WA Dept of Ecology – Facility Engineer (Environmental Engineer 3) – Water Quality Program

Regional Associations; Spokane (WA); Hybrid; USD 87,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Washington State Department of Ecology is seeking a Facility Engineer (Environmental Engineer 3) for the Water Quality Program in Spokane, WA. The role focuses on developing and reviewing permits and ensuring compliance to protect surface and groundwater across Washington's eastern counties.

The Professional Engineer license in WA (or equivalent) and at least 3 years of environmental engineering experience are required, with strong writing, data analysis, and regulatory interpretation skills.

Qualifications

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington (WA) or equivalent.
• Three (3) years of experience in environmental engineering, including permit development and regulatory interpretation.
• Experience reviewing engineering plans, analyzing data, and applying modeling tools.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and review environmental plans and monitoring programs for permitted facilities.
• Review engineering documents to ensure compliance with design and performance standards.
• Assist with site inspections and provide technical assistance for wastewater permits.

Skills

Permit Development

Engineering Review

Regulatory Interpretation

Data & Modeling Analysis

Technical Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Professional Engineer license (WA)

Job description

Salary: $86,688.00 – $116,544.00 Annually

Location: Spokane County – Spokane, WA

Job Type: Full Time – Permanent

Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number: 2026-WQ0738-08272

Department: Dept. of Ecology

Division: Water Quality

Opening Date: 10/05/2026

Closing Date: Continuous

Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

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.
• Engineering Review – Ability to evaluate engineering plans and reports to ensure systems meet required design and performance standards.
• Regulatory Interpretation – Ability to interpret laws and technical guidance to ensure sound and defensible permit and engineering decisions.
• Data and Modeling Analysis – Ability to analyze data and apply modeling tools to determine impacts and establish appropriate permit conditions.
• Technical Communication – Ability to communicate engineering and regulatory information clearly to support understanding and compliance.
• Problem Solving and Judgment – Ability to identify technical issues and apply sound engineering judgment to make accurate, defensible decisions

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.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington, in good standing. Applicants qualifying through the licensing equivalency option must achieve professional registration as an engineer in the state of Washington within six months of appointment to this class.

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. Licensing requirements can be found on the Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors website: How to Get Your Professional Engineer License When Licensed in Another Jurisdiction.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in municipal or industrial wastewater treatment plant design, construction, or operations.
• Experience applying negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience communicating complex technical issues to the public.

If you are excited about this role and meet the required qualifications, we encourage you to apply. 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.

Supplemental Information

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.

Our Commitment to DEIR

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.

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.

Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.

Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.

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.

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. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Greg Dobb 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.

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 Incentives, Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth

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.

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Employer: State of Washington

View Job Posting for Agency Information View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504

Website http://www.careers.wa.gov