Senior Industrial Permits Engineer and Stormwater Technical Expert (Environmental Engineer 5)

Washington Department of Natural Resources; Lacey (WA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Washington Department of Natural Resources in Lacey, WA is seeking a Senior Industrial Permits Engineer to manage environmental permits and provide technical support for industrial water quality compliance. This role involves writing and managing permits, conducting inspections, and mentoring junior engineers.

The ideal candidate will be a registered Professional Engineer with at least five years of experience in environmental engineering, particularly in stormwater management. The position offers a flexible schedule including telework options and requires living within commutable distance.

Qualifications

• Registered as a Professional Engineer in Washington state.
• Five years of experience in environmental engineering.

Responsibilities

• Write and manage NPDES and State Waste Discharge Permits for industrial facilities.
• Conduct inspections at large industrial facilities.
• Provide engineering/technical assistance to permittees.
• Monitor and assess compliance with permit requirements.

Skills

Environmental engineering

Stormwater modeling

Permit writing

Technical assistance

Inspection

Education

Professional Engineer registration

5 years of experience in environmental engineering

Job description

Description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Senior Industrial Permits Engineer and Stormwater Technical Expert (Environmental Engineer 5) within the Water Quality Program.

Location:

• Southwest Region Office in Lacey, 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.
• A minimum of one day per pay period is required in the office.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by May 27, 2026
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after the date above may not be considered.

Duties

Our 11‑person industrial operations unit is a dedicated team protecting water quality and we are seeking a senior environmental engineer/permit writer who will write and manage water quality permits for industrial facilities within our southwest region. In this position, you will serve as an expert in stormwater modeling, and stormwater conveyance and treatment and will be providing engineering technical assistance support, and engineering document reviews related to managing stormwater discharges from industrial facilities to comply with State Surface Water Quality Standards (WAC 173-201A) and Groundwater Quality Standards (WAC 173-200). You will be conducting inspections and assessing compliance for industrial facilities.

In this role, you will be working with a variety of industrial facility types, processes, and treatment technologies, learning about evolving industry practices, and developing engineering skills.

What you will do:

• Write and manage National Pollution Elimination System (NPDES) and State Waste Discharge Permits for industrial facilities.
• Conduct inspections at large, heavily industrial facilities.
• Provide engineering/technical assistance to permittees.
• Respond to questions and concerns from interested parties.
• Provide engineering/technical assistance to other Water Quality Program staff.
• Monitor and assess compliance with permit requirements and water quality standards.
• Lead the Section in stormwater modeling and stormwater conveyance and treatment for industrial facilities.
• Provide mentorship to younger engineers within our unit.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington.
• 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 the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington.

NOTE: Individuals who are licensed as professional engineers in another U.S. jurisdiction or foreign country and wish to apply for this position must qualify for licensure in Washington State by comity. Applicants are responsible for reviewing and ensuring they meet Washington's comity requirements before submitting application materials.

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience in stormwater NPDES regulatory requirements, treatment system design, stormwater hydrology, and mixing zone dilution modeling.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and implement state and federal water pollution laws and regulations, permit programs, and policies.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate through writing, speaking, and listening.

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.