Job Description: Senior Utility Engineer Water/Wastewater (License and 10-20 Years Experience)

Looking to grow your engineering career with hands-on involvement in design, construction, and operation of major utility systems? Vikus Water is seeking an experienced Professional Engineer to join our team supporting The Villages®, the fastest-growing community in the United States. While we’re reaching out to talent across the Midwest, this opportunity is based in Central Florida, where you’ll play a hands-on role in planning, designing, and delivering major water and wastewater infrastructure in one of the most dynamic utility environments in the country.

Vikus Water is a utility engineering firm of engineers, operators, and technical staff dedicated exclusively to the water, wastewater, reclaimed water, and alternative water systems serving The Villages® community, the fastest-growing community in the United States.

Located in the heart of Central Florida, Middleton provides easy access to I-75 and Florida's Turnpike and is approximately one hour from Orlando, Tampa, major airports, and many of Florida's most popular attractions and outdoor destinations. Middleton, situated in Wildwood, is a lively, family-friendly community designed for a modern, active lifestyle, welcoming residents of all ages. Enjoy the convenience of walking to A-rated schools, numerous parks, and amenities, fostering a lifestyle where school, dining, and entertainment are easily reachable by foot, bike, or golf cart. With a variety of new homes and a strong emphasis on safety and community, Middleton is the perfect place for families to thrive, grow, and connect, offering children an unparalleled sense of independence.

The Villages Charter School provides a unique, family-centric employee benefit: access to one of Florida’s top-rated “A” schools, celebrated for its rigorous academics and high AP participation. Its state-of-the-art campus delivers a comprehensive education with robust athletics, arts programs, and after-school care. Parents appreciate the integrated community support and opportunities for meaningful involvement, creating an ideal setting for both students and families.

CHECK OUT the community and school at www.MyMiddleton.com & www.tvcs.org.

We function as the owner’s engineer. We manage real utility assets. We make decisions that directly impact operating budgets, regulatory compliance, capital planning, and plant performance.

This is a long-term career opportunity for an engineer who wants to plan, build, operate, and improve large-scale utility systems without excessive bureaucracy or business development pressure. Engineers at Vikus Water are deeply involved in projects from early planning and permitting through construction and operational implementation, allowing them to see their work become reality.

Over the next four years, the selected engineer will have opportunities to act in three distinct capacities: Utility Representative, Program Manager, and Design Engineer. The role includes hands-on involvement in the planning, permitting, design, and implementation of:

• Two new 5 MGD greenfield water treatment plants
• A phased 4 MGD wastewater treatment plant
• Elevated storage tanks
• Major transmission infrastructure
• Alternative water and stormwater irrigation systems

Vikus Water serves as both the engineering department and water resources engineer for The Villages®. Responsibilities include:

• Utility master planning
• Design-build project delivery
• Capital improvement planning
• Operational oversight
• Consultant and contractor management
• Regulatory coordination
• Water resource and permitting support

The utility portfolio includes:

• Five wastewater treatment
• Fourteen water treatment plants
• Thirty irrigation pump stations
• Advanced alternative stormwater supply systems
• Regional water, wastewater, and non-potable utility systems

The position is intended for a licensed civil or environmental engineer with significant experience in utility engineering. The background should include a mix of planning, design, design review, construction phase services, and operational oversight for water, wastewater, reclaimed water, and stormwater systems. This role suits an engineer who wants ownership, not a narrow task list.

The firm offers a technically strong, close-knit team environment with direct access to leadership and decision-makers. Compensation is competitive and includes biannual performance bonuses and comprehensive benefits.

Responsibilities and Job Duties

Provides management, technical direction, and accountability for planning, design, permitting, construction, and startup of water, wastewater, and reuse treatment facilities. Owns technical outcomes related to capacity, treatment performance, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

Manages internal engineering staff and external consultants responsible for utility planning, design, and construction support. Assigns work, sets priorities, reviews technical products, and enforces quality and schedule expectations.

Establishes and approves design criteria for water, wastewater, and reuse facilities, transmission systems, collection systems, pump stations, and associated infrastructure. Makes final technical decisions on treatment process selection, redundancy, hydraulic profiles, and major equipment.

Owns long-range capital improvement planning for utility systems, including project identification, prioritization, scope definition, cost opinions, scheduling, and alignment with funding, rate models, and impact fee programs.

Directs preparation of engineering reports, plans, specifications, and procurement documents for capital improvement projects. Approves technical scope prior to advertisement. Leads technical evaluation of bids and qualifications.

Serves as owner’s technical authority during construction. Controls technical scope, evaluates and approves or rejects change orders, resolves technical disputes, reviews pay applications, and enforces conformance with contract documents for treatment, mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems.

Leads facility startup, commissioning, and performance testing. Coordinates with operations staff, contractors, and regulators to achieve permitted capacity, effluent limits, and operational stability.

Leads FDEP and Water Management District permitting strategy for water, wastewater, reuse, residuals, and wells. Represents the utility in pre-application meetings. Enforces permit conditions through construction and startup.

Prepares, reviews, and certifies engineering reports, permit applications, and technical correspondence submitted to regulatory agencies.

Directs engineering investigations and master planning studies, including population and demand projections, treatment process evaluations, residuals management, reuse integration, and selection of preferred alternatives based on technical risk and lifecycle cost.

Reviews development and site plans for utility impacts, system capacity, and compliance with adopted utility standards and regulatory constraints. Coordinates conditions of service with planning and development staff.

Integrates operations and maintenance requirements into all planning, design, and construction decisions. Addresses access, redundancy, chemical handling, confined space, safety, and long-term maintainability.

Manages the utility engineering budget, consultant contracts, and technical components of capital project expenditures.

Conducts targeted field inspections and site visits required to resolve design, constructability, compliance, or startup issues.

Qualifications Needed

• B.S. Degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering
• 10 - 20 years of Experience in Engineering for Water/Wastewater Utilities
• Professional Licensure
• Must have strong oral presentation skills and strong written communication skills
• Work well in multidisciplinary team environments and ability to meet deadlines
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite of programs, specifically Excel and Word.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Bi-annual bonus eligibility after 6 months
• Relocation assistance
• Comprehensive medical coverage and term life insurance provided at no cost for the employee
• Dental, vision, supplemental life, disability, legal, hospitalization and other valuable voluntary options are available
• 401(k) with employer match
• Generous vacation time, sick time and paid holidays
• Highly ranked Charter School eligibility (K - 12th grade), exclusively for employees and businesses located in The Villages® community
• Long term client base so no need for business development
• Unlimited growth potential

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $130,000.00 - $230,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• This is an IN-PERSON position is located in The Villages, FL 32163.

Are you able to reliably commute to The Villages, FL 32163?

• Will you be able to relocate to a reasonable commuting distance from The Villages, FL 32163? Relocation assistance is available.

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Civil or Environmental Engineer: 10 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Professional Engineer (Preferred)

Work Location: In person