Industrial Wastewater Permit Manager (Environmental Engineer 2)

State of Washington; Shoreline (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework after probation

Flexible schedule after probation

In-office two days per week

Job summary

Department of Ecology in Washington is seeking an Industrial Wastewater Permit Manager (Environmental Engineer 2) to lead permit development and compliance efforts in the Water Quality Program. The role involves reviews of reports, on-site inspections, and collaboration with agencies to ensure permits meet legal requirements.

You will work under the IWPU Supervisor, develop NPDES and SWD permits, and prepare fact sheets for industrial facilities across the Northwest region.

Qualifications

• Six (6) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, including permit development, regulatory interpretation, engineering review, tools & methods, field inspection & sampling, technical collaboration, and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop wastewater discharge permits and review reports to determine compliance.
• Review water quality data and conduct inspections and write inspection reports.
• Provide technical assistance, investigate complaints, and support enforcement actions.
• Learn to review engineering reports for ISGP and NPDES permits.
• Collaborate with internal staff and external partners to support regulatory decisions.

Skills

Permit Development

Regulatory Interpretation

Engineering Review

Engineering Tools & Methods

Field Inspection & Sampling

Technical Collaboration

Communication & Documentation

Education

Engineering degree (sanitary, water resources, civil, environmental, chemical, mechanical, industrial)

Job description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring an Industrial Wastewater Permit Manager (Environmental Engineer 2) within the Water Quality Program.

Location:

• Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, WA.
• The salary listed includes 5% premium pay due to the position location in King County.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options after successful completion of the probationary period.
• A minimum of two days per week is required in the office after successful completion of the probationary period.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by August 30, 2026
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

As the Industrial Wastewater Permit Manager, you will support Ecology’s mission and represent the Water Quality Program as an Environmental Engineer. Under the supervision of the Industrial Wastewater Permits Unit (IWPU) Supervisor, you will be responsible for developing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, State Waste Discharge (SWD) permits, and accompanying fact sheets for industrial facilities in the Northwest region of Washington state. This work directly supports clean water protections and helps ensure industrial practices are safe, sustainable, and compliant.

In this role, you will review permit reports, conduct facility inspections, provide technical assistance, investigate complaints, conduct compliance reviews, and provide technical support for enforcement recommendations. Under the guidance of a licensed engineer, you will also review engineering reports submitted by the industrial facilities.

You will frequently collaborate with internal staff to offer technical assistance to industrial facilities and to support the development of compliance or enforcement actions. This position provides opportunities to grow your technical expertise, strengthen your engineering judgment, and contribute meaningfully to environmental outcomes across the state.

What you will do:

• Develop wastewater discharge permits.
• Review water quality monitoring data to determine facility compliance.
• Conduct facility inspections, provide technical assistance, and write inspection reports.
• Conduct water quality sampling and analyze monitoring data to evaluate compliance.
• Assist with the development of enforcement actions.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, and clearly explain complex technical issues in plain language.
• Work with the Ecology Communications team to respond to media inquiries.
• Learn to review engineering reports submitted for ISGP and individual NPDES 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

Six (6) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:

• Permit Development– Ability to evaluate permit applications and technical documents to develop accurate and defensible permits.
• Regulatory Interpretation– Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, and policies to ensure permits and compliance actions meet legal requirements.
• Engineering Review – Ability to assess engineering reports, treatment system information, and monitoring data to identify issues and recommend technically sound solutions.
• Engineering Tools & Methods– Ability to use engineering tools, models, and methods to support evaluations of treatment systems, discharge conditions, and environmental impacts.
• Field Inspection & Sampling – Ability to conduct on-site inspections and sampling to verify facility conditions and support compliance determinations.
• Technical Collaboration – Ability to work constructively with facilities, Tribal nations, local governments, and colleagues to resolve technical questions, support compliance efforts, and ensure consistent understanding of engineering and environmental requirements.
• Communication & Documentation – Ability to communicate technical concepts and prepare clear permits, reports, and correspondence to support regulatory decisions and partner understanding.

Education involving a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, water resource, civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical, industrial, agricultural, bioengineering or related field.

Examples of how to qualify

• 6 years of experience.
• 5 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 4 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 3 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 2 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• 2 years of experience AND an Engineer-In-Training Certificate
• 1 year of experience AND a Master’s degree or higher.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license or provide alternate reliable transportation for travel within the state of Washington.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience or training in developing and/or implementing wastewater discharge permits.
• Experience in wastewater and/or stormwater treatment, including reviewing or preparing engineering documents, operation and maintenance manuals, stormwater management manual.
• Experience with Western Washington Hydrology Model (WWHM) or similar models for designing stormwater control facilities.
• Experience or training in water quality sampling and water quality monitoring data analysis.

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.

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Application Process

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Monika Kannadaguli at [e-mail]
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at [e-mail]

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology's work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentive, Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.