizing, and lifecycle cost evaluations.
Prepare technical reports addressing PFAS feasibility studies, industrial wastewater characterization, remedial technology selection, and regulatory compliance.
Mentor team and contribute to technical leadership within related professional organizations including committees, papers and conference presentations and panels.
Execute complex engineering assignments requiring independent judgment and advanced process evaluation.
Make key technical decisions related to PFAS treatment configuration, concentrate management, and integration with remediation systems.
Serve as a Technical Specialist or Project Manager on mid-size industrial water, landfill leachate and remediation projects.
Supervise small teams in laboratory testing, field investigations, pilot deployment, and system startup.
Perform additional duties supporting industrial water treatment and site remediation programs. Promote and collaborate with HDR practice groups.
Leverage HDR's performance metric tools to monitor the health (direct labor, bookings, and project losses) of your business class to help drive the success of the RBG.
Support development and application of remediation technical tools, technology, standards, recommended practices and techniques to enhance service quality and efficiency.
Perform other duties as requested
Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in Environmental, Chemical, Civil, or related engineering field (Bachelor’s acceptable with significant experience).
Experience with landfill leachate, industrial wastewater, or contaminated groundwater with PFAS process engineering.
Demonstrated expertise in water chemistry, industrial wastewater and landfill leachate treatment, PFAS technologies, statistical analysis, and data interpretation.
Experience supporting engineering deliverables for treatment plants, pump stations, distribution/collection systems, and remediation treatment systems meeting scope, schedule and budgets.
Experience with soil remedial technologies is preferred.
Strong decision-making ability and accountability for technical outcomes.
Experience coordinating multidisciplinary and geographically distributed teams.
Demonstrated leadership in defining and delivering concept to operational systems for clients.
Active participation in professional organizations (WEF, AWWA, SWANA, NGWA, SERDP/ESTCP, etc.).
Advanced experience with PFAS treatment technologies (e.g., IX, GAC, membranes, foam fractionation, destruction technologies).
Pilot-scale system design, deployment, and performance evaluation experience.
Expertise in site remediation technologies (e.g., GWET, ISCO/ISCR, thermal remediation, PFAS mass-removal strategies).
Experience developing conceptual site models and performing fate-and-transport evaluations.
Experience with both public and private clients.
Familiarity with CERCLA, RCRA, and state cleanup programs.
Proficiency with process modeling tools (WaterCAD, BioWin, GPS-X, MATLAB, Python, etc.).
Record of innovation in treatment process development or applied research.
Participation in technical committees or research collaborations related to emerging contaminants.
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Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering or closely related Engineering field
A minimum of 10 years of experience in remedial investigation, design and implementation of remedial actions, as well as some project management experience
Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
Experience with Microsoft Office applications (including Access, Excel, Word)
Excellent communication skills are essential
Experience with soil and groundwater remedial technologies is preferred
An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) The pay range for this position in North America (based on experience and location) is $135,200 - $199,680.
Primary Location:
United States-North Carolina-Charlotte
Other Locations:
United States-Texas-Round Rock, United States-Wyoming-Cheyenne, United States-California-Long Beach, United States-Florida-Fort Lauderdale, United States-Pennsylvania-Bethlehem, United States-Oregon-Salem, United States-Texas-Fort Worth, United States-Montana-Missoula, United States-District of Columbia-Washington DC, United States-Texas-Houston, United States-California-Irvine, United States-Wisconsin-Madison, United States-Nevada-Reno, United States-Colorado-Fort Collins, United States-Iowa-Des Moines, United States-New York-Albany, United States-California-Folsom, United States-Oregon-Portland, United States-Montana-Bozeman, United States-Texas-El Paso, United States-Colorado-Durango, United States-Texas-Corpus Christi, United States-Washington-Seattle, United States-Nevada-Las Vegas, United States-Montana-Billings, United States-Texas-Dallas, United States-Washington-Spokane, United States-Iowa-Cedar Rapids, United States-Colorado-Englewood, United States-Washington-Pasco, United States-Texas-Austin, United States-Louisiana-Metairie, United States-California-Claremont, United States-Massachusetts-Boston, United States-Colorado-Denver, United States-Iowa-Ames, United States-Oregon-Bend, United States-Missouri-St Louis, United States-Arizona-Tucson, United States-Washington-Olympia, United States-Washington-Vancouver, United States-Colorado-Colorado Springs, United States-Louisiana-Lafayette, United States-Hawaii-Honolulu, United States-Oklahoma-Tulsa, United States-Arizona-Phoenix, United States-Kentucky-Louisville, United States-Georgia-Atlanta, United States-Illinois-Rosemont, United States-California-Walnut Creek, United States-Oklahoma-Oklahoma City, United States-Tennessee-Memphis, United States-Louisiana-Baton Rouge, United States-Missouri-Springfield, United States-Washington-Gig Harbor, United States-Ohio-Cleveland, Canada-British Columbia-Vancouver, United States-Florida-Tampa, United States-Florida-West Palm Beach, United States-Ohio-Columbus, United States-California-Ventura, United States-Tennessee-Chattanooga, United States-Kentucky-Lexington, United States-South Dakota-Rapid City, United States-Missouri-Forsyth, United States-Washington-Bellevue, United States-Missouri-Kansas City, United States-South Dakota-Sioux Falls, United States-Alabama-Mobile, United States-Florida-Sarasota, United States-Alabama-Athens, United States-Florida-Pensacola, United States-New York-White Plains, Canada-Ontario-Toronto, United States-California-San Francisco, United States-Virginia-Roanoke, United States-South Carolina-Columbia, Canada-Ontario-Richmond Hill, United States-Minnesota-Thief River Falls, United States-Virginia-Vienna, United States-Florida-Orlando, United States-Alaska-Anchorage, United States-Indiana-Indianapolis, United States-Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh, Canada-Ontario-London, United States-New York-Syracuse, United States-California-San Diego, Canada-Ontario-Ottawa, United States-Pennsylvania-Philadelphia, United States-California-Riverside, United States-Virginia-Newport News, Canada-Ontario-Kingston, United States-Nebraska-Omaha, United States-Illinois-Springfield, United States-California-Sacramento, United States-New York-New York, United States-Michigan-Ann Arbor, United States-Utah-Salt Lake City, Canada-Alberta-Calgary, United States-North Dakota-Bismarck, United States-Maine-Portland, United States-California-Oakland, United States-Idaho-Coeur d'Alene, United States-North Dakota-Fargo, United States-Florida-Jacksonville, United States-Illinois-Chicago, United States-California-Los Angeles, United States-Wyoming-Gillette, United States-Idaho-Boise, United States-North Carolina-Raleigh, United States-Texas-San Antonio, United States-Texas-Spring Branch
Industry:
Waste
Schedule:
Full-time
Employee Status:
Regular
BusinessClass:
Site Investigation and Remediation
Job Posting:
Feb 20, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.