Senior Industrial Wastewater Engineer (Environmental Engineer 5)

The salary listed above includes the scheduled 2% general salary increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2026.

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

Location:

• Eastern Region Office in Spokane, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• The first 30 days will require full time in the office. After 30 days, a minimum of one day per week will be required in the office. 
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: 

• Apply by June 29, 2026
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

As the Senior Industrial Wastewater Engineer, this position will join a dynamic team dedicated to protecting the surface and groundwater of Washington’s 13 easternmost counties. In this role, you will fulfill the Water Quality Program’s mission to provide cool, clean water for future generations through writing waste discharge permits, reviewing engineering, and providing technical assistance to industrial facilities. 

You will utilize your skills to write National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and State Waste Discharge Permits for a wide range of industrial dischargers with a focus on Industrial Metals, Mining, Milling, Energy, Pulp, and Paper (IMEP) facilities. As a Professional Engineer, you will utilize your knowledge and expertise in wastewater treatment to review engineering plans, designs, and specifications for industrial facilities to ensure protection of water quality. As the statewide subject matter expert and engineer for metals, mining, and milling operations and permitting, you will provide engineering review, cross program collaboration, consultation, and permitting support for active sites, site closures, and site remediations. You will also provide expertise to a dedicated team of engineers and permit writers addressing Contaminants of Emerging Concerns (CEC) in wastewater.

What you will do:

• As a Professional Engineer, represent the agency in technical reviews and negotiations to solve complex environmental engineering issues with the largest and most complex industrial facilities. 
• Review engineering documents for industrial facilities to ensure continued or increased protection of water quality in collaboration with other Ecology engineers.
• Author waste discharge permits to protect surface and groundwater through the derivation of permit conditions based on legal and technical requirements.
• Work collaboratively with the Ecology Toxic Cleanup and Hazardous Waste Programs, providing expertise on water quality permitting and operations support of metals, mining, and milling operations for industrial site closures and mining site remediations, including addressing the effects of long-term stormwater runoff to surface waters and pollution concerns due to infiltration to groundwater.
• Assist with site inspections and perform site visits for industrial and domestic wastewater facilities to ensure compliance with wastewater permits and provide technical assistance to help facilities meet their water quality permits. 

Learn more about what it is like to be an Engineer at the Department of Ecology

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington, AND
• Five (5) years of experience in environmental engineering.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington or another state, based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington, in good standing.

NOTE: Individuals who are licensed as professional engineers in another U.S. jurisdiction or foreign country and wish to apply for this position must qualify for licensure in Washington State by comity. Applicants are responsible for reviewing and ensuring they meet Washington's comity requirements before submitting application materials. Licensing requirements can be found on the Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors website: How To Get Your Professional Engineer License When Licensed in Another Jurisdiction.

Desired Qualifications:

• Environmental engineering experience with land treatment, land application, water reuse facilities and projects for industrial facilities including any or all of the following specialty areas: metals, minerals, milling, mining, cogeneration energy, hydroelectric energy, or pulp and paper mills.
• Environmental engineering experience providing wastewater treatment to protect and preserve state waters from toxics and Chemicals of Emerging Concern.
• Experience mentoring or leading project teams.
• Knowledge of water quality laws, rules, and permitting in the State of Washington.

If you are excited about this role and meet the required qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Desired qualifications reflect additional knowledge, skills, or experience that are nice to have but not required. Studies have shown that some applicants, especially women and people of color, are less likely to apply unless they meet every listed qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging, and we welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and unique perspectives.