Sr. Water Quality Engineer
Listed on 2026-07-24
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Engineering
Water Engineer, Water Management, Environmental Engineer, Wastewater Treatment
Senior Water Quality Engineer
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is seeking a Senior Water Quality Engineer to help protect and enhance one of the region's most essential resources: clean, reliable drinking water for more than a million people. In this role, you'll be SPU's technical leader on its most complex and high-impact water quality and treatment challenges—work that directly safeguards public health and strengthens trust in Seattle's drinking water.
You'll drive treatment strategy, system performance improvements, and data-informed decision-making across the entire drinking water system. Working closely with operators, engineers, planners, and project teams, you'll bring expert insight to daily operations, major capital initiatives, and emergency response.
Reporting to the Water Quality Engineering Supervisor, this position offers the chance to shape citywide outcomes, solve critical water quality issues, and help ensure Seattle's drinking water remains among the best in the nation.
About Seattle Public Utilities:
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. SPU also provides drinking water for 1.5 million customers in the region. SPU's work includes system maintenance and improvements and keeping Seattle clean. Over 1,500 SPU employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations.
SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring and promotional opportunities.
We know work isn't only about what you do it's also about who you work for and with! SPU provides a fun and family-friendly work environment that supports a work life balance, including:
- Family-friendly and multicultural work environment
- Generous benefits package
- Free Orca Pass
- City pension plan with employer/employee contributions
- Growth potential and advancement opportunities
Job Responsibilities:
- Drinking Water Treatment Engineering: Plans, designs, and supports operations for water treatment and related systems. Troubleshoots and optimizes processes, prepares asset and operational plans, and manages projects and consultant/contractor work.
- Water Quality Coordination: Works closely with SPU staff to assess and manage drinking water quality issues. Oversees contract operations at the Cedar Treatment Facility. Provides expert support for planning and rapid response to water quality emergencies.
- System-wide Water Quality Management: Acts as a subject-matter expert across the source-to-distribution systems. Interprets water quality data, develops and implements plans, advises staff and leadership, and ensures public health protection, regulatory compliance, and customer confidence.
- Regulatory Compliance & Reporting: Interprets and applies drinking water regulations, evaluates water quality data, and develops required compliance plans and reports.
- Project Support & Standards: Guides capital and major maintenance projects with drinking water quality expertise. Manages water quality and treatment initiatives. Oversees sanitary practices and sets technical standards for staff and contractors.
- Communication: Explains complex water quality, treatment, and regulatory information clearly to staff, leadership, wholesale customers, and the public during both routine operations and critical events.
- Work Expectations: Operates independently and collaboratively within a small engineering team. Engages with groups throughout the utility. Leads technical efforts, anticipates needs, drives solutions, and upholds water quality standards while navigating operational constraints.
Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor's degree in civil or sanitary engineering or related field (Other combinations of education, training and experience will be…
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