Specialist -Water, Wastewater Treatment (Desalination)

Water At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

As a Specialist – Water & Wastewater Treatment , you will serve as a technical authority and subject matter expert in the planning, design, and optimisation of advanced treatment systems. You will provide deep process expertise, support complex decision-making, and drive innovation and technical excellence across projects, bids, and strategic initiatives.

This role emphasizes technical depth over team management, playing a critical role in technology selection, troubleshooting, design assurance, and specialist advisory support across multidisciplinary teams..

You will work closely with project managers, discipline leads, and regional teams to ensure technical alignment. You will also mentor engineers and support capability development in treatment processes (without direct line management responsibility). You will facilitate cross-geography knowledge sharing and best practice adoption. 

Key duties include:

• Act as a subject matter expert (SME) for water, wastewater, and advanced treatment processes (including desalination where applicable).
• Lead process design development including:
  1. Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs)
  2. Mass balances and hydraulic profiles
  3. P&IDs and process control philosophies
• Review and assure technical quality of process and multidisciplinary design deliverables.
• Support integration across civil, mechanical, electrical, and I&C disciplines.
• Provide peer reviews, design audits, and technical risk assessments.
• Contribute to HAZOP/HAZID workshops and ensure mitigation measures are effectively incorporated.
• Drive adoption of emerging technologies (e.g Advanced membrane systems (RO, UF, NF), PFAS treatment (GAC, IX, advanced oxidation), Energy-efficient and low-carbon treatment solutions, etc)
• Contribute to digital transformation initiatives, including process modelling, automation, and data-driven design workflows.
• Support development of standardised methodologies, toolkits, and technical libraries.
• Provide expert input into bids, proposals, and concept designs.
• Support technology selection and cost optimisation during early project stages.
• Participate in client workshops, technical reviews, and presentations.
• Advise clients on process upgrades, regulatory compliance, and performance improvement strategies.
• Experience working on international or geographically diverse treatment projects is an added advantage.

We welcome applications from qualified professionals currently based overseas who are open to relocating to India. Relocation support may be provided for exceptional candidates having extensive experience in delivering Design Build water infrastructure projects .

Here's what you'll need

Key software tools:

• Process modelling tools (e.g., BioWin, SUMO, RO design tools)
• Primavera P6 / MS Project (for coordination exposure)
• BIM/CAD exposure (Revit, Civil 3D) – preferred
• Microsoft and AI tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, AI)
• Collaboration: ProjectWise, ACC, SharePoint, MS Teams

Key Behaviours

• Deeply analytical with strong problem-solving capability
• Recognised as a credible technical expert internally and with clients
• Collaborative and influential without formal authority
• Curious and innovation-driven; keeps abreast of global treatment trends
• Strong communicator, able to simplify complex technical concept

Work Experience

• Extensive experience in water and wastewater treatment design and engineering
• Strong expertise in: Large scale Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment,  Drinking water treatment processes, Advanced treatment (membranes, desalination, reuse systems)
• Demonstrated experience in:
  1. Process design and optimisation
  2. Technology evaluation and selection
  3. Supporting multidisciplinary project delivery
• Experience working in consulting or EPC/Design-Build environments is preferred
• Exposure to international projects or complex regulatory environments is advantageous

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical / Environmental / Civil Engineering
• Master’s degree in a relevant field preferred
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) / PE or equivalent is highly desirable

Preferred Attributes:

• Expertise in emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS) and reuse systems

• Experience in brownfield upgrades and plant performance improvement
• Exposure to sustainability, circular economy, and net-zero solutions
• Ability to influence strategic technical direction at organisational level

Hybrid Work Expectation: Average office presence of 3 days per week or as per Company Policy, with travel for client/site meetings and occasional team meetings.

#LI-TG1

At Jacobs we value people. Having the right balance of belonging, career and lifestyle enables us to consistently deliver and exceed clients’ expectations.

Working alongside industry leaders, you will have the opportunity to develop your career working on key projects in an environment which encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation. To support your professional growth, Jacobs flexible working arrangements, extended leave options and a host of social, health and wellbeing events and initiatives will underpin our commitment to you.

At Jacobs it’s all about what you do, not where you are, which counts!

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support .

Locations

City State Country
Hyderabad	All IN Regions	India
Bangalore	All IN Regions	India
Chennai	All IN Regions	India
Ahmedabad	All IN Regions	India
Pune	All IN Regions	India
Navi Mumbai	All IN Regions	India