Environmental Cleanup Engineer (Environmental Engineer 2 or 3)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring an Environmental Cleanup Engineer (Environmental Engineer 2 or 3)within the Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP).

This is a project position that is funded until June 30, 2027. This funding is highly likely to be renewed for the next bi-annual budget cycle.

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.
• You will need to be in-office 3-4 days per week for the first two weeks during onboarding. Thereafter, you may telework most of your work time with in-person meetings and activities at the Everett Smelter Site up to 2-3 days per week for a few hours, depending on site activities, such as meeting residents, contractors, etc.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by May 28, 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

As the Environmental Cleanup Engineer, you will provide environmental and construction expertise on the cleanup of complex sites, including area-wide sites such as the Everett Smelter Project (ESP). This is a high-priority cleanup site with extensive arsenic and lead contamination on the former Asarco Smelter property. This contamination continues to impact residential properties and parks as well as industrial land. With approximately 100 residential properties currently affected by smelter contamination, you will evaluate appropriate methods of cleanup with your project team. Applying environmental engineering techniques and principles related to contaminated site cleanup, you will review contractor cleanup designs and other engineering submittals, conduct contractor oversight, and propose solutions to complex environmental engineering problems.

In addition, around 14 areas in the lowland area will require cleanup -- methods include soil removal or capping.

This is an opportunity to perform impactful cleanup and project management work as an environmental engineer in direct service of the residents in the Northwest region of Washington.

What you will do:

• Review and provide recommendations on environmental engineering reports, plans, estimates, and specifications for site cleanups with multifaceted engineering impacts to sediments, water, and uplands.
• Plan and oversee design and construction projects at cleanup sites.
• Offer technical advice to staff and policy staff on evaluating engineering alternatives to resolve controversial environmental issues.
• Evaluate and document contractor performance; provide oversight of contract engineering work.
• Assist with review of budget requests and estimates for contractor support needed on cleanup sites.

Learn more about what it is like to be an Engineer at the Department of Ecology

Qualifications

This position offers an in-training plan and may be filled at the Environmental Engineer (EE) 2 or 3 level, depending on your qualifications. If you qualify at the EE2 level and are hired, you will progress through an in-training plan to become an EE3 within a specified time period.

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

At the Environmental Engineer 2 level (In-Training)

Pay Range 62, $6,412 - $8,620 monthly

Six years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in environmental engineering.
• Education involving a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, water resource, civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical 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 above.

At the Environmental Engineer 3 level (Goal Class)

Pay Range 68, $7,436 - $9,998 monthly

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington AND
• Three years of experience in environmental engineering which includes demonstrating:
• Engineering Plan Development or Review: Ability to develop, evaluate, and approve engineering plans, drawings, specifications, and technical documents by applying engineering principles, regulatory requirements, and quality assurance practices in order to ensure that proposed actions are technically sound, feasible, compliant, and defensible.

NOTE: Requirements for professional registration as an engineer in the state of Washington are eight years of professional experience (which may include up to four years of college-level engineering education) and successful completion of sixteen hours of professional licensing exams. 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. 

To qualify at both Environmental Engineer 2 or 3 levels, experience must includethe following:

• Principles and Practices of Environmental Engineering: Ability to apply foundational environmental engineering concepts and standard practices in order to assess conditions, develop solutions, and support actions that meet technical and regulatory expectations.
• Environmental Regulation Knowledge: Knowledge of or experience working in accordance with environmental regulations, such as Model Toxics Control Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Clean Water Act, or similar regulations.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• At the Environmental Engineer 3 level: Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of 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. 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:

• Hazardous Materials Training: Initial 40-hour hazardous materials training followed by annual 8-hour refresher training
• Design Development: Ability to direct the development of designs involving environmental engineering theory and judgment, to ensure technically sound and compliant project outcomes.
• Intergovernmental Collaboration: Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with local, state, and federal officials, to ensure effective coordination and successful project implementation.
• Project Planning and Administration: Ability to plan, promote, and administer projects, for timely delivery, clear priorities, and alignment with program goals.
• Technical Analysis and Reporting: Ability to analyze significant environmental engineering data and write evaluative reports, for accurate decision-making and high-quality regulatory or technical documentation.
• Budget and Contract Management: Experience with budget and contract management, to ensure responsible financial stewardship and effective oversight of contracted work.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills, to support clear information sharing when communicating technical, scientific information to non-technical audiences.

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.

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.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Resume (required)

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Dhroov Shivjiani at Dhroov.Shivjiani@ecy.wa.gov. 
• 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 atcareers@ecy.wa.gov

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 DEIRis 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 Incentives,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.