Design Task Leader / Senior Project Manager - Desalination

Ardurra

13h•$150,000 - $225,000

About The Position

Ardurra is looking to hire an experienced Design Task Leader / Senior Project Manager to support desalination projects in Texas! Ideally this position is based in Texas, or near one of our current office locations, but we are open to candidates based anywhere in the United States! Ardurra is seeking a senior leader to help deliver major desalination and advanced water treatment projects, with a focus on large-scale work supporting Houston, Corpus Christi, and the broader Texas market. We have recently secured large-scale infrastructure projects, including one of the most significant water supply projects in the country. This major seawater desalination project is a once-in-a-generation water supply program and is poised to be one of the largest desalination facilities in the United States, representing a significant advancement in Texas water infrastructure. This project will be studied, analyzed, and referenced for decades to come as an opportunity to help define how coastal cities solve water scarcity in the U.S. This is a high-visibility leadership opportunity for a proven senior professional who can drive project execution, lead technical teams, build trusted client relationships, and help grow Ardurra’s desalination practice in Texas and nationally. Primary Function The Design Task Leader / Senior Project Manager leads the full lifecycle delivery of complex desalination and advanced treatment projects. Through design, construction, and commissioning, with full accountability for scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client outcomes. This role requires deep experience in seawater or brackish desalination and oversight of key systems including pretreatment, reverse osmosis, post-treatment, and concentrate management, along with multidisciplinary coordination across design, permitting, and construction. The primary objective of this role is to deliver exceptional client outcomes on technically complex desalination projects while strengthening Ardurra’s technical leadership, client presence, and long-term growth in the desalination sector.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Environmental, Chemical, Mechanical, or related Engineering field
15–30+ years of experience in water infrastructure project delivery, with significant experience in desalination and/or advanced treatment
Professional Engineer (PE) license required or ability to obtain reciprocity as needed
Demonstrated success leading large, complex, multidisciplinary design projects for municipal, utility, or industrial clients
Strong experience with one or more of the following: seawater reverse osmosis, brackish reverse osmosis, pretreatment systems, post-treatment/stabilization, concentrate/brine management, intake/outfall systems, pilot testing, and startup/commissioning

Nice To Haves

Experience with alternative delivery, design-build, progressive design-build, or EPC-adjacent coordination is strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Lead planning, design, and execution of large desalination and advanced treatment projects, including seawater and brackish reverse osmosis facilities
Direct multidisciplinary teams through all project phases, from conceptual development and basis-of-design through detailed design, procurement support, construction-phase services, startup, and commissioning
Define project scope, work plans, staffing plans, schedules, budgets, deliverable milestones, and quality review checkpoints
Manage project financial performance, including forecasting, change management, invoicing, accounts receivable follow-up, and overall project profitability
Apply strong project controls and risk-management practices to maintain performance against scope, schedule, and budget objectives
Serve as a senior technical leader for desalination systems and advanced treatment processes, including pretreatment, membrane systems, reverse osmosis, energy recovery, chemical systems, post-treatment, and concentrate/brine management
Oversee development and review of key technical deliverables such as basis-of-design memoranda, process flow diagrams, P&IDs, technical specifications, design criteria, equipment selection documentation, and lifecycle or alternative analyses
Guide pilot testing, process evaluations, and technology selection efforts where required
Ensure designs are practical, constructible, code-compliant, and aligned with client, regulatory, operational, and maintainability requirements
Coordinate with internal and external subject matter experts across civil, mechanical, structural, electrical, instrumentation and controls, coastal/marine, geotechnical, and permitting disciplines
Build, lead, and mentor high-performing project teams
Provide technical guidance, coaching, and quality oversight to project managers, discipline leads, and design staff
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, quality, and client service excellence