Senior Industrial Wastewater Engineer; Environmental Engineer

Job Summary

Salary: $98,064.00 - $ annually (includes 2% general salary increase effective July 1, 2026).
Location: Spokane County, Spokane, WA.
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent.
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid.
Job Number: 2026-WQ.
Department: Dept. of Ecology.
Division: Water Quality.
Opening Date: 06/15/2026.
Closing Date: Continuous.

Eastern Region Office in Spokane, WA. You must reside within a commutable distance from the duty station. Eligible for telework and flexible schedule. First 30 days required full‑time in office; thereafter at least one day per week in the office, subject to change.

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

As the Senior Industrial Wastewater Engineer, you will join a dynamic team dedicated to protecting the surface and groundwater of Washington’s 13 easternmost counties.

• 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.
• Review engineering plans, designs, and specifications for industrial facilities to ensure water quality protection.
• Provide engineering review, cross‑program collaboration, consultation, and permitting support for active sites, site closures, and site remediations.
• Offer technical assistance to a team addressing Contaminants of Emerging Concerns (CEC) in wastewater.

• 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.
• 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.

Required Qualifications:

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in Washington or an equivalent jurisdiction and in good standing.
• 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 Washington or an equivalent jurisdiction in good standing.

Desired

Qualifications:

• Experience with land treatment, land application, water reuse facilities, and projects for industrial facilities including specialties such as metals, minerals, milling, mining, cogeneration energy, hydroelectric energy, or pulp and paper mills.
• 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 Washington state water quality laws, rules, and permitting.

E-Verify is not used by Ecology; applicants are not eligible for STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT).

The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal‑opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.

This position is covered by a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). The recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency for up to sixty (60) days.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents.
• Retirement benefits through the Washington Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) and deferred compensation programs.
• Paid holidays and personal holidays; sick leave accruals for full‑time and part‑time employees.
• Paid vacation (annual leave) accrual, with pro‑rata for part‑time.
• Military leave, bereavement leave, and additional leave types as provided by collective bargaining agreements.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility for qualified employees.

Click “Apply” at the top of the page. Attach a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, and a resume.