Wastewater Treatment Performance Engineer

Wastewater Treatment Performance Engineer | Blackburn | £51,233

At United Utilities, we are transforming how wastewater systems are managed by putting insight and foresight at the centre of every decision. Dynamic Treatment Management (DTM) capabilities are key to this transformation, providing a real-time, data-driven view across our networks and treatment works and enabling smarter, end-to-end operational control.

As part of an expanding Operational Intelligence team in Blackburn, we are looking for a Wastewater Treatment Performance Engineer who is driven to use data to stay ahead of issues, not react to them. Reporting to the Optimisation Manager, this is a newly created role driven by growth, offering the chance to shape smarter, more proactive operations.

You will work alongside a small team of Performance Engineers, each responsible for a defined geographical area, and partner closely with highly experienced treatment maintenance teams. Together, you will turn data into insight and insight into action, contributing to a more predictive, whole-system approach to performance across both networks and treatment.

This is a great transitional role for Technical Officers, Technical Support Engineers, wastewater treatment professionals, and candidates with relevant experience who are looking to develop their process engineering expertise and contribute to a more proactive, data-led approach to operational performance.

Job Purpose

As a Performance Engineer, you will act as the custodian of alert logic across our treatment works within the DTM framework. Your focus is not just on generating alerts but truly understanding them.

This role is about deciphering what alerts are telling us, breaking down complex data into clear meaning, and defining how the business should respond. You will ensure that alerts translate into the right actions at the right time, enabling teams to intervene early and prevent issues before consequences occur.

By combining continuous monitoring, performance trends and operational knowledge, you will improve alert quality so that it drives confident decision making. Your work will directly reduce service failures, minimise pollution risk and strengthen operational resilience across both network and treatment assets.

You will play a key role in supporting the development of Dynamic Treatment Management, helping to extend data-led decision making into treatment processes and ensuring a joined-up, whole-system approach to performance optimisation. You will also embed strong performance management processes so that alerts consistently deliver value, supporting a shift from reactive response to proactive and predictive management.

Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Alert performance, assurance and governance:

• Own and optimise DTM alert logic so signals are clear, meaningful and drive the right operational response
• Establish governance frameworks that ensure alerts are consistent, reliable and aligned with operational priorities

Dynamic Treatment Management development:

• Support the development and embedding of Dynamic Treatment Management capabilities
• Use data and operational insight to improve treatment performance, optimise process control and reduce risk across treatment works
• Contribute to a whole-system view, linking network and treatment performance to drive better operational outcomes

Continuous improvement and future development:

• Use data and insight to continuously improve how alerts are interpreted and how responses are defined
• Identify opportunities to enhance DTM capability and strengthen predictive performance

Data quality and systems ownership:

• Champion data accuracy and integrity to ensure decisions are based on trusted information
• Maintain ownership of DTM systems to maximise their effectiveness and operational impact

Stakeholder engagement and technical leadership:

• Work closely with treatment maintenance teams to translate alerts into practical, timely action
• Provide technical leadership that breaks down complex data into clear insight and influences consistent responses

Incident, reporting and regulatory support:

• Use DTM insight to strengthen incident understanding and improve how events are managed
• Support reporting and regulatory compliance through clear, data-led analysis and interpretation

Technical Skills and Experience

• HNC in process engineering, or significant hands-on experience within wastewater treatment operations, with strong knowledge of day-to-day maintenance and operational practices
• Experience within wastewater treatment environments is essential
• Strong problem-solving capability with confident use of IT systems and a good understanding of how they support operational performance
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear, meaningful insight for both technical and non-technical audiences
• Highly developed analytical skills with the ability to interpret, break down and present data in a way that drives understanding and action

Why This Role

This is a role for someone who enjoys making sense of complexity and turning it into clear, confident action. You will play a pivotal role in how United Utilities interprets data, responds to risk and prevents problems before they happen.

Working with experienced operational teams and a focused group of DTM specialists, you will be at the centre of a shift towards predictive, whole-system performance across treatment, supporting the development of Dynamic Treatment Management. Your ability to analyse, interpret and communicate data will directly influence decision-making across the business.

Benefits

• 26 days annual leave rising to 30 with service, plus bank holidays
• Competitive pension with up to 14% employer contribution and life cover
• Performance related bonus of up to 7.5% plus recognition awards
• Company funded healthcare plan and wellbeing support including mental health resources and Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to discounts, gym savings and flexible benefits through MORE Choices
• Financial wellbeing support including Salary Finance and Wealth at Work
• Electric vehicle scheme and ShareBuy options
• Enhanced parental leave

If you are someone who can see beyond the numbers, explain what they mean and guide others to act on them, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting impact.