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.
$120K - $145K *
Optimize your career by leading the design and implementation of secure cloud infrastructure for federal spectrum management systems, ensuring reliability and compliance while mentoring junior enginee...
2 days ago
Engineering Manager - Substation
$181K - $218K *
Lead a dynamic engineering team in high voltage substation projects, overseeing all phases from design to completion. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure quality, budget, and schedule adherence wh...
1 week ago
Civil Estimator (EV Infrastructure)
$80K - $95K *
Manage civil construction estimates for EV charging projects, ensuring accurate pricing and proposal development. Collaborate with teams and stakeholders to identify risks and optimize project executi...
4 weeks ago
Senior Field Controls Technician
$93K - $104K *
Elevate your career by troubleshooting and supporting HVAC and control systems while collaborating with cross-functional teams to solve complex field issues and enhance product development...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Lead Substation Electrical Owner's Engineer
$123K - $159K *
Unlock potential by providing expert electrical engineering support for major EPC transmission and substation projects, ensuring compliance, quality, and effective communication throughout all project...
2 days ago
$96K - $145K *
Accelerate your career by supporting critical mainframe applications, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance system performance and resolve complex issues, while driving continuous impro...
1 week ago
Air Permitting | Natural Gas | Environmental Permitting Project Manager
$100K - $120K *
Unlock potential by leading environmental permitting for diverse energy projects. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, ensuring compliance and efficiency...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
$95K - $115K *
Engineer innovative power systems for utility-scale solar PV and BESS projects. Conduct critical electrical studies, collaborate with teams, and ensure safe grid connections while advancing clean ener...
2 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Partner with us to deliver tailored solutions and in-depth demos, supporting a dynamic sales pipeline. Leverage your technical expertise to drive customer success and collaborate with teams to enhance...
Reposted 2 days ago
Sales Engineer - Service Solutions - Houston
$90K - $110K *
Empower revenue growth by leveraging technical expertise and commercial acumen. Drive sales of carbon services, identify customer needs, and close opportunities to deliver value while collaborating wi...
1 week ago
Cx, QA, & Field, Controls Superintendent
$110K - $130K *
Transform the future of data center commissioning by leading controls installation verification, driving automation, and ensuring quality across multiple projects while coordinating with teams to meet...
3 weeks ago
$108K - $145K *
Join a dynamic team as you manage project costs, drive strategic initiatives, and foster relationships. Leverage your expertise in cost management to deliver value and support growth while mentoring o...
2 weeks ago
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Technical Manager
$156K - $178K *
Advance the ERP landscape by leading transformation initiatives, optimizing solutions, and managing a skilled technical team to enhance organizational efficiency and support strategic goals. Drive mod...
Reposted 1 week ago
$80K - $95K *
Unlock potential by joining a dynamic team focused on testing and maintaining substation power equipment. Leverage your expertise in relay calibration and troubleshooting to ensure efficient operation...
Today
Lead Electrical Estimator / Master Electrician
$88K - $105K *
Lead estimating efforts by developing precise project estimates, analyzing impacts, and guiding teams. Leverage expertise in construction methods and cost structures to support project pursuits and dr...
1 week ago
Global Director of Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS)
$150K - $180K *
Champion global EHS initiatives by developing policies, leading compliance, and fostering a proactive safety culture across diverse operations, ensuring continuous improvement and risk management in a...
4 days ago
Senior Microgrid Automation Engineer
$107K - $195K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of microgrid automation and renewable energy. Leverage your expertise in control systems and collaborate on innovative projects that drive sustainable energy solu...
6 days ago
$109K - $140K *
Shape the future of project estimating by leading comprehensive cost analyses, collaborating with diverse teams, and driving strategic initiatives to enhance project success and client relationships i...
1 week ago
$110K - $165K *
Unlock potential by designing and maintaining robust data pipelines and Power BI models to transform operational data into actionable insights for stakeholders, ensuring data integrity and performance...
2 days ago
Senior Commissioning Agent (Mechanical)
$95K - $110K *
Contribute to our commissioning team by delivering high-quality mechanical commissioning services, combining hands-on fieldwork with technical office tasks to ensure optimal system performance and cli...
2 days ago
$115K *
Join a team that's dedicated to driving sales success through lead generation and client education. This role involves delivering impactful product demonstrations and collaborating with sales teams to...
Yesterday
$113K - $191K *
Empower innovation in safety technology by developing AI-driven solutions that enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency. Collaborate across teams to deliver scalable, impactful products...
Reposted yesterday
$110K - $130K *
Help us lead complex New Product Introduction projects, driving cross-functional teams to achieve project goals in scope, schedule, and quality while ensuring compliance with industry regulations and...
3 weeks ago
$130K - $228K *
Drive growth by leading strategic initiatives within the US Air Force, championing innovative data solutions to modernize operations and enhance mission success across defense programs while collabora...
2 weeks ago
$88K - $105K *
Transform the future of automation solutions by engineering real-time controls and information systems across manufacturing environments. Collaborate with a dynamic team to enhance operational efficie...
5 days 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.