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Job Descriptions

The environmental and infrastructure projects that the men and women of CDM plan, design, build, and operate are as diverse as our clients. From drinking water supply and wastewater treatment to environmental management systems, transportation, and industrial facilities design, we work as integrated teams to help improve communities across the globe.

The job descriptions below offer a sample of opportunities that may be available to recent graduates who have earned a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree. They are illustrative, highlighting some of the responsibilities that might be of interest to candidates.

Architect	Assistant Construction Manager
Chemical Engineer	Civil Engineer
Construction Representative	Electrical Engineer
Environmental Engineer	Environmental Planner
Environmental Scientist	Estimator
Field Engineer	Geologist
Geotechnical Engineer	GIS Specialist
Information Management Specialist	Instrumentation and Controls Systems Engineer
Mechanical Engineer	Water Resources Engineer

Architect
Working with some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's or master's degree in architectural engineering may have the opportunity to:

Assist in the formulation of building design and preparation of related working drawings.
Aid in the coordination of building design formulation with project engineers and function group members.
Facilitate programming and developing design alternatives.
Research building codes and regulations.
Review shop drawings for conformity with standards and procedures.
Support timely completion of assigned projects in accordance with standards and budget.
Interact with vendors to receive information on new products, materials, and technologies.

Assistant Construction Manager
Working alongside some of the finest in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's degree in construction management or equivalent combination of education and experience may have the opportunity to:

Prepare required documentation records such as status reports, punch lists, requests for information (RFI), and QA/QC reports.
Perform surveying functions and verify final locations and elevations.
Supervise and direct overall project activities as assigned.
Provide administrative and technical support to the project superintendents and project manager.
Ensure all company, department, and technical policies, procedures, and standards are adhered to. Interpret policies as needed.
Manage and update project schedules.
Coordinate start-up of equipment installations.
Provide support for engineering activities.
Track and report prevailing wage requirements.

Chemical Engineer
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's or master's degree in environmental or chemical engineering may have the opportunity to:

Provide design-support activities in a treatability laboratory environment.
Prepare and conduct laboratory experiments for optimizing treatment of organic and inorganic contaminants in soil, groundwater, and sediment, and document findings to support designs of water, wastewater, and remedial treatment systems.
Assist with the preparation of treatability/pilot testing and remedial design reports, plans, and specifications/design drawings.
Assure laboratory maintenance and compliance with health and safety requirements.
Utilize commonly used computer software (Word, Excel, and AutoCAD).

Civil Engineer
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's or master's degree in civil engineering may have the opportunity to:

Use civil engineering techniques, procedures, and principles on a variety of civil engineering projects.
Support the plan, design, and construction of facilities, such as dams, levees, and reservoirs; transportation infrastructure, including runways, highways, and bridges; ports, harbors, and waterways; tunnels and related underground infrastructure; landfills; recreational facilities, base closures, and brownfields; major conveyance pipes, channels, canals, and stream restoration.
Apply knowledge and understanding of soil mechanics, infrastructure rehabilitation, and pipeline design.
Utilize computer software to support projects, including Excel, AutoCAD, and ArcView.

Construction Representative
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's degree in engineering or construction may have the opportunity to:

Inspect construction work to ensure compliance with design documents.
Perform survey work as required.
Maintain required reports of daily construction activities.
Review monthly contractor pay estimates.
Assist the lead/senior resident as the liaison between client and contractor.
Complete related support duties as assigned.

Electrical Engineer
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering (power engineering option preferred) may have the opportunity to:

Develop drawings for electrical systems (power, controls, communications, fire alarm, and security) using AutoCAD and MathCAD.
Perform electrical calculations using power systems analysis software.
Perform lighting design and illumination simulations using lighting systems analysis software.
Assist in the development of electrical plan drawings and single line diagrams.
Review shop drawings and assist with general construction services.

Environmental Engineer
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's or master's degree in civil, environmental, or chemical engineering may have the opportunity to:

Support projects that may include water and sewer system planning/modeling/rehabilitation; water/wastewater pipeline; pump station and treatment planning, design, and construction; and water quality analyses/modeling.
Perform environmental field sampling and analysis.
Carry out remedial investigation and feasibility study development and technical reporting.
Assist with facility compliance/environmental management system auditing.
Support remediation system and facility engineering design/construction management.

Environmental Planner
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's or master's degree in urban or environmental planning, environmental studies, or a related field may have the opportunity to:

Assist in research for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reports, environmental studies and permitting, and planning documents.
Prepare or assist in preparation of sections for NEPA and planning documents.
Collect data, conduct surveys, and perform project research.
Assist with data gathering and planning documents and write assigned portions of reports.
Assist in coordination with sub-consultants and project team members.
Support research and coordination with regulatory agencies.
Work with project manager on budget and schedule tracking and other project management duties.

Environmental Scientist
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's or master's degree in a related field may have the opportunity to:

Perform remediation oversight.
Conduct hazardous waste field investigations, including well installation and groundwater sampling.
Support treatment system operation and maintenance.
Perform storm water monitoring.
Apply best management practice inspections.
Prepare monthly stormwater and quarterly monitoring reporting.
Assist with the preparation of subsurface investigation and remediation reports.

