Wastewater Engineer

Job Summary Operate and improve wastewater treatment processes to maintain stable plant performance, meet applicable discharge requirements and manage effluent and sludge responsibly. Job Duties & Responsibilities Operate and monitor the factory's wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), including inlet flow, equalization, screening, pH adjustment, biological treatment, clarification and sludge handling, according to the installed treatment system. Monitor wastewater treatment parameters, including pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), COD, BOD, TSS and sludge settling, and coordinate routine sampling and laboratory testing. Monitor wastewater generated from potato washing, peeling, slicing, frying and production-area cleaning, ensuring appropriate handling of starch, oil, grease and suspended solids. Adjust approved aeration, chemical dosing, sludge return and sludge wasting settings within authorized operating limits to maintain treatment efficiency. Monitor pre-treatment systems, including screens, grease and oil separators, and other installed separation equipment, to prevent excessive production waste from entering the treatment plant. Identify abnormal wastewater loads, process upsets, foaming, excessive sludge and odor issues, and coordinate corrective actions with Production, Maintenance and HSE teams. Monitor the operational condition of pumps, blowers, mixers, screens and chemical dosing equipment, raise maintenance requests and support preventive maintenance activities. Maintain accurate records of wastewater flow, treatment performance, laboratory results, chemical consumption, energy usage, sludge generation and treated water discharge. Ensure that treated wastewater meets applicable Iraqi environmental requirements and the factory's approved discharge limits, promptly escalating any risk of non-compliance. Coordinate sludge collection, storage and disposal through approved channels, ensuring compliance with environmental and waste management requirements. Evaluate opportunities to reduce water consumption and reuse treated wastewater where technically suitable and legally permitted. Ensure safe handling of treatment chemicals and biological materials, applying chemical safety, PPE, equipment isolation and confined-space entry procedures. Coordinate with Production, Quality, Maintenance and HSE departments to improve wastewater treatment efficiency, reduce environmental impact and optimize operating costs. Job Requirements: Education Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Years of Experience 2–3 years of water treatment experience; direct wastewater treatment experience strongly preferred. Knowledge Wastewater chemistry, biological treatment, sludge handling, COD/BOD/TSS indicators and environmental monitoring. Technical Skills Sampling, laboratory-result interpretation, process balancing, dosing calculations and fault investigation. Soft Skills Attention to detail, teamwork, clear communication, problem solving and disciplined adherence to proce