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.
$100K - $120K *
Transform the future of government contracting by leading cost estimation efforts. Collaborate with project teams to ensure compliance and accuracy in bids for civil and infrastructure projects, utili...
3 weeks ago
Proposal Operations Manager (US Central Region)
$112K - $196K *
Champion a people-first culture while leading a talented team in proposal operations. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to drive strategic pursuits and create impactful proposals that set the orga...
Reposted 2 days ago
Senior Employee Benefits Analyst - Public Sector
$90K - $110K *
Manage advanced financial analysis and strategic reporting for public sector clients, providing insights across complex employee benefits programs while leading RFP processes and collaborating with co...
Reposted 1 week ago
Entry/Mid-Level Environmental Associate
$69K - $99K *
Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to evaluate and implement environmental regulations for diverse energy projects. Utilize your expertise to prepare impact studies, permit applications, and co...
Today
$145K - $185K *
Champion complex heavy civil construction projects from planning to execution, collaborating with field leadership, clients, and subcontractors to ensure safety, quality, and successful project delive...
1 week ago
Construction AMI / AMR Project Manager (Southern California)
$57K - $108K *
Transform water meter projects by leading teams, managing budgets, and ensuring timely execution. Collaborate with stakeholders and subcontractors to deliver high-quality results while maintaining eff...
1 week ago
Sr. Manager, Field Engineering
$110K - $130K *
Shape the future of field engineering by leading technical support, training, and quality assurance efforts. Drive continuous improvement while ensuring top-tier service and communication with clients...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Drive impactful energy solutions by developing and executing strategic marketing and sales initiatives. Leverage your expertise to secure multi-million dollar projects in energy efficiency and renewab...
1 week ago
$85K - $165K *
Champion safety in innovative nuclear fuel recycling by evaluating hazards, developing safety documents, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Collaborate in a dynamic team to enhance safety measu...
4 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Lead supplier quality initiatives to ensure product conformity and drive continuous improvement. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to establish quality standards, manage audits, and enhance supp...
Reposted today
Director, Plumbing Strategy and Operations
$125K - $150K *
Accelerate growth and operational excellence in plumbing services nationwide. Lead strategic initiatives, enhance customer value, and optimize performance while mentoring divisional teams to achieve b...
2 days ago
Senior Process Engineer, Drug Substance
$110K - $125K *
Join a dynamic team to oversee process validation and support for small molecule API manufacturing, ensuring compliance and quality in collaboration with CMOs while driving continuous improvement and...
3 weeks ago
$95K - $115K *
Join our dynamic team as a Senior Accountant, where you'll provide strategic financial insights, mentor junior staff, and optimize client accounting processes in a fast-paced, global environment. Your...
2 days ago
Senior Mechanical Estimator / Quantity Surveyor (Remote)
$140K - $155K *
Transform the mechanical estimating landscape by delivering precise cost estimates and commercial management for complex semiconductor projects, ensuring optimal vendor selection and effective change...
1 week ago
Senior Account Executive - Utilities / Distribution / Data Centers
$110K - $130K *
Help us advance our utilities and data center solutions by leading strategic customer partnerships, identifying market needs, and fostering scalable growth for a trusted workforce collaboration in cri...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$73K - $128K *
Lead diverse project teams to deliver exceptional results, ensuring alignment with client objectives and maintaining high standards throughout the project lifecycle. Drive quality assurance and risk m...
2 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Transform financial operations by leveraging Workday expertise to enhance reporting, payroll, and planning processes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable solutions and drive co...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$100K - $170K *
Unlock potential by providing architectural engineering support for DOJ/BOP facilities. Collaborate on technical analyses, document reviews, and design recommendations to enhance decision-making and p...
3 weeks ago
Senior Subcontracts Administrator
$80K - $125K *
Drive success by managing the full subcontract lifecycle, ensuring compliance and collaboration with project teams to support federal, state, and local contracts in a dynamic environment...
1 week ago
$116K - $165K *
Transform your career with a leading role in marine mechanical engineering, overseeing design and integration for commercial and governmental vessels. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure complian...
1 week ago
$88K - $140K *
Shape the future of public service by leading technology consulting projects that enhance operational efficiency and strategic goals for state and local agencies, ensuring compliance and delivering im...
3 weeks ago
Senior Director, Complex Systems
$184K - $230K *
Lead the Complex Systems portfolio to enhance climate impact, ensuring cohesive strategy and program effectiveness across Land, Transportation, and Industry while aligning resources for sustainable so...
Reposted 5 days ago
Senior Pre-Sales Systems Engineer, Higher Education (IN/MI)
$141K - $212K *
Transform higher education by connecting technology to research outcomes, navigating complex decision-making environments, and empowering institutions to enhance their capabilities while managing budg...
6 days ago
Senior Electrical Application Engineer
$125K - $160K *
Elevate your career by owning electrical application engineering for prefabricated platforms. Collaborate across disciplines to deliver scalable solutions, ensuring design integrity and execution read...
4 weeks ago
Site Safety and Health Officer / Quality Control Manager
$80K - $95K *
Elevate safety standards by leading site safety initiatives, ensuring compliance, and fostering a positive safety culture on construction projects. Collaborate with teams to implement effective safety...
1 week 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.