PFAS Water Treatment Technical Specialist

About HDR

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.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering or closely related Engineering field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in remedial investigation, design and implementation of remedial actions, as well as some project management experience.
• Professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position (e.g., Professional Engineer (PE) or P.Eng).
• 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.

Benefits & Compensation

• Comprehensive benefits package promoting employee ownership, health, performance, and success, including medical, dental, vision, short and long‑term disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement.
• Expected compensation range depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location.
• Pay range for this position in North America (based on experience and location): $135,200 – $199,680.
• (Stated benefits are for full‑time regular positions. Temporary and part‑time roles eligible for limited benefits.)

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

Business Class

Site Investigation and Remediation

Job Posting

Feb 20, 2026

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.