Sr. Engineering Associate – Chemical/Environmental Specialty

City of Portland; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) seeks a Sr. Engineering Associate – Chemical/Environmental Specialty to support treatment plants and pump stations.

You will deliver process and automation SME support for capital projects and ongoing O&M needs, with focus on design reviews, in-house commissioning, and documentation. An ideal candidate will collaborate across engineering, operations, and maintenance teams, with strong written and visual communication to translate

Qualifications

• Knowledge of chemical or environmental engineering principles related to potable water or wastewater treatment systems.
• Knowledge of water and wastewater distribution and treatment systems.
• Familiarity with Federal, state and local environmental regulations.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate effectiveness and options of treatment processes; implement changes.
• Prepare and review reports analyzing wastewater pumping and treatment data.
• Design and review plans for chemical or physical processes in wastewater treatment.
• Create documentation and conduct training on process and automation topics.
• Develop KPIs and dashboards to track system performance.
• Coordinate commissioning activities for PLC and SCADA programming and testing.

Skills

Chemical engineering

Environmental engineering

Project management

Communication

Stakeholder collaboration

Analytical thinking

Education

BS in chemical or environmental engineering

Engineer-In-Training (FE) certification

Job description

Job Appointment: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8 am-5:00 pm.

Work location: 5001 N COLUMBIA BLVD, PORTLAND OR 97203

Benefits: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefits for this position.

Union Representation: PROTEC17

To view current labor agreements, please visit.

Are you a results-driven individual with an interest in doing meaningful work that has a real impact on the community?

The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is seeking a Sr. Engineering Associate – Chemical/Environmental Specialty to work in the Treatment and Pumping System Division of their Engineering Services Group. This position will provide process and automation subject matter expert (SME) support for capital project delivery and on-going Operations & Maintenance Group (O&MG) needs for the Bureau's treatment plant and pump station assets. Capital project work will focus on improving project integration and handoff. This includes design milestone reviews and in-house commissioning (including control narrative development, operational readiness testing, process training and improved documentation) during construction. O&MG support includes coordinating with operations and maintenance trades to support and document efforts towards permit compliance, KPIs, trials and innovation at the City’s treatment plants and pump stations.

What you’ll get to do:

• Evaluate effectiveness and options of treatment processes for pumping and wastewater treatment plants and processes; make recommendations for and implement change or improvements.


• Prepare and review reports that analyze and interpret wastewater pumping and treatment process and automation data.


• Design and review plans for chemical or physical processes to be used in wastewater treatment.


• Create documentation and conduct training for process and automation topics.


• Develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and work on Dashboarding and analytical tools to track system performance.


• Coordinate commissioning activities for programmable logic controller (PLC) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) programming, demonstration testing, and process troubleshooting.

An ideal candidate will demonstrate through direct or transferrable experience: A proactive, self-motivated approach to operational efficiency, combined with a strong sense of ownership that ensures initiatives are executed through final implementation. As a collaborative and conscientious peer, the ideal candidate will partner effectively across engineering, operations, and maintenance teams. Finally, they will back these core strengths with exceptional written and visual communication skills, that translate complex technical information into clear, accessible visual tools for everyone.

About the Bureau of Environmental Services

This is an exciting time to join the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES). Together we are re‑imagining the work we do to ensure it aligns with Our Values:

• We implement equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery.


• We value our customers and partners.


• We carefully manage our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources.


• We encourage leadership among our employees in our City and community.


• We support a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce.


• We urge respectful communication and transparency.


• We advance innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

At BES, we value our customers and partners; Portlanders’ sense of connection to their waterways; conscientious stewardship of our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources; a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce; leadership among our employees and in our City and community; equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery; clear communication and transparency; innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

BES is seeking talented individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio‑economic backgrounds with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities; and that desire to work collaboratively and creatively to broaden the variety of innovative ways to partner with and serve all Portland communities.

To learn more about the work we do at BES: About Environmental Services | Portland.gov

Our BES 10‑Year Strategic Plan can be found here: download (portland.gov)

Applicants should specifically address and demonstrate in their cover letter and résumé how their education, training, and/or experience meet each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Knowledge of Chemical and/or environmental engineering principles, practices and fundamentals that relate to potable water or wastewater treatment systems.


2. Knowledge of water and wastewater distribution and treatment systems.


3. Knowledge of Federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental programs, wastewater treatment systems and/or drinking water systems.


4. Ability to plan and manage large or multiple construction, design, research or other engineering related projects.


5. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diversity of others.

Additional Requirements

• A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from a four‑year college or university with a degree in chemical or environmental engineering; and two years of responsible engineering experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.


• Experience in mechanical or electrical engineering may be preferred for some assignments.


• An Engineer‑In‑Training Certification, i.e., passed the State Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination at time of appointment.


• A valid state driver’s license may be required for certain assignments.

Apply online between September 28, 2026, and October 19, 2026.

BOLI: Equal Pay for Workers: State of Oregon Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics.

An Equal Opportunity Employer