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 Superintendent (Water/Wastewater)
$110K - $130K *
Engage in leading field operations for water/wastewater projects, ensuring timely delivery and compliance with safety and quality standards. Foster a collaborative team environment while managing logi...
2 weeks ago
Integrated Water Resource Planner / Engineer
$95K - $115K *
Empower progress at a leading firm by managing integrated water resource projects. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative solutions in flood risk management, environmental rest...
4 weeks ago
Senior Waterfront/Structural Engineer
$72K - $103K *
Grow your career with this strategic role in waterfront engineering, contributing to the design and analysis of vital coastal structures while collaborating with a skilled team to enhance infrastructu...
Reposted 1 week ago
Project Executive (Water/Wastewater)
$110K - $130K *
Drive impactful water infrastructure projects by leading teams, managing budgets, and fostering client relationships. Leverage your expertise to ensure safety, quality, and timely delivery while pursu...
1 week ago
Senior Project Manager - Water/Wastewater/Utilities
$95K - $115K *
Champion project excellence in the water/wastewater/utilities sector by managing teams and client relationships, ensuring timely delivery, quality control, and budget adherence while leading innovativ...
Reposted yesterday
Water Treatment Project Engineer (Reuse)
$85K - $102K *
Develop innovative water treatment and reuse projects nationwide, collaborating across disciplines to manage design, operational support, and project delivery while mentoring junior staff to meet clie...
Reposted yesterday
$110K - $130K *
Elevate water infrastructure projects by leading diverse teams and managing complex initiatives. Drive client relationships and ensure project delivery while mentoring emerging professionals in a coll...
1 week ago
$80K - $95K *
Lead and mentor teams in delivering innovative water and wastewater engineering solutions, focusing on project design and management for public facilities, while ensuring compliance with local standar...
1 week ago
Intermediate/Senior Infrastructure Planning / Hydraulic Modeler
$85K - $110K *
Grow your career with a dynamic team leading complex water infrastructure projects. Collaborate with municipalities and guide strategic initiatives impacting community resilience, while mentoring juni...
Reposted 4 days ago
Intermediate/Senior Infrastructure Planning / Hydraulic Modeler
$85K - $110K *
Pioneer innovative water infrastructure solutions while leading complex projects that enhance community resilience. Collaborate with clients to ensure sustainable, efficient systems with a focus on me...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Join a team that's dedicated to designing innovative wastewater treatment solutions. As a Wastewater Engineer, you'll lead projects ensuring compliance with environmental regulations while collaborati...
2 days ago
Senior Water Resources Engineer | Billings, MT
$95K - $115K *
Lead civil engineering design efforts for complex projects, providing technical oversight and client solutions. Collaborate with teams to deliver resilient infrastructure while mentoring staff and ens...
1 week ago
$80K - $95K *
Join a dynamic team to shape sustainable water solutions, ensuring public health and environmental resilience. Lead projects, make impactful decisions, and collaborate with experts to drive innovation...
Yesterday
Electrical Engineer - Water/Wastewater
$80K - $95K *
Optimize water/wastewater systems design and project management. Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality engineering solutions while ensuring project timelines and budgets ar...
Today
$75K - $150K *
Join a team that's focused on innovative stormwater management solutions. Leverage your engineering expertise to design systems that protect communities and the environment while collaborating across...
Reposted 6 days ago
$108K - $130K *
Lead and support engineering projects in water and wastewater utilities, ensuring effective design, management, and compliance with regulations while collaborating with teams and stakeholders...
Reposted 1 week ago
Water Resources Design Project Engineer
$87K - $130K *
Manage project phases in water design, enhancing quality and efficiency while collaborating with clients and teams to drive successful deliverables and outcomes...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Water/Wastewater Senior Project Engineer
$125K - $135K *
Lead the end-to-end delivery of large-scale capital infrastructure projects, ensuring strategic alignment and success through cross-functional collaboration and expert project management in water/wast...
5 days ago
Senior Project Manager-Water Infrastructure
$100K - $120K *
Lead and manage water projects across Utah, ensuring timely completion and budget adherence while identifying new business opportunities and maintaining client relationships...
1 week ago
Senior Electrical Project Engineer
$115K - $142K *
Unlock potential by leading electrical engineering efforts on a major wastewater treatment project. Collaborate with teams to ensure compliance, efficiency, and quality in construction, while managing...
1 week ago
Project Manager - Water/Wastewater
$88K - $105K *
Lead the planning and execution of municipal water and wastewater projects. Manage budgets, schedules, and client relationships while ensuring quality and compliance across all project phases. Drive t...
Reposted 2 days ago
Project Manager - Water/Wastewater
$88K - $105K *
Champion the delivery of complex water and wastewater projects, managing budgets, schedules, and client relationships while leading multidisciplinary teams to ensure quality execution and compliance t...
2 weeks ago
Senior Registered Structural Engineer - Hydraulic Structures
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's redefining structural engineering for hydropower projects. Leverage your expertise to lead complex designs, mentor engineers, and ensure safety compliance while driving innovative s...
2 weeks ago
Project Engineer - Water/Wastewater
$116K - $149K *
Join a team that's tackling complex water and wastewater challenges. Collaborate with multi-disciplined professionals to design innovative solutions for municipal clients, enhancing infrastructure and...
2 weeks ago
Senior Hydrogeologist, Groundwater Modeler
$123K - $199K *
Drive innovative groundwater modeling projects, focusing on site assessment, remediation, and management. Collaborate with clients and lead technical investigations while ensuring project success and...
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.