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.
Water Resources Project Manager
$115K - $155K *
Drive impactful water resource projects by managing multidisciplinary teams, overseeing design and permitting processes, and ensuring successful project delivery in stormwater management and ecologica...
Reposted 1 week ago
Water Resources Project Manager
$115K - $155K *
Manage multidisciplinary teams to deliver stormwater and river restoration projects, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards while overseeing project scopes, schedules, and budgets for successfu...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior Land Development Project Manager
$110K - $130K *
Lead impactful land development projects across diverse markets, mentoring teams and building client relationships while driving business growth and ensuring project success from planning to completio...
Yesterday
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's delivering innovative electrical solutions for complex industrial and energy projects. Leverage your expertise in nuclear, oil and gas, and switchgear design while leading multidisc...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$115K - $150K *
Lead the charge in traffic engineering design and analysis, collaborating with diverse teams on community and freeway projects. Enjoy career growth in a flexible environment while managing tasks and m...
6 days ago
Civil Engineer - Stormwater (PE)
$120K *
Elevate your career with a leading engineering firm, providing technical leadership in stormwater management. Drive project success while mentoring staff and expanding service offerings in a collabora...
3 weeks ago
Design Manager (Water/Wastewater)
$140K - $200K *
Shape the future of environmental engineering by leading complex wastewater projects. Oversee budgets, schedules, and quality standards while mentoring a diverse team. Engage with clients and stakehol...
2 weeks ago
Recycled Water Project Manager
$102K - $129K *
Optimize King County's recycled water initiatives by managing projects, ensuring compliance, and collaborating with stakeholders to enhance sustainability and resource recovery efforts across wastewat...
1 week ago
$85K - $130K *
Join a team that's redefining wastewater treatment through innovative process design and optimization. Collaborate across R&D and Operations to enhance carbon removal systems and drive impactful envir...
3 weeks ago
$85K - $130K *
Lead the charge in optimizing wastewater treatment processes through innovative engineering solutions. Collaborate across teams to enhance system performance, drive carbon removal initiatives, and ens...
3 weeks ago
$85K - $130K *
Transform wastewater treatment processes by leveraging engineering expertise to optimize biological systems, enhance carbon removal, and drive innovative solutions in a collaborative environment focus...
3 weeks ago
Sr. Engineer- Stormwater Infrastructure
$79K - $122K *
Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing floodplain management and infrastructure. Lead projects, oversee contracts, and ensure high-quality service while collaborating with agencies and the communit...
2 weeks ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Land Development
$100K - $120K *
Deliver innovative land development solutions by leading multidisciplinary teams, managing client relationships, and ensuring project compliance from concept to construction. Grow your career with a f...
3 weeks ago
Senior Composites Design Engineer
$95K - $115K *
Transform infrastructure design by leading the development of FRP composite products. Utilize expertise in closed molding and structural engineering to innovate solutions, ensuring compliance with ind...
4 weeks ago
Senior Hydrogeologist/Groundwater Modeler (USA)
$105K - $130K *
Elevate your career by applying your expertise in groundwater modeling and hydrogeology to support complex environmental and mining projects. Collaborate with a team of professionals to drive innovati...
4 weeks ago
Senior Hydrogeologist/Groundwater Modeler (USA)
$105K - $130K *
Advance your career by developing and reviewing groundwater models for diverse projects. Collaborate with experts, mentor junior staff, and enhance ITASCA's hydrogeology practice while tackling comple...
4 weeks ago
Instrumentation & Controls Engineer
$111K - $155K *
Drive the development of innovative SCADA systems for water/wastewater operations. Lead project management, enhance system performance, and optimize engineering practices while ensuring regulatory com...
Reposted 1 week ago
Technical and Regulatory Specialist
$80K - $95K *
Elevate your career by serving as a vital resource in technical and regulatory oversight, ensuring compliance and optimizing operations across Canadian facilities while mentoring teams and driving sus...
2 days ago
Assistant Director-Engineering & Compliance-Water
$127K *
Oversee and manage the Engineering division, ensuring regulatory compliance and operational efficiency in water treatment and resource recovery. Lead projects, coordinate with stakeholders, and suppor...
Reposted 2 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Accelerate progress at municipal utility districts by leading engineering services, managing multidisciplinary teams, and providing strategic guidance on infrastructure projects while ensuring complia...
3 weeks ago
$114K - $143K *
Transform municipal infrastructure projects by leading design, planning, and construction teams, while fostering client relationships and ensuring project success across various municipalities in a vi...
Reposted 2 days ago
Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist
$93K - $128K *
Champion environmental permitting strategies for large infrastructure projects, guiding regulatory processes from design to construction. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure compliance and sustain...
3 weeks ago
Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist
$93K - $128K *
Advance your career by leading environmental permitting strategies for complex infrastructure projects. Collaborate with stakeholders and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements while driving s...
3 weeks ago
Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist
$93K - $128K *
Lead the charge in advancing complex infrastructure projects by developing and executing environmental permitting strategies, ensuring compliance, and fostering relationships with regulators and stake...
3 weeks ago
Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist
$93K - $128K *
Champion environmental permitting strategies for large infrastructure projects, guiding regulatory processes from design to construction. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure compliance and sustain...
3 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.