Process Engineer - Water & Wastewater

Apply your process expertise to complex treatment plants with the autonomy to investigate, optimise, and see improvements through.

New Plymouth District Council is looking for a Process Engineer to be its specialist in water and wastewater treatment processes. Work closely with plant operators, investigate process issues and see improvements through from initial idea to everyday operation.

You’ll have regular weekday hours, with after-hours involvement only in exceptional circumstances. Combine satisfying technical work with time for family, the coast, the mountain and everything else Taranaki offers. From surf beaches and mountain trails to New Plymouth’s coastal walkway, cafés and arts scene, there’s plenty to enjoy close to home.

Get involved and stay involved

Most of your time will be spent at the treatment plants, understanding performance, working through issues with operators and identifying ways to improve treatment quality, reliability and efficiency. There’s scope to research and trial different approaches, build the case for improvements and take them forward. You’ll monitor results, refine processes and see the difference your work makes over time.

You’ll also play an important role in greenfield and brownfield projects across our water and wastewater treatment facilities. You’ll provide process input from early investigations and concept development through design, commissioning and optimisation, helping ensure new and upgraded infrastructure is practical, effective and works well in operation.

Your work will cover:

• Treatment process troubleshooting and optimisation.
• Chemical and plant trials, and investigation of new technologies.
• Improvements to chemical use, energy consumption and operating costs.
• Thermal drying, sludge and biosolids performance.
• Process input into greenfield and brownfield projects, from investigations and concept development through design, commissioning and optimisation.

It’s a varied role contributing to safe drinking water, effective wastewater treatment and the beneficial use of biosolids.

Bring your technical grounding and practical approach

You may be a consultant wanting to work more closely with plants, or come from an operational environment and be ready to apply your knowledge in a dedicated process role. You’ll bring:

• A tertiary qualification in engineering or a related science.
• At least five years’ relevant water and/or wastewater treatment experience, including process investigation and optimisation.
• Sound treatment process knowledge, including relevant chemistry and biological processes.
• Confidence investigating issues independently and making practical, well-supported recommendations.
• Curiosity to research unfamiliar problems and the ability to work well with operators and technical colleagues.
• Good organisation, clear communication and a current driver’s licence.

Experience across both water and wastewater is preferred, but a stronger background in one is welcome.

Ready to bring your process expertise to a role where you can take ownership and see lasting results.  We’d love to hear from you.

How to Apply: Click ‘Apply’ or to find out more, contact Lisa Hulley on 027 688 8831. Applications close 1 November 2026 or when the vacancy is filled so we encourage you to apply promptly. Your application will be received in confidence.

New Plymouth District Council has engaged Peak Recruitment to manage this vacancy, please direct all enquiries and applications to Peak Recruitment.