Senior water and wastewater engineers help communities and organizations plan, design, and improve the systems that deliver clean water and safely manage wastewater. These experienced professionals lead technical work across treatment plants, pipelines, pump stations, and other critical infrastructure. Explore vetted senior engineering opportunities on Ladders, including roles with salaries of $100,000 or more.
Responsibilities vary by employer and project, but senior engineers commonly evaluate existing systems, develop engineering plans, prepare technical reports, and guide projects from early studies through construction. They may oversee process, civil, or hydraulic design; review calculations and drawings; coordinate permitting; and support construction administration and commissioning. Many roles also involve mentoring engineers and working closely with clients, utilities, contractors, and regulators.
Employers typically seek a degree in civil, environmental, or a related engineering field, along with substantial experience in water or wastewater projects. A Professional Engineer (PE) license is often preferred or required, particularly for roles that involve approving engineering work. Valuable qualifications include knowledge of treatment processes, hydraulic modeling, design standards, regulatory requirements, project management, and technical communication.
Senior water/wastewater engineers work for engineering consultancies, water utilities, public agencies, and infrastructure organizations. Depending on the employer, they may specialize in drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment, collection and distribution systems, reuse, stormwater, or resilient infrastructure. Experienced engineers can advance into principal engineer, technical director, department manager, or project executive positions.
Search Ladders for senior water and wastewater engineering roles that match your expertise, location, and career goals. Ladders focuses on vetted professional opportunities paying $100,000 or more, helping experienced engineers explore their next career move.
Senior Water Resources Engineer
$125K - $180K *
Contribute to innovative water management solutions in mining projects. Leverage your expertise in hydrological analysis and design to enhance environmental sustainability while collaborating with mul...
1 week ago
Principal-Water/Wastewater Engineer
$170K - $200K *
Lead the charge in establishing a new Water/Wastewater practice across California, driving strategic growth, client relationships, and project oversight while mentoring a multidisciplinary team to del...
1 week ago
Principal-Water/Wastewater Engineer
$170K - $200K *
Transform the future of water/wastewater engineering by leading practice growth, client development, and strategic initiatives across California. Leverage your expertise to establish a trusted enginee...
1 week ago
Principal-Water/Wastewater Engineer
$170K - $200K *
Grow your career with a leadership role in expanding a Water/Wastewater practice. Drive strategic development, client relationships, and project oversight while leveraging your expertise to establish...
1 week ago
Project Engineer - Civil/Water Engineering
$80K - $95K *
Empower communities by managing small to mid-sized municipal water projects. Lead from inception to delivery, fostering client relationships and collaborating with a skilled team to ensure high-qualit...
2 days ago
$75K - $95K *
Innovate solutions as a Water Resources Engineer, tackling hydrologic and hydraulic challenges while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver impactful renewable energy and infrastructure...
6 days ago
Senior Plumbing Engineering Designer
$118K - $147K *
Join our dynamic MEP/FP team to lead plumbing design for diverse projects, ensuring high-quality deliverables and technical consistency while mentoring engineers and coordinating with multidisciplinar...
1 week ago
Senior Project Manager - Water
$130K - $176K *
Lead complex water resources projects, integrating technical and commercial strategies while guiding multidisciplinary teams through planning, execution, and client engagement to ensure successful del...
2 days ago
Senior Engineer - Water Structures
$160K - $200K *
Contribute to the design and analysis of vital water infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance and quality. Lead multidisciplinary teams, mentor junior engineers, and engage with clients to deliver...
2 weeks ago
Senior Engineer - Water Structures
$160K - $200K *
Lead the design and analysis of water infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance and innovation. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver sustainable solutions that enhance community serv...
2 weeks ago
Senior Engineer - Water Structures
$160K - $200K *
Engage in the design and analysis of vital water infrastructure projects. Lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative solutions, ensuring compliance and quality while mentoring junior engineers...
2 weeks ago
Senior Engineer - Water Structures
$160K - $200K *
Empower communities by leading innovative water infrastructure projects. As a Senior Structural Engineer, you'll design and analyze critical facilities, mentor junior engineers, and ensure compliance...
