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.
$90K - $115K *
Grow your career with us as you support diverse stormwater and flood resiliency projects. Collaborate with multi-disciplined teams to deliver innovative solutions for public and private clients across...
4 weeks ago
Senior Hydrogeologist, Groundwater Modeler
$95K - $115K *
Unlock potential by leading innovative groundwater modeling projects, overseeing hydrogeologic investigations, and providing expert support for contaminated site assessments and remediation efforts ac...
2 days ago
Senior Project Manager/ Engineer - Water + Environment Market
$110K - $130K *
Shape the future of water infrastructure as a Senior Project Manager, leading technical teams in delivering complex projects. Drive innovation, foster collaboration, and enhance community impact throu...
Reposted 1 week ago
Water Resources Principal Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's specializing in stormwater management and engineering solutions. Lead technical oversight, mentor staff, and drive innovation while ensuring compliance with various regulations in r...
Reposted 2 days ago
Water Resources Principal Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in stormwater management by providing technical expertise and quality assurance for renewable energy projects, mentoring staff, and aligning strategies with organizational objectives t...
Reposted 2 days ago
Senior Project Manager - Water/Wastewater
$110K - $130K *
Join a team of experts managing multi-disciplinary projects that enhance infrastructure. Lead technical initiatives, mentor staff, and ensure project delivery with effective client communication and c...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Water/Wastewater Project Manager
$90K - $110K *
Join a team that's dedicated to shaping sustainable water solutions. Lead diverse projects, build lasting client relationships, and inspire others while ensuring reliable municipal water systems for c...
Reposted today
Water/Wastewater Project Manager
$88K - $105K *
Transform water infrastructure projects by leading initiatives that enhance community sustainability and resilience. Collaborate with clients and team members to deliver innovative solutions while nur...
Reposted today
Principal Water Resources Engineer
$117K - $191K *
Transform environmental engineering by leading complex projects that enhance water sustainability and public health. Utilize advanced expertise to deliver innovative solutions while mentoring team mem...
1 week ago
$88K - $147K *
Collaborate on wastewater process projects, enhancing system planning, design, and optimization. Utilize engineering skills to support projects and maintain client relations, all while ensuring effici...
Reposted 6 days ago
Senior Mechanical Engineer - Industrial Water
$142K - $237K *
Oversee and direct mechanical engineering for complex industrial water projects. Lead a skilled team, manage design execution, ensure compliance with industry standards, and support the growth of the...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior Hydrogeologist, Groundwater Modeler
$95K - $115K *
Join a team that's shaping innovative groundwater modeling projects. Leverage your expertise in hydrogeology to assess contaminated sites, manage projects, and provide technical support while ensuring...
2 days ago
$95K - $115K *
Drive impactful municipal water and wastewater projects by leading design and planning efforts, ensuring successful execution from assessment to construction management, while collaborating with diver...
1 week ago
Project Manager - Water/Wastewater
$90K - $110K *
Drive innovative water/wastewater solutions by managing projects, ensuring technical accuracy, and collaborating with teams to meet community needs and regulatory standards while delivering on time an...
3 weeks ago
Water Resources Engineer - Mid to Senior Level
$120K - $180K *
Transform your career by leading innovative water resource projects, utilizing advanced modeling techniques, and collaborating with diverse teams to enhance flood management and environmental resilien...
1 week ago
Project Engineer Manager - Water/Wastewater
$126K - $249K *
Empower diverse teams as you manage the engineering execution of complex water projects, driving innovation while mentoring talent and ensuring successful client partnerships across multiple municipal...
Reposted 1 week ago
Engineer II - Water/Wastewater
$85K *
Unlock innovative solutions in water and wastewater engineering. Collaborate with Project Managers to enhance community infrastructure through design, analysis, and field investigations, while advanci...
3 weeks ago
Engineer II - Water/Wastewater
$85K *
Join a dynamic team to support innovative water and wastewater projects. Collaborate with experienced engineers to deliver high-quality solutions, enhance community infrastructure, and advance your te...
3 weeks ago
Engineer II - Water/Wastewater
$85K - $100K *
Transform essential infrastructure by supporting innovative water and wastewater projects. Collaborate with experienced teams to deliver high-quality engineering solutions while advancing your technic...
4 weeks ago
Engineer II - Water/Wastewater
$85K - $100K *
Contribute to innovative water and wastewater projects by collaborating with Project Managers to deliver high-quality engineering solutions, enhancing community infrastructure while advancing your tec...
4 weeks ago
Project Engineer - Water/Wastewater
$88K - $147K *
Help us drive innovative solutions in water/wastewater engineering while leading projects and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams to improve utility infrastructure and treatment processes...
Reposted 5 days ago
Senior Project Engineering Manager - Water/Wastewater
$110K - $130K *
Elevate your career by managing engineering for diverse water projects. Lead multi-discipline teams, oversee budgets, and ensure client satisfaction while driving innovative solutions in water and was...
Reposted 1 week ago
Industrial Wastewater Project Manager
$95K - $115K *
Lead and direct projects for planning, design, and construction of industrial water and wastewater facilities while mentoring project staff and managing complex engineering tasks...
Reposted yesterday
Project Engineer - Civil/Water Engineering
$80K - $95K *
Join a team that's dedicated to delivering impactful municipal water and wastewater projects. Manage project scopes, budgets, and client relationships while collaborating with experts to ensure high-q...
3 days 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
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.