Bulk Water and Irrigation Engineer at Tana River Sugar

Role Summary

The Bulk Water and Irrigation Engineer will lead the engineering supervision, contractor coordination, quality control, testing, and commissioning of the bulk water infrastructure while managing the operation, maintenance, and progressive expansion of centre-pivot irrigation for a commercial sugarcane plantation. This hands-on role ensures water is efficiently abstracted, pumped, filtered, conveyed, and delivered to centre-pivot blocks at the required flow and pressure. The Engineer is responsible for translating engineering designs into reliable field infrastructure, preparing irrigation schedules based on crop needs, diagnosing system faults, and supervising field teams and subcontractors in a remote environment.

Qualification, skills and Competencies

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Irrigation Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or Biosystems Engineering. Registration with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) is strongly preferred.
• Experience: 5–8 years of progressive engineering experience, with at least 3 years in water infrastructure/major civil works and 3 years of hands-on experience with center pivot systems.
• Technical Expertise: Practical experience with various pipeline materials (HDPE, steel, uPVC); competence in hydraulic calculations, pump curves, and filtration systems.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to manage multi-disciplinary contractors and field technicians in remote or rural terrain.
• License & Certifications: Valid driver’s license, training in Project Management, HSE, or irrigation commissioning is an asset.