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 - Mechanical Engineer - WWTP
$100K - $120K *
Lead and manage wastewater treatment projects from concept to completion, ensuring adherence to budget, schedule, and specifications while fostering effective communication with stakeholders and overs...
1 week ago
Senior Geotechnical Dam Engineer
$160K - $175K *
Grow your career with our team as a Senior Geotechnical Engineer. Leverage your 12+ years of experience to lead dam safety projects, mentor staff, and enhance client relationships, contributing to inn...
Reposted yesterday
Wastewater Team Lead, Operations
$72K - $93K *
Lead and oversee complex wastewater treatment operations, ensuring compliance and safety. Manage teams, monitor processes, and perform maintenance to deliver reliable treatment services while respondi...
1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Drive technical leadership and project management for environmental assessments, investigations, and remediation projects. Collaborate with clients and regulatory agencies while mentoring staff and en...
2 days ago
$95K - $115K *
Lead complex geological projects, ensuring technical accuracy and client satisfaction while managing budgets and team development. Engage with stakeholders to drive project success and foster client r...
2 weeks ago
Senior Traffic Project Manager
$110K - $130K *
Unlock potential by leading complex traffic engineering projects, managing all phases from planning to construction. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative solutions while ensu...
3 days ago
Experienced Civil EIT - Water Resources
$80K - $115K *
Join a dynamic team as you tackle surface water management projects, including modeling, design, and flood studies. Collaborate with experts while receiving mentorship and training to enhance your eng...
2 weeks ago
Senior Project Engineer (Sustainability)
$120K - $135K *
Lead capital construction and sustainability projects, providing technical support and project management expertise. Collaborate with diverse teams to ensure compliance with specifications and regulat...
2 weeks ago
$95K - $115K *
Deliver innovative engineering solutions for power distribution systems, ensuring compliance with standards and regulations. Mentor junior engineers while managing complex projects and collaborating w...
Reposted 2 days ago
Junior Plumbing Engineer (EIT)
$80K - $120K *
Elevate your career as a Junior Plumbing Engineer, supporting plumbing system design and analysis for diverse projects. Collaborate with seasoned professionals to gain hands-on experience and develop...
Yesterday
Senior Civil Engineer - Ressources
$95K - $130K *
Transform your career by delivering impactful civil engineering projects from design to construction. Collaborate with a dedicated team to tackle complex challenges in the industrial and mining sector...
3 weeks ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Ressources
$95K - $130K *
Elevate your career by delivering impactful civil engineering projects from design to construction. Collaborate with a dynamic team to tackle complex challenges in the industrial and mining sectors, e...
3 weeks ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Ressources
$95K - $130K *
Elevate industrial civil engineering projects from design to construction, collaborating with a skilled team to deliver impactful solutions in heavy industrial environments across Canada, while ensuri...
3 weeks ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Ressources
$95K - $130K *
Shape impactful civil engineering projects from design to construction, collaborating with a dedicated team to deliver innovative solutions for industrial clients across Canada. Your expertise will dr...
3 weeks ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Ressources
$104K - $138K *
Elevate your career by delivering impactful civil engineering projects from design to construction. Collaborate with a dynamic team to tackle complex challenges in the industrial and mining sectors, e...
3 weeks ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Ressources
$95K - $130K *
Drive impactful civil engineering projects from design to construction, collaborating with a dedicated team to solve complex challenges in the industrial and mining sectors. Your expertise will shape...
3 weeks ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Ressources
$95K - $130K *
Lead the charge in delivering impactful civil engineering projects from design to construction, collaborating with a dedicated team to tackle complex challenges in the industrial and mining sectors ac...
3 weeks ago
Senior Civil Engineer - Ressources
$104K - $138K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of industrial civil engineering. Collaborate with experts to deliver impactful projects from design to construction, ensuring compliance and quality while support...
3 weeks ago
$95K - $115K *
Transform power distribution systems by leading innovative engineering solutions, mentoring teams, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Collaborate across functions to deliver projects tha...
Reposted 2 days ago
Supervising Professional Engineer
$88K - $105K *
Join a dynamic team to lead and mentor engineers on major civil projects, focusing on water resource infrastructure. Drive project success through technical oversight, risk management, and quality ass...
1 week ago
Project Manager-Underground Water Utilities
$120K - $175K *
Champion the execution of municipal and industrial water projects, ensuring safety, budget adherence, and timely delivery. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to manage all phases from planning to c...
1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of civil engineering projects, delivering innovative solutions across various sectors. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure quality and compliance w...
2 weeks ago
Senior Engineering Manager - Traffic
$120K - $145K *
Advance your career by leading engineering teams and managing complex projects. Utilize your expertise in traffic engineering and government collaboration to drive innovative solutions while overseein...
Reposted yesterday
Senior Geotechnical Engineer 1
$95K - $115K *
Unlock your potential by leading complex geotechnical projects, providing advanced analysis and design solutions. Collaborate with teams, mentor junior engineers, and ensure project success through te...
2 weeks ago
$103K - $156K *
Innovate in structural engineering by leading diverse transportation projects. Collaborate with a dynamic team to design and develop solutions that enhance regional infrastructure, ensuring safety and...
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.