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.
Lead Municipal Wastewater Treatment Engineer
$92K - $171K *
Lead the design and execution of municipal wastewater treatment projects. Mentor teams, innovate solutions, and collaborate with clients while ensuring compliance with regulations and delivering exemp...
Reposted 4 days ago
Water/Wastewater Project Manager
$88K - $105K *
Manage diverse water/wastewater projects to enhance community systems. Deliver innovative solutions, foster client relationships, and mentor emerging engineers, while ensuring high-quality outcomes th...
Reposted today
Senior Project Manager - Industrial Water
$108K - $130K *
Manage complex water treatment projects, ensuring quality, safety, and adherence to scope, schedule, and budget. Collaborate with engineers and stakeholders to drive project success from initiation to...
Today
Senior Project Manager - Industrial Water
$110K - $130K *
Drive the success of complex water treatment projects by leading a skilled team, ensuring quality, safety, and adherence to budget and schedule while effectively communicating with stakeholders throug...
Today
Senior Project Manager - Industrial Water
$100K - $120K *
Lead complex water treatment projects by guiding a skilled team, ensuring quality, safety, and adherence to scope, schedule, and budget while effectively communicating with stakeholders and managing e...
2 days ago
Senior Process Design Engineer (Technical Lead)
$140K - $200K *
Lead innovative water and wastewater design projects, guiding teams to enhance sustainability and efficiency across diverse sectors. Drive complex engineering solutions while collaborating with multid...
Reposted 6 days ago
Project Manager - Water/Wastewater
$80K - $95K *
Lead the charge in managing water/wastewater projects, ensuring timely delivery, budget adherence, and quality standards while coordinating teams and serving as the primary client contact...
1 week ago
$138K - $185K *
Manage the City’s engineering programs for water, stormwater, and sewer utilities. Oversee capital projects, ensure compliance with standards, and lead design and inspection efforts to enhance public...
1 month ago
Water Resources Practice Leader
$120K - $200K *
Transform the national landscape of water resources by leading innovative strategies, enhancing technical capabilities, and fostering collaboration across multiple states. Make a lasting impact on urb...
Reposted 2 days ago
Water Resources Practice Leader
$120K - $200K *
Lead innovative water resources strategy nationwide. Expand technical capabilities, influence project delivery, and foster client relationships across multiple states in a collaborative, high-impact r...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Water Resources Practice Leader
$120K - $200K *
Shape the future of national water resource management by leading innovative strategies, enhancing technical capabilities, and fostering client relationships across multiple states for impactful flood...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Water Resources Practice Leader
$120K - $200K *
Drive national innovation in water resources as you lead strategy and engineering efforts, collaborating cross-regionally to strengthen capabilities and client relationships while addressing flood ris...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Director of Technical Project Delivery - Water/Wastewater Engineering
$170K - $250K *
Join a dynamic team to lead technical project delivery, enhance client relationships, and develop future leaders. Drive excellence in multidisciplinary engineering solutions while supporting critical...
Today
Staff Drinking Water Process Engineer
$108K - $130K *
Elevate your career by applying advanced water treatment techniques to solve complex engineering challenges. Lead multi-disciplinary teams in innovative projects focused on water quality and treatment...
Reposted 1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Lead a dynamic engineering team to ensure timely delivery of water treatment projects, overseeing design, procurement, and construction processes while fostering a culture of development and collabora...
5 days ago
Assistant Drinking Water Project Manager
$80K - $95K *
Coordinate and oversee multi-disciplinary projects in drinking water treatment, ensuring compliance and timely completion. Collaborate with engineers and specialists to develop designs and support bus...
4 weeks ago
Water Resources Engineer – Mid Level (Hybrid)
$80K - $100K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of water resources engineering. In this hybrid role, you'll collaborate with engineers and scientists on diverse projects, focusing on hydrologic and hydraulic mo...
2 weeks ago
Water Resources Engineer – Mid Level (Hybrid)
$90K - $105K *
Develop innovative solutions for water resources challenges, focusing on hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, stormwater planning, and flood control. Collaborate with clients and agencies to deliver imp...
2 weeks ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Water/Sewer/Gas - Rail and Transit
$157K - $283K *
Lead the charge in technical oversight of major rail bridge projects, ensuring quality and collaboration in a dynamic environment focused on enhancing critical infrastructure in the NY/NJ region...
Reposted 3 days ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Water/Sewer/Gas - Rail and Transit
$157K - $283K *
Lead the charge in technical design oversight of major rail infrastructure projects, ensuring quality and collaboration among stakeholders while leveraging your extensive experience in civil engineeri...
Reposted 3 days ago
Environmental Engineer - Senior Level (Hybrid)
$100K - $125K *
Join a team that's dedicated to delivering impactful environmental solutions. In this senior-level role, you'll manage multidisciplinary projects, develop remediation strategies, and collaborate with...
Today
Environmental Engineer - Senior Level (Hybrid)
$100K - $125K *
Take ownership of environmental engineering projects, managing multidisciplinary teams to assess and remediate contaminated sites. Collaborate with clients and stakeholders to deliver effective soluti...
Today
Senior Environmental Regulatory Permitting Manager - FERC
$107K - $160K *
Elevate pipeline and energy project permitting through expert management and regulatory compliance, ensuring sustainable practices align with the evolving energy landscape while fostering strong clien...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Project Manager Engineering (Water/Wastewater)
$88K - $159K *
Join a team that's dedicated to leading water and wastewater projects, managing client relationships, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams. Drive project success from planning to construction whil...
3 weeks ago
Project Manager Engineering (Water/Wastewater)
$88K - $159K *
Lead and coordinate water/wastewater projects, ensuring client satisfaction and project success through effective management of scope, schedule, and budget. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to...
4 weeks 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.