Sr. Water Quality Engineer

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is seeking a Senior Water Quality Engineer to help protect and enhance one of the region’s most essential resources: clean, reliable drinking water for more than a million people. In this role, you’ll be SPU’s technical leader on its most complex and high-impact water quality and treatment challenges—work that directly safeguards public health and strengthens trust in Seattle’s drinking water. You’ll drive treatment strategy, system performance improvements, and data-informed decision-making across the entire drinking water system.

About Seattle Public Utilities

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. SPU also provides drinking water for 1.5 million customers in the region. SPU’s work includes system maintenance and improvements and keeping Seattle clean. Over 1,500 SPU employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations.

SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all.

About

We know work isn't only about what you do—it’s also about who you work for and with! SPU provides a fun and family-friendly work environment that supports work-life balance.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for drinking water quality and water treatment planning, design, and engineering functions to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and accepted water quality engineering and operational practices.
• Drinking Water Treatment Engineering: Plans, designs, and supports operations for water treatment and related systems. Troubleshoots and optimizes processes, prepares asset and operational plans, and manages projects and consultant/contractor work.
• Water Quality Coordination: Works closely with SPU staff to assess and manage drinking water quality issues. Oversees contract operations at the Cedar Treatment Facility. Provides expert support for planning and rapid response to water quality emergencies.
• System-wide Water Quality Management: Acts as a subject-matter expert across the source-to-distribution systems. Interprets water quality data, develops and implements plans, advises staff and leadership, and ensures public health protection, regulatory compliance, and customer confidence.
• Regulatory Compliance & Reporting: Interprets and applies drinking water regulations, evaluates water quality data, and develops required compliance plans and reports.
• Project Support & Standards: Guides capital and major maintenance projects with drinking water quality expertise. Manages water quality and treatment initiatives. Oversees sanitary practices and sets technical standards for staff and contractors.
• Communication: Explains complex water quality, treatment, and regulatory information clearly to staff, leadership, wholesale customers, and the public during both routine operations and critical events.
• Work Expectations: Operates independently and collaboratively within a small engineering team. Engages with groups throughout the utility. Leads technical efforts, anticipates needs, drives solutions, and upholds water quality standards while navigating operational constraints.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in civil or sanitary engineering or related field (other combinations of education, training, and experience will be evaluated on an individual basis for comparability).
• Experience: Five (5) years of engineering project management, water treatment, and water quality management or related experience in sanitary engineering.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in water chemistry, laboratory analysis, limnology, process engineering, and physical, chemical, & biological water treatment processes.
• Knowledge and experience with large surface water treatment facilities and processes such as filtration, ozone, and UV.
• Demonstrated engineering design experience for water treatment systems.
• Strong working knowledge of drinking water regulations, health risk concepts, water quality protection, and engineering hydraulics.
• Proven ability to lead teams, make sound technical decisions, and manage consultant and contractor work.
• Ability to work effectively within SPU’s values and expectations, and to collaborate in a multicultural workforce serving diverse communities.

Skills

• Certification as a Professional Engineer by the State of Washington or current eligibility to be licensed in the State of Washington by comity is required.
• Current Washington State driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

Most work is performed in a normal City work/office environment on a hybrid work schedule. Field assignments entail exposure to all types of weather, traffic, hazardous/toxic substances, and work in or near industrial facilities and construction sites.

Schedule

This position allows for the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. City employees will have the option to work remotely two days a week. Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor.

Pay

The full salary range for this position is: $68.52 - $79.78 per hour.

Benefits

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Vacation, holiday, and sick leave
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents
• Family-friendly and multicultural work environment
• Generous benefits package
• Free Orca Pass
• City pension plan with employer/employee contributions
• Growth potential and advancement opportunities