Estimator
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with an associate or bachelor's degree in engineering or construction management may have the opportunity to:

Calculate various statistical data, such as quantity take-offs, material price lists, labor costs per man-hour, and equipment.
Research historical data (purchase orders, subcontracts, productivity analysis reports, etc.) and compile summary reports to develop guidelines and precedence for future estimates.
Assist in the monitoring of conceptual estimates with actual cost data.
Contact subcontractors and suppliers for outsource pricing.
Assist co-ops and new estimators in their duties.
Conform bid documents from addenda.
Perform additional duties as assigned.

Field Engineer
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or construction management may have the opportunity to:

Interpret design/drawings for crafts installing material.
Research and resolve drawing interpretation problems, conflicts, interferences, and errors.
Prepare field design change requisitions and as-built drawings.
Prioritize and schedule daily field activities.
Record daily activities and produce record reports.
Coordinate startup of equipment installations.
Prepare all required documentation records such as status reports, punch lists, sketches of work already completed, material requirements calculations, requests for information (RFI), and change orders.
Verify that all completed construction complies with applicable codes, drawings, specifications, and safety requirements.
Work with design engineers, clients, and labor/subcontractors to determine solutions for unexpected site conditions.
Attend meetings with other contractors, client, and/or company representatives to coordinate discipline's design and construction effort.
May perform surveying functions and verify final locations and elevations.

Geologist
Working alongside some of the finest professionals in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's degree in geology or a related field may have the opportunity to:

Conduct field work samplings and assessments at a variety of sites.
Support drilling of water wells, deep injection wells, and ASR wells; sampling; soils testing; and related field activities.
Coordinate subcontractors (drilling contractors, labs, etc.).
Record data, describe sampling techniques, and assist with report writing.
Record data, describe sampling techniques, and assist in report writing.

Geotechnical Engineer
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a master's degree in geotechnical engineering may have the opportunity to:

Apply geotechnical engineering techniques, procedures, and principles on a variety of civil engineering projects, including transportation, water, wastewater, and hazardous waste projects.
Study and analyze subsurface ground and water conditions for the design and construction of building foundations, tanks, dams, tunnels, and underground facilities.
Apply solid understanding of soil mechanics, shallow and deep foundations, slope stability, earth structures, earth instrumentation, construction monitoring, and soils laboratory testing.
Utilize commonly used computer software (Word, Excel, and AutoCAD).

GIS Specialist
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's degree or higher in geography, geology, planning, computer science, or a related scientific field with a strong emphasis in GIS may have the opportunity to:

Support the design, development, and implementation of Geographic Information System (GIS) solutions to provide decision support for a variety of water resources and environmental engineering projects, and for enterprise GIS implementations for CDM clients.
Develop and maintain spatial databases, in-depth analysis of spatial data, imagery analysis and interpretation, feature extraction, quality control, quality assurance, and related implantation activities.
Utilize multiple software, including ESRI GIS core products (ArcMap, ArcCatalog, ArcToolbox); computer-aided design (CAD) software (AutoCAD, Microstations); GPS platforms; programming (Visual Basic, C++, SQL, XML, Java, ASP, ASP.NET).

Information Management Specialist
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or a related field may have the opportunity to:

Create, maintain, and support custom software solutions involving multiple programming technologies using standard languages, tools, and practices.
Utilize Oracle, MS Access, and SQL Server.
Participate in application/database design and development, especially on client-server and Web-based platforms and relational database management systems, under the supervision of a senior information management specialist.
Perform data analysis, maintenance, and reporting tasks of moderate complexity on desktop and enterprise databases using structured query language (SQL), database tools, and related reporting applications.
Create and assist in the preparation of requirements and technical documentation.
Support the project team and client IT organizations in testing, trouble-shooting, quality control, and deploying custom software solutions in diverse information system environments.

Instrumentation and Controls Systems Engineer
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or chemical engineering may have the opportunity to:

Perform a variety of technical tasks including control system design, PLC programming, and HMI development for various projects.
Apply prescribed methods to perform specific portions of a broader assignment of an experienced engineer.
Assist in the development of design documents, including process and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), loop wiring diagrams, SCADA system architecture diagrams, specifications, and instrument lists.
Use AutoCAD and Microstation to complete drawings.
Perform programming and configuration of PC computer HMI systems and PLC systems.

Mechanical Engineer
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with a bacehlor's or master's degree in engineering may have the opportunity to:

Apply standard techniques, procedures, and criteria in specific situations.
Support the design and installation of major plant heating and ventilation, plumbing, air and odor control, and fire protection systems.
Perform calculations, equipment sizing and specifications, design drawings, and material requisitions.

Water Resources Engineer
Working alongside some of the finest engineers in the industry, graduates with BS or MS in Engineering, Geology, or a scientific discipline may have the opportunity to:

Apply analytical and numerical models; study the hydraulics of drinking water, sewer, and stormwater systems; and evaluate the hydrodynamics and water quality of groundwater, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and harbors.
Develop integrated resource plans and watershed management approaches.
Participate in project teams.
Perform research, provide data input, and prepare reports.

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