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.
Civil Project Engineer - Water/Wastewater
$80K - $95K *
Lead the charge in transforming water/wastewater projects by leveraging your engineering expertise and diverse design experience to deliver high-quality solutions and drive project success across mult...
Reposted 2 days ago
Senior Project Manager - Water/Wastewater
$150K - $250K *
Champion growth in the water/wastewater engineering sector through strategic leadership, team development, and innovative project management, impacting both local practice and market presence effectiv...
Reposted 2 days ago
$95K - $109K *
Elevate your career by tackling complex water resources challenges. Join a dynamic team to design and deliver innovative solutions for stormwater management, floodplain mapping, and hydrologic analyse...
2 weeks ago
$99K - $113K *
Lead impactful water resources engineering projects, mentoring junior staff while enhancing infrastructure across multiple regions. Collaborate with clients and design teams to deliver quality solutio...
Yesterday
$99K - $113K *
Lead the charge in innovative water resources engineering projects, managing design services for transportation improvements while mentoring junior staff and collaborating with clients to enhance nati...
Yesterday
$95K - $109K *
Lead the charge in innovative water resources projects, tackling stormwater management, floodplain mapping, and hydraulic analyses. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver effective soluti...
2 weeks ago
$95K - $109K *
Join our team to tackle complex water resources challenges, enhancing stormwater management and floodplain mapping. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative solutions for public...
2 weeks ago
Project Manager - Water/Wastewater
$121K - $203K *
Lead the charge in water and wastewater projects, managing design delivery and multidisciplinary teams. Engage stakeholders to ensure project success and support essential community infrastructure imp...
Reposted 1 week ago
Project Manager - Water/Wastewater
$146K - $244K *
Transform water and wastewater projects by managing all phases from planning to construction. Build strong client relationships and lead a team in a dynamic environment, ensuring projects meet budget...
Reposted 3 days ago
Civil Project Engineer - Water/Wastewater
$80K - $95K *
Collaborate with our dedicated water/wastewater team to drive diverse engineering projects. Leverage your expertise and leadership abilities to deliver exceptional results, mentor junior staff, and en...
Reposted 2 days ago
Civil Project Engineer - Water/Wastewater
$80K - $95K *
Join a dynamic water/wastewater team to lead diverse engineering projects, ensuring quality and compliance while mentoring junior staff and collaborating with clients and agencies...
Reposted 2 days ago
Staff Electrical Engineer Water/Wastewater
$95K - $115K *
Unlock potential by building relationships with clients, developing engineering solutions, coordinating technical needs, and leading project management for innovative water solutions with a focus on c...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$95K - $115K *
Lead the charge in delivering innovative environmental engineering solutions, overseeing complex projects, ensuring compliance, and mentoring junior staff while enhancing quality standards and safety...
2 days ago
$95K - $115K *
Unlock potential by delivering innovative environmental engineering solutions. Lead complex projects, ensuring compliance and quality while mentoring junior staff and communicating effectively with di...
2 weeks ago
$97K - $194K *
Join a team that supports municipal wastewater treatment projects across the nation. Leverage your engineering expertise on complex designs while collaborating with multidisciplinary professionals to...
Reposted today
$140K - $190K *
Join a team that's dedicated to delivering sustainable engineering solutions. As a Senior Hydrotechnical Engineer, you'll conduct assessments, perform hydraulic designs, and collaborate on large-scale...
5 days ago
$140K - $190K *
Unlock potential by leveraging your hydrotechnical expertise to deliver sustainable engineering solutions. Collaborate on diverse hydropower projects, ensuring compliance and excellence in hydraulic d...
5 days ago
$140K - $190K *
Lead the charge in delivering sustainable hydrotechnical solutions, conducting assessments, and collaborating on multimillion-dollar projects while ensuring compliance with industry standards and regu...
5 days ago
$140K - $190K *
Drive innovative hydrotechnical engineering solutions, conducting assessments and designs for hydropower projects. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure compliance and deliver high-qualit...
5 days ago
$140K - $190K *
Drive innovative hydrotechnical solutions by leveraging expertise in hydraulic design and modeling. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams on large-scale projects, ensuring compliance and delivering...
5 days ago
Project Engineering Manager - Water/Wastewater
$100K - $120K *
Join a team that's shaping water and wastewater solutions, managing engineering for diverse projects. Lead multi-discipline teams, oversee budgets, and mentor staff while driving innovation in sustain...
Reposted 3 days ago
Project Engineering Manager - Water/Wastewater
$110K - $130K *
Lead diverse engineering teams in delivering innovative water and wastewater projects. Oversee execution, manage budgets, and develop client relationships while ensuring high-quality standards and men...
Reposted 1 week ago
Project Engineering Manager - Water/Wastewater
$100K - $120K *
Lead the charge in managing multi-discipline engineering teams on complex water and wastewater projects, ensuring project success through effective budget, scheduling, and client interactions while me...
Reposted 1 week ago
Project Engineering Manager - Water/Wastewater
$131K - $219K *
Drive innovative solutions in water and wastewater engineering by leading multi-discipline teams on complex projects. Elevate client satisfaction through effective project execution while managing bud...
Reposted 1 week ago
Project Engineering Manager - Water/Wastewater
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in managing complex engineering projects for municipal water and wastewater conveyance, guiding cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions and meet client objectives...
Reposted 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.