Carollo Engineers appoints Jennifer Steffens to lead Digital Water Technical Practice

Carollo Engineers has announced the appointment of Jennifer Steffens as digital water technical practice director. This strategic hire advances Carollo’s capabilities in translating complex utility data into actionable intelligence for water, wastewater, and stormwater operations. These solutions help utilities reduce non-revenue water, improve treatment efficiency, and extend asset lifespan.

Steffens brings 20 years of experience delivering digital solutions across the full operational spectrum—from operational control and asset management to capital planning and regulatory compliance. Her work in real-time decision support systems, advanced data analytics, and digital engineering tools has helped major utilities throughout North America modernize operations, meet evolving regulatory requirements, and maximize the value of their investments.

“Jennifer’s deep expertise in digital water solutions and track record of delivering results for utilities make her an exceptional addition to our leadership team,” said Carollo Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Technical Practices Vinnie Hart. “She will be instrumental in helping our clients harness data and technology to build more resilient, efficient water systems.”

Steffens’ career has included digital water leadership roles at OptiRTC, Suez, and Xylem, where she led deployment strategies and strategic partnerships that drove technology adoption and operational improvements across the water sector.

In her new role at Carollo, Steffens will lead the technical direction of the firm’s digital water practice. She will work with clients and project teams to develop digital roadmaps, implement machine learning for operational optimization, deploy digital twins for scenario planning, and integrate advanced analytics into capital planning processes. Her role focuses on combining Carollo’s deep engineering expertise with cloud platforms, analytics, and AI to create practical, defensible solutions.

“Utilities are under pressure from every direction: aging infrastructure, regulatory complexity, climate uncertainty, workforce constraints,” said Steffens. “I’m excited to join a firm with Carollo’s engineering excellence and help our clients find the digital solutions that fit their specific needs. Not every utility needs cutting-edge AI, but every utility needs reliable data and confidence in their decisions.”

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Steffens holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Duke University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Georgia, Maryland, and Missouri. She is actively involved in industry leadership, serving as Chair of the Board for the WaterRising Institute and as a founding partner of the WaterWoman Project.