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 Environmental Permitting Specialist
$93K - $128K *
Join a team that's advancing sustainable infrastructure projects by leading environmental permitting strategies, guiding regulatory processes, and ensuring compliance throughout all project phases whi...
3 weeks ago
Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist
$93K - $128K *
Lead environmental permitting strategies for complex infrastructure projects, guiding regulatory processes from design to construction. Your expertise will ensure compliance and foster relationships w...
3 weeks ago
Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist
$96K - $132K *
Lead environmental permitting strategies for complex infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with regulations and fostering relationships with stakeholders. Drive project success from design thro...
3 weeks ago
Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist
$93K - $128K *
Lead environmental permitting strategies for complex infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with regulations and fostering relationships with stakeholders. Drive sustainable practices from desig...
3 weeks ago
Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist
$93K - $128K *
Lead environmental permitting strategies for complex infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with regulations and fostering relationships with stakeholders. Drive project success from design thro...
3 weeks ago
Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist
$93K - $128K *
Pioneer sustainable infrastructure by leading environmental permitting strategies for complex projects. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure compliance and successful project delivery from design t...
3 weeks ago
Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist
$93K - $128K *
Lead environmental permitting strategies for complex infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with regulations and fostering relationships with stakeholders. Drive sustainable practices while guid...
3 weeks ago
Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist
$93K - $128K *
Accelerate your career by leading environmental permitting strategies for complex infrastructure projects. Drive regulatory processes, ensure compliance, and foster relationships with stakeholders to...
3 weeks ago
Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist
$93K - $128K *
Join a dynamic team as you lead environmental permitting for major infrastructure projects. Your expertise will guide regulatory processes, ensuring compliance and fostering relationships with stakeho...
3 weeks ago
Clean Water Act Programs Scientist/Engineer
$98K - $120K *
Shape the future of water quality management by leading complex Clean Water Act projects, collaborating with diverse clients, and mentoring junior staff while addressing critical environmental challen...
1 week ago
$120K - $145K *
Drive innovation in power-conversion hardware, collaborating across teams to design and validate high-performance electrical systems for cutting-edge electrochemical reactors, ensuring efficiency, saf...
1 week ago
$77K - $98K *
Engage in complex engineering tasks overseeing water and wastewater systems. Lead project planning and design, ensure compliance with standards, and collaborate with stakeholders across various engine...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Project Director - Water Business
$135K - $160K *
Accelerate progress at driving business growth in Texas by developing and managing client relationships, overseeing projects, and mentoring talent in the water and wastewater sectors for enhanced comm...
Reposted 1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Shape the future of water utilities by managing I&C design projects, building client relationships, and coordinating multi-discipline engineering efforts across Florida. Lead your team to success whil...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Roadway Project Manager
$100K - $120K *
Lead and manage complex roadway projects, ensuring high-quality design and delivery. Oversee multidisciplinary teams, budgets, and schedules while mentoring staff and interfacing with clients to drive...
3 weeks ago
Senior Roadway Project Manager
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in delivering complex roadway projects, managing all phases from planning to construction. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure client satisfaction, regulatory compliance...
3 weeks ago
Senior Project Hydrogeologist (USA)
$85K - $105K *
Join a dynamic team as a Senior Project Hydrogeologist, managing diverse hydrogeology and environmental projects. Leverage your expertise in groundwater modeling and field investigations to drive impa...
4 weeks ago
Senior Project Hydrogeologist (USA)
$85K - $105K *
Lead hydrogeology projects, managing field investigations and modeling studies. Utilize your expertise to support mining and environmental initiatives, ensuring technical quality and effective communi...
4 weeks ago
Senior Road Design Manager- Southeast
$128K - $202K *
Join us to lead complex road design projects, guiding a talented team while ensuring compliance with DOT standards and delivering high-quality transportation infrastructure across the Southeast...
3 weeks ago
Senior Geotechnical Staff Engineer
$80K - $95K *
Analyze geotechnical engineering projects, providing expert consulting and management. Lead field investigations, perform calculations, and ensure compliance with specifications while collaborating wi...
1 week ago
Senior Environmental Scientist
$88K - $105K *
Lead the charge in environmental consulting by managing diverse projects, ensuring compliance with regulations, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver impactful solutions. Utilize y...
Reposted 1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Elevate your career by joining a dynamic team to create innovative architectural specifications. Collaborate on high-profile projects, ensuring quality and compliance while mentoring others in a suppo...
3 days ago
$95K - $115K *
Empower your career by joining a dynamic team as a Specifications Writer, where you'll lead high-profile projects, produce detailed project manuals, and serve as a technical resource, ensuring excelle...
6 days ago
Project Environmental Engineer
$80K - $95K *
Advance environmental engineering solutions by leading site investigations, conducting analyses, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Collaborate with teams to design systems and prepare technica...
3 weeks ago
Civil Engineer Level I/II - Water/Wastewater
$95K - $146K *
Unlock potential by managing water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Lead planning, design, and construction efforts while ensuring compliance with standards and regulations. Collaborate with te...
6 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.