3 weeks ago
Senior Engineer - Water Structures
$160K - $200K *
Shape the future of water infrastructure by leading innovative design and analysis for critical facilities. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver resilient solutions that enhance communi...
2 weeks ago
Senior Engineer - Water Structures
$160K - $200K *
Lead the charge in designing innovative water infrastructure solutions. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance community services through resilient engineering practices, ensuring complia...
2 weeks ago
Strategic Planning Consultant - Water & Wastewater Utilities
$100K - $120K *
Unlock potential by leading strategic planning for a water utility. Collaborate with stakeholders to assess priorities, design actionable plans, and ensure alignment with long-term goals while enhanci...
2 weeks ago
Senior Application Engineer - Ultrapure Water & Microelectronics
$109K - $154K *
Lead the design and implementation of innovative Ultra Pure Water solutions, managing client relationships and project lifecycles. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver tailored engineeri...
1 week ago
Senior Application Engineer - Ultrapure Water & Microelectronics
$109K - $154K *
Shape the future of water treatment by leading innovative solutions in ultrapure water systems. Collaborate with global teams to manage proposals and engage clients, ensuring technical excellence and...
1 week ago
$105K - $130K *
Empower your career by leading hydrogeology and environmental projects. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to tackle complex groundwater challenges, ensuring technical excellence and client sati...
4 weeks ago
Senior Structural Engineer -- S&L Consulting
$118K - $180K *
Unlock potential by leading structural engineering reviews for renewable energy projects. Collaborate with multi-discipline teams to optimize design, support financing, and deliver actionable insights...
6 days ago
Senior Bid Manager - Ultrapure Water & Microelectronics
$99K - $139K *
Drive proposal development for industrial water treatment projects, leading cross-functional teams to create competitive solutions. Engage throughout the sales cycle, ensuring alignment with strategic...
1 week ago
Microelectronics Ultrapure Water (UPW) Senior Process Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Drive innovative ultrapure water treatment solutions as a key technical leader, collaborating with customers to optimize system design and operation while ensuring compliance with industry standards a...
1 week ago
Microelectronics Ultrapure Water (UPW) Senior Process Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's redefining ultrapure water treatment solutions. As a key technical leader, you'll leverage your expertise to design and optimize systems for the microelectronics industry, ensuring...
1 week ago
$80K - $95K *
Drive environmental solutions by applying scientific principles to analyze data, prepare reports, and ensure compliance with regulations. Collaborate with project teams to execute fieldwork and suppor...
1 week ago
Microelectronics Ultrapure Water (UPW) Senior Process Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Join a dynamic team as a Process Engineer, leveraging your expertise to design and optimize ultrapure water treatment systems for the microelectronics industry, ensuring project success through innova...
1 week ago
Senior Hydrogeologist/Groundwater Modeler (USA)
$105K - $130K *
Advance your career by developing and reviewing groundwater models for diverse projects. Collaborate with experts, mentor junior staff, and enhance ITASCA's hydrogeology practice while tackling comple...
4 weeks ago
What does a senior water/wastewater engineer do?
A senior water/wastewater engineer plans and leads engineering work for water and wastewater infrastructure. Duties may include treatment process and pipeline design, hydraulic analysis, technical reviews, permitting support, project management, and mentoring engineering teams.
What qualifications are typically required for senior water/wastewater engineer jobs?
Employers commonly require a bachelor's degree in civil, environmental, or a related engineering discipline and significant relevant project experience. A Professional Engineer (PE) license is frequently preferred or required, depending on the position and jurisdiction.
Where do senior water/wastewater engineers work?
They work for engineering consulting firms, water and wastewater utilities, government agencies, and infrastructure companies. Projects can involve treatment facilities, pipelines, pump stations, water reuse, stormwater, and system upgrades.
Do senior water/wastewater engineers need a PE license?
Many senior roles prefer or require a PE license, especially when the engineer is responsible for approving or sealing designs. Requirements vary by employer, project responsibilities, and state or local regulations.
What is the salary for a senior water/wastewater engineer?
Pay varies based on location, experience, licensure, employer, and project scope. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, including qualifying senior water and wastewater engineering opportunities.