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 Geotechnical Staff Engineer
$80K - $95K *
Elevate your career by providing geotechnical engineering services across diverse projects. Lead field investigations, analyze data, and develop plans while collaborating with clients and project team...
1 week ago
Senior Geotechnical Staff Engineer
$80K - $95K *
Manage and execute geotechnical engineering projects, providing expert analysis, design, and recommendations. Collaborate with clients and teams to ensure compliance and quality across diverse sectors...
1 week ago
Senior Environmental Data Engineer
$95K - $120K *
Unlock potential by designing and maintaining data workflows and tools that integrate with EQuIS. Collaborate with clients to deliver scalable solutions while enhancing engineering practices in a dyna...
6 days ago
Senior Environmental Data Engineer
$95K - $120K *
Elevate your career by designing and implementing data solutions that enhance environmental data management. Collaborate with clients to deliver scalable tools and optimize workflows while ensuring be...
6 days ago
Senior Environmental Data Engineer
$95K - $120K *
Transform environmental data management by building custom tools and workflows. Collaborate with clients to deliver scalable solutions, design ETL pipelines, and enhance engineering practices in a dyn...
6 days ago
ASKUSR0147315 Water Systems Engineer
$178K *
Drive the design and optimization of water systems for advanced scientific projects, ensuring reliability and compliance. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance cooling infrastructure and...
3 weeks ago
Water Planning Engineer / Modeler
$90K - $120K *
Drive impactful water planning initiatives by leading hydraulic modeling and design projects. Collaborate with clients to enhance water/wastewater systems, ensuring efficient operations and sustainabl...
4 weeks ago
Senior Scientist - Project Manager - Stormwater Compliance
$90K - $140K *
Unlock your potential by leading stormwater compliance projects, providing technical expertise, and mentoring junior staff. Collaborate with clients and regulatory agencies to ensure effective environ...
Today
Senior Scientist - Project Manager - Stormwater Compliance
$90K - $140K *
Accelerate progress at stormwater compliance projects, providing technical leadership, project management, and regulatory guidance. Mentor junior staff and ensure high-quality deliverables while manag...
Reposted 3 days ago
$75K - $110K *
Manage groundwater monitoring programs and support drilling initiatives, ensuring data accuracy and environmental safety while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to achieve project goals...
Today
Regional Manager - Drinking Water / Wastewater - OH
$100K - $120K *
Manage regional operations for drinking water/wastewater, ensuring financial health, strategic growth, and client engagement. Lead project teams, foster relationships, and drive excellence in service...
Reposted 1 week ago
Regional Manager - Drinking Water / Wastewater - OH
$100K - $120K *
Elevate your career by leading drinking water and wastewater initiatives in Ohio. Drive strategic growth, manage client relationships, and ensure operational excellence while collaborating with stakeh...
Reposted 1 week ago
Regional Manager - Drinking Water / Wastewater - OH
$100K - $120K *
Join us to lead the drinking water and wastewater initiatives in Ohio, ensuring financial health, strategic growth, and client engagement. Drive operational excellence while fostering strong relations...
Reposted 1 week ago
Regional Manager - Drinking Water / Wastewater - OH
$100K - $120K *
Lead strategic initiatives in drinking water/wastewater management, ensuring financial health and operational excellence across Ohio. Drive growth through client engagement and collaboration while fos...
Reposted 1 week ago
$150K - $195K *
Join a dynamic team to lead impactful water and wastewater projects, fostering collaboration and client relationships while driving innovative electrical engineering solutions across the Pacific North...
Reposted yesterday
Sr Overhead T&D Project Engineer - Lead Professional
$103K - $188K *
Shape the future of power delivery by leading overhead distribution and transmission projects. Mentor teams, ensure technical excellence, and drive project success while collaborating across disciplin...
2 weeks ago
Sr Overhead T&D Project Engineer - Lead Professional
$103K - $188K *
Lead the charge in engineering overhead distribution/transmission projects, providing mentorship and technical guidance. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure project success while adheri...
2 weeks ago
Sr Overhead T&D Project Engineer - Lead Professional
$103K - $188K *
Shape the future of power delivery by leading overhead distribution and transmission projects. Provide technical guidance, mentor junior engineers, and ensure project excellence while collaborating ac...
2 weeks ago
Sr Overhead T&D Project Engineer - Lead Professional
$103K - $188K *
Drive project excellence as a Senior Engineer, leading overhead distribution/transmission projects. Mentor teams, ensure quality standards, and collaborate across disciplines to deliver innovative sol...
2 weeks ago
Sr Overhead T&D Project Engineer - Lead Professional
$103K - $188K *
Lead and mentor engineering teams on overhead distribution/transmission projects, ensuring technical excellence and adherence to safety standards. Collaborate across disciplines to deliver innovative...
2 weeks ago
Sr Overhead T&D Project Engineer - Lead Professional
$103K - $188K *
Elevate your career by leading overhead distribution/transmission projects. Provide technical guidance, mentor teams, and ensure project excellence while collaborating across disciplines to meet clien...
2 weeks ago
Sr Overhead T&D Project Engineer - Lead Professional
$103K - $188K *
Join a dynamic team to lead and mentor on overhead distribution/transmission projects, ensuring technical excellence and project success while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams and adhering...
2 weeks ago
Sr Overhead T&D Project Engineer - Lead Professional
$103K - $188K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of power delivery by leading overhead distribution and transmission projects. Provide technical guidance, mentor junior engineers, and ensure project excellence w...
2 weeks ago
Sr Overhead T&D Project Engineer - Lead Professional
$103K - $188K *
Grow your career with a leading engineering team, providing technical leadership and mentorship on overhead distribution/transmission projects while ensuring quality and safety standards are met acros...
2 weeks ago
Sr Overhead T&D Project Engineer - Lead Professional
$103K - $188K *
Unlock potential by leading overhead distribution/transmission projects. Provide technical guidance, mentor junior engineers, and ensure project excellence while collaborating with multidisciplinary t...
2 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.