Salary : $63,585.60 - $98,633.60 Annually
Location : Des Moines - 50312 - Polk County, IA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 26-03464
Agency: 542 Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Opening Date: 06/24/2026
Closing Date: 7/8/2026 11:59 PM Central
LinkedIn Tag: #LI-POST
Point of Contact:
To Apply: Applicants are strongly encouraged to attach a Resume/Cover Letter to the online application to demonstrate how your qualifications and experience best fit the critical competencies, essential functions and job duties of this position.

Job Description

Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all selective requirements (listed below) will be placed on the eligible list.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attach a Resume/Cover Letter to the online application to demonstrate how your qualifications and experience best fit the critical competencies, essential functions and job duties of this position.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has an exciting opportunity for a Wastewater Engineer who demonstrates technical skills, customer focus and is a detail-oriented team player to join the Wastewater Engineering team to help protect Iowa's water quality.
As a Wastewater Engineer, you will play a key role in supporting the engineering team to protect the environment and public health. Your responsibilities will include reviewing construction permit applications, overseeing wastewater treatment and collection system infrastructure projects, and approving engineering planning reports, antidegradation alternatives analyses, plans and specifications. You will also be responsible for approving construction permits for non-funded wastewater projects, as well as some projects funded through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).
The successful candidate will be responsible for the following Municipal wastewater project management job duties:

Facility Plan Approval:

• Technical review of facility plans addressing adequacy of design basis, conformance with design standards, state and federal rules, regulations, and standards and siting requirements.
• Follow the permitting process manual coordinating with cities and their consultants and other agencies as necessary.
• Coordinate activities with DNR field offices, Waste Load Allocation staff, and NPDES staff on project specific and siting issues. Coordinate with cities and various funding agencies for eligibility
• Prepare accurate and appropriate technical comments to assure conformance with design standards and sound engineering practices.
• Process variances making reasonable and justified recommendations in accordance with rules.

Review and Approve of Construction Permit Applications:

• Ensure conformance to current adopted design standards.
• Document reviews and comments made, transmit clear and concise comments to the project owner and consultant. Meet as necessary to resolve technical issues.
• Follow the prescribed process in the permitting process manual.
• Issue construction permits.
• Perform site visits to treatment facilities to conduct inspections and compile reports.

General Project Management:

• Manage assigned projects according to the permitting process manual.
• Use web-based tracking system for administrative management of project information.
• Perform professional project contacts and document actions
• Maintain project schedules by timely reviews and responses.
• Coordinate with applicants, their representatives, citizens and other agencies to expedite project approvals.

Other related duties as assigned which may include Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) assisted projects:

• Process CWSRF projects including the technical review of engineering reports and construction permit applications using the permitting process manual as applicable.
• Coordinate with municipalities, various funding agencies for funding eligibility including CWSRF and approval.
• Issue construction permits.
• Conduct construction inspections and compile reports.
• Other technical projects as assigned.

Essential Functions

• Applies state design standards, engineering principles and engineering practices dealing with wastewater treatment and conveyance design and operation.
• Review technical, administrative, and regulatory documents to assure projects comply with permitting rules and requirements.
• Reads and understands technical documents and information for projects.
• Performs detailed project technical review and prepare comments for projects.
• Performs complex civil and environmental engineering calculations.
• Utilizes education, knowledge, experience and understanding of civil and environmental engineering principles to perform duties.

Critical Job Competencies

Accountability, Interpersonal Skills, High Productivity, Attention to Detail, Communication Skills, Computer Skills, Customer Focus, Integrity, Problem Solving, Project Management, Self-Management, Team Player, Technical Engineering Skills.

What You Get From Us:

• A competitive pay plan and rewarding work.
• Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment.

(Premiums can start as low as $64/month for single and $210/month for family coverage).

• Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually.
• Nine paid holidays/year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match.
• Optional deferred compensation (457/401A) plan with employer match.
• Professional training opportunities.
• Family friendly and professional work environment.
• Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling)

• The State's total compensation package features benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. For a list of additional benefits, please visit the for more information.

• Flexible work schedules (as approved by the supervisor).
• Opportunities for hybrid telework (as approved by the supervisor).
• Workout/Gym facilities available onsite at 6200 Park Ave.

Comments
Check out to see how you can make a difference as an engineer with the Iowa DNR!
Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering required. Preference will be given to degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering.
Additional preference will be given to those with related work experience in design and/or design review of wastewater/water collection and treatment systems or advanced coursework and advanced degree in wastewater engineering.
Valid Iowa Class C driver's license is required.
The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable). The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. Visit the for more benefit information.
Ensure you are kept up-to-date of this position by checking your email regularly for emails from This is a system generated email from the DAS application system and it may be sent directly to your Junk/Spam folder.
For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices, please visit the website.

Selectives

097 Civil Engineering
6 months' experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in one or more of the following:

• Survey crew
• Construction inspector
• Professional civil engineer

Must be able to read blueprints, plans, and/or specifications.
OR
182 Environmental Engineering
6 months' experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in the area of engineering that is centered on the technology concerned with the reduction of pollution, contamination, and deterioration of the surroundings in which humans live.

OR

650 Sanitary Engineering
6 months' experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in the engineering discipline concerned with the improved sanitation of human communities - such as assuring a supply of healthy drinking water, treatment of waste water and removing garbage from inhabited areas.
Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental, Sanitary, Civil, Chemical, Nuclear, Mechanical, Industrial, Agricultural, Biomedical, or Public Health Engineering;
OR
Licensure as a Professional Engineer by the Iowa Board of Engineering Examiners.

For additional information, please click on this
01

Do you understand that the answers to all of the following questions must be truthful, honest, and accurate to the best of your ability? Please read all questions and answers thoroughly and make sure you understand them completely. Ensure the answers to your questions match the information filled out on your application and the attachments you have uploaded. If the answers to your questions are inconsistent with your application information or uploaded attachments, you will be given zero points for the question. Knowingly misrepresenting the facts when submitting any information related to an application, examination, certification, appeal, or any other facet of the selection process will result in your disqualification from this application and future employment with the state of Iowa.

• Yes - I understand and agree.
• No

02

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Have you filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq?

• No - I have NOT filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq
• Yes - I HAVE filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq

03

Have you graduated from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental, Sanitary, Civil, Chemical, Nuclear, Mechanical, Industrial, Agricultural, Biomedical, or Public Health Engineering?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you currently hold a Licensure as a Professional Engineer by the Iowa Board of Engineering Examiners?

• Yes
• No

05

Does your application demonstrate that you have 6 months' experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in Environmental Engineering, the area of engi