Principal Water Engineer V (Modified) This is a modified job posting; only full-time regular employees in the Water Infrastructure Planning group are eligible to apply for this position. Colorado Springs Utilities' Water Infrastructure Planning team is hiring two (2) Principal Water Engineers to serve as a senior technical authority and trusted advisor for the utility's water infrastructure systems. This position provides strategic leadership, advanced engineering expertise, and complex decision-making support to ensure the long-term reliability, resiliency, regulatory compliance, and operational performance of Colorado Springs Utilities' water systems. The successful candidates will leverage extensive experience in either water distribution systems or water treatment infrastructure to evaluate system performance, guide capital investment decisions, address emerging challenges, and support the sustainable delivery of safe and reliable water services. This role is expected to influence critical business decisions, mentor technical staff, and collaborate with stakeholders across the organization and throughout the region. A Day in the Life of a Principal Water Engineer May Include: Serve as the recognized technical expert for complex water system planning, design, operational, and infrastructure challenges. Evaluate system performance, operational constraints, risks, and opportunities to support long-term strategic planning and investment decisions. Lead technical studies, alternative analyses, and master planning efforts related to water treatment, transmission, storage, pumping, distribution, and other critical water infrastructure. Provide expert engineering guidance for complex capital projects, including planning and representation in pre-design and project development activities. Perform advanced engineering analyses to support operational decision-making, regulatory compliance, reliability improvements, and growth-related infrastructure needs. Develop strategies to address system capacity, resiliency, aging infrastructure, regulatory requirements, and future customer demands. Assess the impacts of growth, annexations, large customer developments, and changing operational conditions on water system infrastructure. Develop planning-level cost estimates and infrastructure recommendations to support capital improvement programs and long-range planning efforts. Provide technical oversight and quality assurance for engineering studies, models, analyses, and planning documents. Present technical findings and recommendations to executive leadership, Boards, regulatory agencies, local governments, customers, and community stakeholders. Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, municipalities, regional partners, developers, and community organizations. Support permitting, regulatory, and policy initiatives necessary to maintain and expand water system capabilities. Mentor, coach, and develop engineers and technical staff, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement. Provide leadership during complex operational events, emerging system issues, and strategic planning discussions requiring seasoned engineering judgment.
Who You Are:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering from an accredited university.
Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.).Demonstrated success applying engineering principles to complex water infrastructure systems.
Extensive experience in water treatment, water distribution, water resources, utility operations, infrastructure planning, system optimization, or related fields.
Recognized ability to make sound technical decisions involving risk, uncertainty, competing priorities, and long-term system impacts.
Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to effectively translate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
Proven ability to interact with multidisciplinary teams, mentor technical staff, and influence strategic organizational decisions.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (1/3 of the time), and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, or pull objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary only if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other criteria are met. Positions in this class typically require talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions within an office working environment. For information regarding benefits associated with this position, visit https://csutilities.sharepoint.com/sites/Benefits/SitePages/Benefits_Home.aspx
