Principal Water​/Wastewater Engineer

Principal Engineer - Water/Wastewater (Office Manager)

Location:

Puget Sound, WA

WAA well-established, employee-focused civil engineering firm with a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest is looking to bring on a senior‑level engineer to help grow operations in the Seattle Area. This could be based anywhere in the greater Seattle, Tacoma, or Olympia area. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced professional who is interested in building something meaningful. The role will involve leading projects, developing client relationships, and gradually assembling and mentoring a local team.

There is also a pathway toward being a partner and real ownership.

• Play a key role in establishing and growing a new regional office
• Help build out a high‑performing engineering team
• Develop and strengthen client relationships while identifying new business opportunities
• Manage and deliver water and wastewater projects, including planning, design, and construction support
• Work across a range of project types such as treatment facilities, pump stations, collection and distribution systems, modeling efforts, and planning reports
• Oversee preparation of technical deliverables including reports, plans, specifications, and cost estimates
• Act as a primary point of contact for clients and project stakeholders

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental, or related engineering discipline
• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license in Washington State (or ability to obtain)
• Roughly 10+ years of experience in water and/or wastewater engineering
• Strong project management background with experience leading multidisciplinary efforts
• Experience maintaining client relationship development and doing business development
• Experience across planning, permitting, funding coordination, and design for municipal infrastructure
• Interest in taking on a leadership role with a growth‑oriented mindset

• Chance to build and lead a new office with backing from an established firm
• Clear path toward ownership and long‑term leadership
• Exposure to a diverse mix of municipal and regional infrastructure projects
• Collaborative, team-oriented culture that values professional growth
• Involvement across the full project lifecycle, from planning through construction
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and performance incentives
• Strong emphasis on community involvement and giving back locally