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.
Project Manager Engineering (Water/Wastewater)
$88K - $159K *
Lead the charge in managing water and wastewater projects, coordinating teams, and ensuring client satisfaction. Drive project success from planning to construction while maintaining budget and schedu...
4 weeks ago
Project Manager Engineering (Water/Wastewater)
$88K - $159K *
Lead and manage water/wastewater projects, ensuring client satisfaction and project success through effective team coordination, budget management, and clear communication. Drive project performance f...
4 weeks ago
Project Manager Engineering (Water/Wastewater)
$88K - $159K *
Lead the charge in managing water/wastewater projects, coordinating teams, and ensuring client satisfaction. Drive project performance from planning to execution while fostering relationships and ment...
4 weeks ago
Project Manager Engineering (Water/Wastewater)
$88K - $159K *
Lead the charge in managing water and wastewater projects, coordinating teams, and ensuring client satisfaction. Drive project success from planning to construction while maintaining budget and schedu...
4 weeks ago
Project Manager Engineering (Water/Wastewater)
$88K - $159K *
Unlock potential by leading water and wastewater projects, managing client relationships, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams. Drive project success from planning to construction while ensuring q...
4 weeks ago
Lead Engineering Project Manager (Water Resources)
$100K - $120K *
Lead the charge in driving innovative solutions and strategies, collaborating across teams to enhance operational efficiency and deliver impactful results. This role offers opportunities for professio...
1 week ago
Surface Water Department Manager
$120K - $187K *
Elevate your career by leading our Surface Water Practice in Alaska. Drive technical excellence, manage diverse projects, and mentor a talented team while fostering client relationships and ensuring i...
Today
Surface Water Department Manager
$120K - $187K *
Lead the charge in advancing Alaska's Surface Water Practice by managing diverse water resources projects, providing technical guidance, and fostering team development while ensuring client satisfacti...
Today
Environmental Engineer – Senior Level (Hybrid)
$100K - $125K *
Join a team that's dedicated to delivering innovative environmental solutions. In this senior-level role, you'll manage complex projects, lead multidisciplinary teams, and develop effective remediatio...
Yesterday
Environmental Engineer – Senior Level (Hybrid)
$100K - $125K *
Drive impactful environmental solutions by managing complex remediation projects, leading multidisciplinary teams, and developing tailored strategies to address contaminated sites while ensuring compl...
Yesterday
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 ensure compliance...
Yesterday
Water/Wastewater Project Manager
$80K - $95K *
Drive impactful water and wastewater projects by leading design, planning and collaboration efforts in a dynamic team environment focused on enhancing municipal infrastructure and community health...
Reposted 1 week ago
$100K - $155K *
Drive the design and execution of plumbing and fire protection systems across diverse projects. Collaborate with teams to ensure high-quality, code-compliant solutions while managing multiple prioriti...
1 week ago
$100K - $155K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of plumbing design and engineering. Lead innovative projects, collaborate with diverse stakeholders, and deliver high-quality, code-compliant solutions across var...
1 week ago
$100K - $155K *
Shape the future of building design by leading plumbing and fire protection systems for diverse projects. Collaborate with teams to deliver innovative, code-compliant solutions while mentoring junior...
1 week ago
$100K - $155K *
Unlock potential by leading the design and execution of plumbing and fire protection systems across diverse projects. Collaborate with teams to deliver high-quality, code-compliant solutions while men...
1 week ago
Project Manager - Civil/Water Resources Engineer
$95K - $115K *
Elevate your career as a Project Manager leading multidisciplinary civil and water resources projects, managing budgets, scopes, and teams to deliver solutions that enhance communities and ensure proj...
Reposted 2 days ago
Senior, Eng Automation & Controls (SCADA)
$95K - $115K *
Shape the future by leveraging your expertise in project management and strategic planning. Collaborate across teams to drive innovation and efficiency, ensuring successful project delivery and stakeh...
Yesterday
$80K - $95K *
Shape complex projects by designing control systems, selecting instruments, and programming PLC/HMI applications. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure successful project execution and pr...
Reposted 6 days ago
Civil Engineer - Surface Water
$75K - $150K *
Join a team that's dedicated to innovative stormwater management solutions. Collaborate on diverse projects, ensuring environmental compliance and effective design from concept to construction while m...
2 weeks ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Stormwater
$122K - $164K *
Shape the future of stormwater management by leading innovative projects that enhance water quality and community resilience. Collaborate with diverse teams to design sustainable infrastructure soluti...
2 weeks ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Stormwater
$113K - $153K *
Transform stormwater management by leading innovative infrastructure projects. Collaborate with diverse teams to enhance community resilience and environmental quality through effective design and pro...
2 weeks ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Stormwater
$118K - $159K *
Unlock your potential as a Senior Civil Engineer, leading stormwater infrastructure projects that enhance community resilience and environmental quality. Collaborate with diverse teams to design innov...
2 weeks ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Stormwater
$113K - $153K *
Empower communities by leading innovative stormwater infrastructure projects. Collaborate with diverse teams to enhance water quality and deliver impactful civil engineering solutions in complex ecolo...
2 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Elevate your career by leading complex FERC-regulated projects, providing strategic guidance, and mentoring teams. Drive business growth while delivering high-quality environmental documents and foste...
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.