Water Treatment Engineer (HVAC/ACMV Cooling Tower & Chilled Water Systems)

The Water Treatment Engineer is a core operational role within Kaer’s Water Treatment Operations Department. The role is responsible for executing, controlling, and continuously improving day-to-day water treatment operations across Kaer’s Cooling-as-a-Service portfolio, covering cooling towers and chilled water systems.

This position is hands-on and operational, accountable for water quality performance, Legionella risk control, chemical programme execution, regulatory compliance, and operational continuity. The Water Treatment Engineer works closely with Kaer’s operations teams, approved vendors, and an appointed strategic water consultant during the initial capability-building phase, with the long-term objective of operating as a self-sufficient operational capability.

Key Responsibilities

Water Treatment Operations and Site Execution

• Execute daily and routine water treatment activities across assigned sites in accordance with approved Standard Operating Procedures.
• Carry out scheduled and ad-hoc site visits to verify operational condition, dosing performance, controller settings, blowdown control, and system hygiene.
• Ensure systems operate within defined control limits for corrosion, scaling, fouling, microbiological activity, and cycles of concentration.
• Respond promptly to alarms, deviations, and abnormal operating conditions, implementing corrective actions in line with escalation and emergency response procedures.
• Support smooth transition of sites from outsourced water treatment vendors to Kaer’s programme.

Water Quality Monitoring, Testing and Analysis

• Perform field testing and sampling including pH, conductivity, ORP, hardness, alkalinity, and microbiological indicators.
• Coordinate laboratory testing where required and ensure results are reviewed, documented, and acted upon.
• Maintain accurate water quality logs, site records, and dashboards for all assigned sites.
• Analyse trends and historical data to proactively identify emerging risks and recommend corrective or optimisation measures.

Chemical Programme Implementation and Control

• Implement and manage the standardised chemical treatment programme across all assigned sites.
• Verify correct chemical selection, dosing rates, compatibility, and system configuration.
• Monitor chemical consumption and optimise dosing efficiency while maintaining compliance and system integrity.
• Ensure chemical handling, storage, and usage comply with MSDS requirements, site safety rules, and statutory regulations.

Legionella Control and Regulatory Compliance

• Execute site-specific Legionella control measures in accordance with NEA requirements and Kaer’s Legionella Control Plan.
• Maintain risk assessments, inspection records, sampling data, and corrective action documentation to ensure audit readiness.
• Support investigations, corrective actions, and reporting in the event of elevated Legionella risk or non-compliance.
• Assist during regulatory inspections, audits, and internal compliance reviews.

Documentation, Governance and Continuous Improvement

• Adhere to approved SOPs, workflows, and governance frameworks.
• Maintain complete and accurate documentation including site files, inspection records, corrective action reports, and compliance logs.
• Support internal audits, quality assurance checks, and performance reviews.

Vendor Management and Procurement Support

• Coordinate with chemical suppliers, service vendors, and specialist contractors with support from Kaer’s procurement team.
• Review vendor quotations, service quality, and delivery performance against technical and safety requirements.
• Support vendor exit coordination and onboarding activities during programme transitions.

Capability Building and Continuity

• Participate in structured training, coaching, and competency development programmes.
• Support cross-training of additional personnel to ensure operational backup capability.
• Contribute to knowledge transfer and documentation to support operational continuity.

Performance Management

• Deliver against defined operational, safety, and compliance KPIs.
• Participate in operational reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.

To succeed in this role, the incumbent should have:

• Diploma or Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Facilities Management, or a related technical discipline.
• At least 2 years of hands-on experience in water treatment operations for cooling towers, chilled water systems, or industrial water systems.
• Experience with chemical dosing systems, water testing, and cooling tower hygiene management.
• Familiarity with corrosion control, scale prevention, microbiological control, and Legionella risk mitigation.
• Knowledge of Singapore regulatory requirements including NEA, PUB, and BCA.