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Project Engineer (Hybrid)

Essential Utilities · Kankakee Local, IL · $81,975–$108,412 a year · Full time

Posted Apr 29, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Walk me through a water or wastewater capital project you worked on, from scope to closeout.

What they are checking: Whether they have carried a utility project through every phase, not just one slice of it.

How do you work with operations staff who will run the system after your project is done?

What they are checking: Whether they design with the operators' input, since a project operators cannot run well has failed.

Tell me about a time a project ran behind schedule. What did you do to recover it?

What they are checking: Whether they spot slippage early and take concrete action rather than explaining it after the fact.

How do you keep project costs, schedules and documents organized when you're running several projects at once?

What they are checking: Whether they have a working system for juggling many projects without letting details slip.

What would you do

A contractor submits a change order that seems high. How do you evaluate it?

What they are checking: Whether they protect the budget with a fair, documented review instead of just approving or rejecting by feel.

This role is hybrid and covers sites around Kankakee. How do you decide when you need to be on site versus working remotely?

What they are checking: Whether they know which project moments require eyes in the field to avoid costly mistakes.

A residents' group objects to construction near their homes. How would you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can communicate with the public calmly and keep a needed project moving forward.

About the work

How do you decide which main replacement or plant upgrade should be funded first when the capital budget is limited?

What they are checking: Whether they can rank projects by risk, condition and cost rather than whoever asks loudest.

What Illinois permits or approvals would you expect to need before replacing a water main or upgrading a lift station?

What they are checking: Whether they know the regulatory path so projects do not stall waiting on a missed permit.

How do you review a consultant's design drawings before they go out to bid?

What they are checking: Whether they catch constructability and cost problems on paper instead of in the field.

What's your experience with hydraulic modeling or sizing pipes and pumps?

What they are checking: Whether they have the core engineering skills to check design choices on water and sewer systems.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Essential Utilities.

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities. If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team! About Essential Utilities Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Aqua is on a mission to improve the infrastructure and ensure the highest quality of drinking water and wastewater services possible. We are in need of a nimble, detail-oriented Project Engineer to support the cause. Working under the general supervision of the Engineering Manager you will tackle the below duties for the state of Illinois. ESSENTIAL DUTIES: • Responsible for planning for assigned divisions/systems. • Manage the design of both water and sewer improvement projects i.e. tanks, boosters, lift stations, WTP projects, WWTP projects, regulating vaults, etc.) as needed. • Work with hydraulic modeling team to evaluate and mitigate system-wide challenges • Responsible for submittal of any required permits and approvals. Prepares and/or supervises the permit applications for selected projects and ensure all required permits are obtained with necessary approvals. • Coordinates and manages construction projects including bidding, scheduling, and cost estimating. Enforces contract requirements and performs construction administration on assigned projects • Work with consultants to necessary easements for all assigned projects. Negotiates and prepares property easements and oversees the preparation of property descriptions, survey and legal recording as required. • Responsible for managing project financials i.e. work orders, purchase orders, invoicing etc. • Collaborate with various departments state wide: operations, engineering, accounting, customer service • Responsible for Due Diligence for possible new acquisitions. • Assists with other tasks or projects as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering is required. • Selected candidate must be a Registered, Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois or the ability to obtain PE license within three years from hire date. • Two or more years of experience in water and wastewater is preferred. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: • Must be computer literate and proficient with Microsoft Office applications, as well as other software applications used in the normal course of business • Proficient in Microsoft Office (Email, Word, Excel, PowerPoint). • Excellent written and verbal communications skills; communicate effectively (clearly, concisely and professionally) with internal customers • Strong customer service skills • Ability to work well under pressure • Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment • A team player able to work effectively in a team fostered multi-tasking environment. WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS: • Perform sedentary work- exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. • Working conditions may include travel to work sites of Essential Utilities and/or other constituents within the State of IL HIRING SALARY RANGE: $81,975.36 - $108,412.41 Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law. Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012). To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to: • Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship • Family members cannot work in the same department.

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