Facility Engineer (Environmental Engineer 3)

Washington Department of Natural Resources; Washington; Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Facility Engineer (Environmental Engineer 3) in the Water Quality Program to protect Washington’s water resources. You will review permits, draft NPDES and state wastewater permits, and provide technical assistance to facilities discharging wastewater across eastern Washington.

You will analyze data, write engineering documents, and inspect facilities, ensuring compliance with water quality permits while collaborating with a dedicated team to safeguard

Qualifications

• Data analysis and technical writing skills required.
• Experience writing environmental permits and reviewing plans.
• Ability to communicate complex findings to facilities and staff.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and review environmental plans and monitoring programs for permitted facilities.
• Review engineering documents to ensure water quality protections.
• Assist with site inspections to verify permit compliance and provide technical support.
• Author NPDES and wastewater permits for industrial and municipal facilities.
• Collaborate with a team to ensure continued protection of surface waters and groundwater.

Skills

Data analysis

Technical writing

Permit development

Education

Professional Engineer license (WA or equivalent)

Job description

Description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Facility Engineer (Environmental Engineer 3) within the Water Quality Program.

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 October 21, 2026


• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

Duties

As a Facility Engineer and Permit Writer, you will join a dynamic team dedicated to protecting the surface and groundwater of Washington’s 13 easternmost counties. Experience gained in this position will advance your career in environmental engineering and wastewater regulation. In this role, you will fulfill the Water Quality Program’s mission to provide cool, clean water for future generations through developing waste discharge permits, reviewing engineering, and providing technical assistance to facilities discharging wastewater.

You will utilize your data analysis and technical writing skills to write National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and State Waste Discharge Permits for a wide range of industrial dischargers and municipal wastewater treatment plants. As a Professional Engineer, you will utilize your knowledge and expertise in wastewater treatment to independently review engineering plans, designs, and specifications for municipal wastewater treatment plants and industrial facilities to ensure protection of water quality. You will be a key member of a dedicated team working collaboratively to verify and ensure compliance with water quality permits.

What you will do:

• As a Professional Engineer, negotiate and review environmental plans and monitoring programs associated with permitted industrial and municipal wastewater facilities.


• Apply knowledge and expertise to review engineering documents for industrial and municipal wastewater facilities to ensure continued or increased protection of water quality.


• 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.


• Protect surface waters by authoring National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for a wide range of industrial facilities and municipal wastewater facilities.


• Protect groundwater by authoring National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for a wide range of industrial facilities and municipal wastewater facilities.

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

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience, 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


• Three (3) years of experience in environmental engineering, which includes the following:
  
  
  
  • Permit Development – Ability to develop and review permits to ensure regulatory compliance.