Water Treatment Operator Jobs in Springfield, IL

Veolia Group is a global leader in environmental services, operating across all five continents with nearly 218,000 employees. Specializing in water, energy, and waste management, Veolia Group designs and implements innovative solutions for decarbonization, depollution, and resource regeneration, supporting communities and industries in their ecological transformation. Within this framework, Veolia's Water Tech Business brings together a dedicated team of experienced professionals committed to tackling the world’s most complex challenges related to water scarcity, quality, productivity, and energy. Together, we pursue a shared mission to create a more sustainable future.

This position requires between 70%-80 travel for extended periods of time - This can range from 3 weeks away from home and work from home 1 week. 

Essential Responsibilities:

ENGINEERING SUPPORT

• Participate in Model Reviews, Engineering Design Meetings, and Safety in Design reviews to ensure accessibility, maintenance, and operability of process equipment
• Perform control system factory acceptance tests with clients and client-designated representatives
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions to improve operations and determine design viability
• Apply mathematical operations to water treatment chemistry calculations, plane geometry, chemistry formulas, determination of test reliability and validity, budget analysis, and Time & Material (T&M) contract cost monitoring

CONSTRUCTION

• Serve as construction liaison between design engineering and construction teams during the erection of Water Treatment Plants
• Identify and correct equipment alignment issues and plumb adjustment figures during installation
• Manage activities of outside vendors and suppliers, ensuring services and supplies meet project specifications and performance requirements
• Maintain a strong safety mindset to ensure executed work reflects technical requirements within company safety standards

COMMISSIONING

• Develop and execute Commissioning Schedules and Performance Plans for Water Treatment Plants
• Commission Water Treatment Plants by ensuring process equipment and control systems perform per specifications
• Perform specific PLC/HMI activities, including Control System IO Checkout, system networking, program upload/download, understanding ladder logic and function blocks, troubleshooting code, and writing simple logic
• Provide technical instruction and assistance to customer representatives regarding installation, operation, calibration, repair, and maintenance at customer sites

OPERATIONS

• Develop Standard Operating Procedures and log sheets to document and monitor equipment operation
• Develop and execute classroom and hands-on training regarding the operation and maintenance of process equipment
• Perform after-market services, including site inspections, equipment inspections, and operator training
• Prepare timely and accurate technical reports for customer records and reference for future outages

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's Degree or College Diploma with a minimum of 5 years of experience in the water treatment field, with comprehensive knowledge of structural, mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, piping, welding specifications, and civil engineering notations
• Valid passport and driver's license and ability to travel extensively (70-80% ~250 days/year) throughout North America, and to other places in the world.
• Expert knowledge of water treatment systems and technologies, including Reverse Osmosis, Ion Exchange, and Thermal systems, with demonstrated ability to perform equipment startup, commissioning, and process optimization
• Strong water treatment chemistry knowledge and technical proficiency with the ability to apply engineering principles to troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and problem resolution
• Proven ability to work independently and remotely with cross-functional project teams, driving projects to completion with minimal supervision while meeting deadlines and commitments
• Advanced technical skills, including competency with analytical instrumentation, calibrated tools, hand tools, and safe handling of chemically aggressive fluids (acids and bases)
• Working knowledge of electrical equipment, control systems, and safety protocols with physical capabilities for hands-on instrument servicing and equipment handling
• Strong customer relationship management skills with the ability to balance external and internal stakeholder needs, present effectively to diverse audiences, and communicate complex technical information clearly
• Computer proficiency, including word processing, spreadsheets, network operations, and database management for technical documentation and reporting
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to create concise technical reports and deliver presentations to customers, clients, and internal teams
• Effective prioritization and multitasking abilities for managing multiple service projects, instruments, and administrative responsibilities simultaneously
• Sound business judgment with the ability to conduct risk-reward analysis, make strategic decisions aligned with organizational objectives, and contribute effectively within commercial team environments
• Self-motivated professional with strong mathematical skills, customer service orientation, and proven ability to learn company procedures and adapt to evolving technical requirements

DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS:

• Experience in Commissioning, Construction, or Services.
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Equivalent from an accredited University or College.
• Mechanical experience and know-how (hands-on, reading and interpreting drawings, etc.), particularly with water treatment equipment (pumps, valves, instrumentation, relief valves, regulators, pneumatic systems, etc.)
• Electrical experience and know-how (hands-on, reading and interpreting drawings, etc.), particularly with electrical panels and water treatment equipment.
• Ability to plan multiple priorities and focus on the most important ones.
• Ability to adapt quickly to new problems, clients, and situations.
• Training in Lock-Out/Tag-Out procedures preferred.
• Operating experience with water treatment equipment, including evaporators, crystallizers, reverse osmosis (RO) systems, micro-filtration, clarification, and conventional filtration.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk, climb, or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; possible exposure to loud noise levels on-site. The site assignments shall be in foreign countries and may involve accommodations at remote work camps. Many water treatment facilities are located outside, and work activities will be outdoors.

Travel : This position requires between 70%-80 travel for extended periods of time - This can range from 3 weeks away from home and work from home 1 week. 

At Veolia, we realize diverse teams make smarter decisions, deliver better results, and build stronger communities. We’re an organization that champions diversity and inclusion at every rung of the ladder and are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Because our people are our greatest assets, we also offer competitive compensation and benefits that include:

Compensation - The pay range is tied to the market for similarly benchmarked roles.  The range is not an absolute, but a guide, and offers will be based on the individual candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, and market conditions, as well as internal peer equity.  Depending upon all the preceding considerations for the final selected individual candidate, the offer may be lower or higher than the stated range: $42.00 - $46.00 hourly.

Benefits
Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance Starting Day 1! 
Life Insurance
Paid Time Off 
Paid Holidays
Parental Leave
401(k) Plan
Flexible Spending & Health Saving Accounts
AD&D Insurance
Disability Insurance
Tuition Reimbursement

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.