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Designer I - Water Resources

Greenville, South Carolina, United States

McAdams is a full-service land planning, landscape architecture, civil engineering, transportation, and geomatics firm located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Florida. We seek to partner with our clients to create meaningful experiences through inspired design. Our employees are what make McAdams different. We bring experiences to the forefront of everything we do, and to do that takes special people.

Position Overview

The Designer I role supports technical and project managers in developing plans, reports, and calculations for public and private water and wastewater projects. Success in this role is defined by building core design skills and demonstrating reliability in plan preparation, hydraulic modeling, and CAD production. This role serves as the foundation for future growth into advanced technical roles and is vital in delivering quality driven, on time submittals. The role includes in-office and occasional field assignments to support data gathering and design implementation.

Key Responsibilities

  • Support the planning, assessment, and design for both new and existing water/wastewater infrastructure projects
  • Be familiar with the concepts and commonly used software (i.e., Bentley WaterGEMS or SewerGEMS) for hydraulic modeling, capacity studies, and system flow analysis for water distribution and sewer collection systems
  • Develop plans, specifications, sections, details, profiles, and technical drawings in AutoCAD Civil 3D or equivalent CAD software
  • Generate quantity and cost estimates for water/wastewater infrastructure projects
  • Support permitting and alternative analysis for treatment and conveyance projects
  • Prepare technical memoranda, reports, and submittal deliverables
  • Analyze and manage engineering data including lab, field, and GIS data inputs
  • Assist with the preparation of engineering reports, basis of design narratives, and technical memoranda
  • Participate in construction oversight and engineering services during construction phase
  • Conduct site visits, pilot testing, and field assessments to support project needs
  • Coordinate with regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with EPA and local water quality permits
  • Apply engineering principles to propose innovative design solutions and alternatives
  • Support team collaboration and client coordination throughout project phases

Skills + Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Environmental, or Chemical Engineering with coursework in water/wastewater system design and hydraulics
  • Engineer in Training (EIT) or progressing toward FE/PE certification
  • Have a general understanding of the concepts related to water and wastewater treatment processes
  • Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D or similar 3D drafting software
  • Experience with hydraulic modeling software is preferred (e.g. Bentley WaterGEMS or SewerGEMS or system modeling tools)
  • Familiarity with GIS systems
  • Competency in engineering calculations (flow, pump curves, mass balance, energy use)
  • Strong verbal and technical writing skills (memos, reports)
  • Analytical mindset, attention to detail, effective time management, and teamwork

Work Environment + Physical Demands

The characteristics described below are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this position. When properly requested and when feasible (without undue hardship to the company), reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

  • Work will primarily be in an office setting with limited opportunities to be exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
  • Work will be primarily working with fingers by picking, pinching, typing, and grasping often with repetitive motion.
  • Must have visual acuity for viewing a computer screen, the ability to talk, hear and sit for extended periods of time.
  • Must be able to carry, lift and push/pull up to 5 pounds frequently and up to 30 pounds occasionally.
  • Additional physical duties may be required as necessary.

McAdams is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard for race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran's status, or any other legally protected status.

If you need assistance with our online application system process, please contact the Human Resources Team at 919.361.5000 or hrteam@mcadamsco.com. 

Please read these notices for important information regarding applying for work with McAdams.

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