Project Engineer

Design Infrastructure That Strengthens Communities

Trotter and Associates, Inc. is seeking an experienced municipal Project Engineer – Water/Wastewater to lead the planning, design, and delivery of municipal infrastructure improvements throughout Illinois and Wisconsin. Working alongside Project Managers and multidisciplinary engineering teams, this position provides the opportunity to manage projects from concept through construction while serving municipalities and public-sector clients across the region.

As Trotter continues to grow, we are investing in experienced civil engineers who value technical excellence, collaborative problem-solving, and long-term client relationships. This role offers increasing responsibility in project leadership, client coordination, and mentoring while contributing to infrastructure improvements that strengthen the communities we serve.

Why This Role Stands Out

Municipal water/wastewater projects require thoughtful planning, sound engineering judgment, and close collaboration with clients, regulatory agencies, and project partners. As a Project Engineer at Trotter, you'll be involved throughout the project lifecycle—from planning and design through permitting, bidding, construction, and project closeout.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the design and coordination of municipal water/wastewater engineering projects.
• Design water and wastewater treatment facilities, booster stations, lift stations, biological process upgrades, etc. all for public infrastructure
• Prepare engineering reports, plans, specifications, cost estimates, and construction documents.
• Coordinate with municipalities, regulatory agencies, utility providers, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Participate in field investigations, construction observation, and project meetings.
• Mentor staff engineers while expanding your technical and project leadership responsibilities.
• Build lasting client relationships through responsive, high-quality engineering services.

The Projects

Your work will support a broad range of municipal infrastructure improvements, including:

• Water treatment facilities
• Wastewater treatment facilities
• Utility infrastructure
• Pump stations and process structures
• Public works facilities
• Municipal infrastructure improvements
• Facility upgrades and rehabilitation projects

The Role

Working alongside Project Managers and multidisciplinary engineering teams, you'll plan, design, coordinate, and deliver municipal civil engineering projects from concept through construction.

• Key responsibilities include:
• Leading the design and preparation of engineering plans, specifications, calculations, reports, and construction documents.
• Designing municipal water/wastewater infrastructure, including pump stations, lift stations, water treatment plants, wastewater treatment facilities, etc.
• Reviewing and analyzing water distribution and wastewater collection infrastructure projects.
• Coordinating permitting activities and regulatory reviews.
• Managing project schedules, budgets, and technical deliverables.
• Coordinating with municipalities, contractors, utility providers, regulatory agencies, and internal project teams.
• Assisting during bidding, construction observation, and project implementation.
• Reviewing technical work and mentoring staff engineers.
• Assisting with project planning, proposals, and business development activities.

You Are The Right Candidate If…

Successful Project Engineers combine technical expertise with sound judgment, strong communication skills, and a commitment to delivering practical engineering solutions that serve communities for years to come.

You are the right candidate if you bring:

• Professional Engineer (P.E.)
• Approximately 6+ years of progressive civil engineering experience.
• Experience designing municipal water/wastewater infrastructure, including pump stations, lift stations, water treatment plants, wastewater treatment facilities, etc.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local permitting and regulatory requirements.
• Experience preparing engineering reports, plans, specifications, and construction documents.
• Experience working directly with municipalities, utility districts, or other public-sector clients.
• Strong communication, project management, organizational, and technical writing skills.
• A collaborative mindset, sound engineering judgment, and a commitment to exceptional client service.

Choose Your Home Base

This M-F, In-Office position may be based in:

• Oak Brook, Illinois
• St. Charles, Illinois
• Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

The role includes collaboration with project teams across the organization and periodic site visits throughout the region.

Tools and Technology

You'll work with industry-leading engineering and project delivery software, including:

• MicroStation
• WaterCAD/WaterGEMS
• BioWIN
• Bluebeam
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Teams
• Project management software

Compensation and Benefits

Base Compensation: $90,000–$120,000, based on experience, qualifications, professional licensure, project management responsibilities, and technical expertise.

Additional Compensation

• Overtime compensation at 1.5 times the regular hourly rate for hours worked over 40 each week.
• Performance-based Year-End Bonus recognizing individual contributions and the firm's overall success.
• Profit Sharing based on firm performance.

TAI pays 100% of employee coverage and 25% of dependent coverage for:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Basic Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance

Additional Benefits

• SIMPLE Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Continuing Education and Professional Development
• Tuition Reimbursement

About Trotter and Associates, Inc.

For decades, Trotter and Associates, Inc. has partnered with municipalities throughout Illinois and Wisconsin to plan, design, and deliver infrastructure solutions that serve communities for generations. Originally established as a water and wastewater engineering firm, Trotter has strategically expanded its services to include civil, structural, architectural, utility infrastructure rehabilitation, and watershed engineering.

Today, TAI serves more than 90 municipalities through long-standing relationships built on technical excellence, responsiveness, and trust. Our growth reflects the confidence of our clients, the strength of our team, and a long-term commitment to the communities we serve.

If you're looking to help build what's next, we'd like to hear from you.