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Desalination Plant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

$64K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... desalination units, auxiliaries, intake and outfall, and circulating water system * Assists in ... Plant Operator 1st Class. The Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority is proud to offer a ...

And now, our newest project involves building a large-scale desalination plant to provide daily access to clean water for 60,000 people across Gaza. Recovering lost livelihoods for vulnerable farmers ...

... desalination theory and electrical power plant theory Ability to understand and prepare line construction drawings and diagrams Ability to prepare work orders Ability to complete computation using ...

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Desalination Plant information

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How much do desalination plant jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for desalination plant in the United States is $22.37, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $25.24 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a desalination plant?

A desalination plant is a facility designed to remove salt and other impurities from seawater or brackish water, producing fresh water suitable for human consumption, agriculture, or industrial use. The most common methods used are reverse osmosis and thermal distillation. Desalination plants are especially important in regions with limited access to natural freshwater sources. While they provide a reliable water supply, they can be energy-intensive and require careful management of brine and other byproducts.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a desalination plant operator?

To thrive as a Desalination Plant Operator, you typically need a background in mechanical, electrical, or chemical engineering, along with relevant technical certifications or vocational training in water treatment operations. Familiarity with SCADA systems, reverse osmosis technology, and water quality monitoring tools is essential. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication help operators respond swiftly to issues and coordinate with maintenance teams. These skills ensure water safety, regulatory compliance, and efficient plant performance in a critical utility environment.

What are some common challenges faced by operators working in a desalination plant, and how are they addressed?

Operators in a desalination plant often encounter challenges such as membrane fouling, equipment corrosion, and maintaining optimal water quality standards. Addressing these issues typically involves routine monitoring, preventive maintenance, and the use of advanced filtration and chemical dosing systems. Team collaboration is essential, as operators regularly coordinate with engineers and maintenance staff to quickly troubleshoot and resolve technical problems, ensuring continuous and efficient plant operation.

What is the difference between Desalination Plant vs Water Treatment Plant Operator?

AspectDesalination PlantWater Treatment Plant Operator
CertificationsTypically requires certifications in water treatment and plant operationRequires water treatment operator licenses or certifications
Work EnvironmentOperates in facilities that convert seawater to freshwater, often in coastal areasWorks in municipal or industrial water treatment facilities
Industry UsageCommon in regions with seawater sources and high water demandUsed broadly across municipal water supply systems

Desalination Plant operators focus on converting seawater into potable water using specialized processes, often in coastal locations. Water Treatment Plant Operators manage the purification of freshwater sources. While both roles require water treatment certifications and involve plant operation, desalination plant work is more specialized in seawater processing, whereas water treatment operators handle a wider range of water sources.

More about Desalination Plant jobs

What states have the most Desalination Plant jobs?

States with the most job openings for Desalination Plant jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Desalination Plant jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Desalination Plant jobs are:

Infographic showing various Desalination Plant job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 60% Full Time, and 40% Temporary. Highlights an 80% In-person, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,521 per year, or $22.4 per hour.

BIM / 3D Design Manager (Water / Wastewater - Desalination) - Bilingual Spanish

Ardurra Group, Inc.

San Antonio, TX

Full-time

Re-posted 25 days ago


Job description

BIM / 3D Design Manager (Water / Wastewater – Desalination) – Bilingual Spanish

Ardurra is seeking a BIM / 3D Design Manager to lead the communication and coordination of technical production and design execution of large-scale water and wastewater infrastructure projects, including major seawater desalination facilities for an international design team.

This is a high-impact senior role supporting one of the most significant water infrastructure investments in the U.S. You will directly influence the successful delivery of a major water infrastructure treatment facility.

This role supports our Texas-based operations and is open to candidates located near one of our U.S. office locations. Hybrid arrangements may be considered with the ability to travel 5–10% for project coordination efforts.

Primary Function

The BIM / 3D Design Manager will oversee all CAD/BIM production efforts and serve as the primary bridge between U.S.-based engineering teams and a dedicated, primarily Spanish-speaking production team. This role requires fluency in both Spanish and English and the ability to lead distributed teams in a high-performance delivery environment.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead all BIM / 3D design production for major water infrastructure projects, including:
    • Seawater desalination plants (multi-discipline, including process mechanical)
    • Drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities
    • Pump stations, storage, and conveyance systems
  • Manage international production teams, ensuring alignment with U.S. engineering standards and project expectations
  • Establish and enforce Civil 3D and BIM standards, templates, and workflows across projects
  • Coordinate with Project Managers and Engineers to ensure design intent is accurately translated into production models and plans
  • Perform and oversee QA/QC of plans and 3D models
  • Lead model-based coordination and clash detection efforts where applicable
  • Drive efficiency and scalability of production workflows across distributed teams
  • Manage production schedules, resource allocation, and deliverable timelines
  • Act as the technical escalation point for complex modeling and design challenges
  • Support continuous improvement of BIM strategy, standards, and digital delivery practices
  • Ability to travel 5–10% for project coordination efforts

Minimum Qualifications

  • Associate’s degree in CAD, Engineering Technology, or related field required; technical certifications preferred
  • 15+ years of CAD and BIM design experience, with 5+ years leading production or BIM teams
  • Advanced expertise in AutoCAD Plant 3D, Revit, Civil 3D, and Autodesk Construction Cloud
  • Strong experience with:
    • Multi-discipline design coordination (process, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and civil)
    • Large-scale industrial or treatment facilities design experience
    • Treatment plant site/civil design integration with BIM
  • Demonstrated experience supporting design-build or large, complex infrastructure programs
  • Fluent in Spanish and English (required) – must be able to manage and coordinate workflows with international design teams
  • Strong understanding of U.S. design standards, specifications, and plan production requirements
  • Proven experience managing QA/QC processes and production quality

Preferred Qualifications

  • Direct experience supporting desalination, advanced water treatment, or similar industrial projects
  • Experience leading international teams
  • CAD/BIM certifications
  • Proven ability to lead large, distributed design teams across multiple geographies
  • Strong cross-cultural communication and coordination skills
  • Experience developing as-built models using laser scanning, Matterport, and similar technologies

    Why Ardurra?

    While Ardurra offers competitive compensation and rich benefits programs, it is our culture that truly sets us apart from our peers. We nurture a family-like culture, striving to create a work environment that is enjoyable, challenging and rewarding but also fun. We are acutely focused on developing our staff, whether through our internal Ardurra Academy or through our industry-leading Leadership program. We have made a deliberate and focused commitment to nurture a people-centric culture where people are: valued as individuals; supported in their professional and career development with multiple, varied career paths; provided the tools and resources to be successful, engaged, and satisfied in their work; and positive benefits, time-off programs, and flexibility to help maintain a healthy balance between work and home.

    Ardurra is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation.

    NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:

    Ardurra does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Agency Agreement, Ardurra will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. If a resume or candidate is submitted to any hiring manager without a previously signed agreement, Ardurra reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. These candidates will be considered property of Ardurra. We’re not currently looking to add any more agencies to our list of approved vendors, so please do not contact any of our managers or recruitment team with sales calls or details of your candidates.

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