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 Project Environmental Scientist
$90K - $135K *
Shape environmental projects by integrating scientific expertise and project management skills. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver impactful solutions across various sectors, ensuring...
3 weeks ago
Senior Civil / Municipal Engineer
$100K - $120K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of municipal infrastructure by leading projects from planning to construction. Leverage your expertise to mentor others, manage client relationships, and drive in...
2 days ago
Senior Civil / Municipal Engineer
$100K - $120K *
Elevate your career by leading municipal infrastructure projects, managing multidisciplinary teams, and fostering client relationships. Drive technical excellence and mentor the next generation of eng...
2 days ago
Civil Engineer - Water/Wastewater
$135K - $175K *
Manage and design innovative water/wastewater projects while leading a skilled team. Collaborate with clients and stakeholders to ensure quality and compliance. Contribute to impactful engineering sol...
Reposted yesterday
Civil Engineer - Water/Wastewater
$95K - $110K *
Join a team that's dedicated to designing innovative water and wastewater systems. Leverage your engineering expertise to manage projects, collaborate with clients, and ensure high-quality deliverable...
3 days ago
Civil Engineer - Water/Wastewater
$80K - $95K *
Champion the design and management of water/wastewater projects, ensuring quality and compliance while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and clients to deliver successful outcomes...
1 week ago
Civil Engineer - Water/Wastewater
$80K - $95K *
Elevate your career as a Civil Engineer, leveraging 4+ years of experience to design and manage water/wastewater projects. Collaborate with a dynamic team, ensuring quality and compliance while foster...
1 week ago
Civil Engineer - Water/Wastewater
$80K - $95K *
Join a dynamic team to design and manage innovative water and wastewater systems. Leverage your engineering expertise to collaborate on diverse projects, ensuring quality and compliance while fosterin...
1 week ago
Civil Engineer - Water/Wastewater
$80K - $95K *
Join a dynamic team to design and manage innovative water and wastewater projects. Leverage your engineering expertise to collaborate with clients and ensure high-quality project delivery while mentor...
4 weeks ago
Senior Application Engineer - Ultrapure Water & Microelectronics
$109K - $154K *
Transform client relationships by leading the design of innovative Ultra Pure Water treatment solutions. Leverage your engineering expertise and project management skills to drive competitive proposal...
1 week ago
Senior Application Engineer - Ultrapure Water & Microelectronics
$109K - $154K *
Lead the design and implementation of innovative Ultra Pure Water solutions, managing client relationships and project lifecycles. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver tailored engineeri...
1 week ago
Senior Application Engineer - Ultrapure Water & Microelectronics
$109K - $154K *
Shape the future of water treatment by leading innovative solutions in ultrapure water systems. Collaborate with global teams to manage proposals and engage clients, ensuring technical excellence and...
1 week ago
Senior Application Engineer - Ultrapure Water & Microelectronics
$109K - $154K *
Help us drive innovation in ultrapure water treatment by leading technical proposals and collaborating with global teams to deliver tailored solutions for critical applications in the semiconductor in...
1 week ago
$95K - $142K *
Lead the delivery of innovative water and wastewater engineering services, managing diverse projects and client relationships while ensuring technical excellence and adherence to budget and schedule i...
5 days ago
Design-Build Project Manager (Water/Wastewater)
$120K - $180K *
Unlock potential by leading municipal water and wastewater projects. Manage multidisciplinary teams, ensure project success, and build strong client relationships in the DMV region while driving innov...
3 weeks ago
Design-Build Project Manager (Water/Wastewater)
$120K - $180K *
Shape the future of municipal infrastructure by leading complex Design-Build projects. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, manage client relationships, and ensure successful project delivery acr...
3 weeks ago
Design-Build Project Manager (Water/Wastewater)
$120K - $180K *
Explore a pivotal role in leading municipal water and wastewater projects. Manage multidisciplinary teams, foster client relationships, and ensure project success from inception to completion in the D...
3 weeks ago
Design-Build Project Manager (Water/Wastewater)
$120K - $180K *
Take ownership of complex municipal infrastructure projects, leading multidisciplinary teams and ensuring successful delivery from planning to completion while fostering strong client relationships an...
3 weeks ago
Design-Build Project Manager (Water/Wastewater)
$120K - $180K *
Advance your career by leading municipal water and wastewater projects. Manage multidisciplinary teams, foster client relationships, and ensure project success from inception to completion in the DMV...
3 weeks ago
Water/Wastewater Project Manager
$88K - $105K *
Join a team that's dedicated to delivering successful projects on time and within budget. As a key management representative, you'll oversee project planning, scheduling, and execution while ensuring...
2 weeks ago
Water Principal Engineer - Construction Manager
$180K - $195K *
Unlock potential by leading large-scale capital infrastructure projects. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions in water and wastewater management, ensuring timely and...
Yesterday
Water Principal Engineer - Construction Manager
$180K - $195K *
Lead the successful delivery of large-scale capital infrastructure projects, ensuring timely and cost-effective execution while collaborating with cross-functional teams to address complex water and w...
2 weeks ago
Project Engineer - Dams, Hydraulics & Water Resources
$95K - $150K *
Drive innovative solutions in dam safety and water resources engineering, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver impactful projects for diverse clients across North America, enhancing i...
3 days ago
Project Engineer - Dams, Hydraulics & Water Resources
$95K - $150K *
Drive innovative solutions in dam safety and water resources engineering, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver impactful projects across North America, enhancing infrastructure and fl...
3 days ago
Project Engineer - Dams, Hydraulics & Water Resources
$95K - $150K *
Grow your career with a dynamic team focused on dam safety and water resources. Contribute to high-profile projects across North America, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovati...
3 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.