Lead Waste Treatment Plant Construction Engineer (

WA State Department of Ecology

US-WA-Richland

Job No: 46454

Posted: Oct 23

Please apply here: Ecology Job Opportunities | Careers at Ecology

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Lead Waste Treatment Plant Construction Engineer (Environmental Engineer 5) within the Nuclear Waste Program.

Location:

• Richland Field Office in Richland, 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.
• You will typically spend 4 to 5 days per week in the field conducting regulatory oversight of the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant and other related facilities.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by November 2, 2025
• 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 Lead Waste Treatment Plant Construction Engineer, you will serve as the department’s lead engineer at the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Disposal Facilities during construction, overseeing the resolution of technical issues across the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) and other treatment facilities under development. You will represent the Nuclear Waste Program to external organizations on technical matters related to construction under dangerous waste permits. Additionally, you will be responsible for planning and conducting investigations and developing solutions for complex environmental engineering challenges, applying advanced environmental engineering techniques across the WTP and other treatment facilities.

What you will do:

• Perform senior-level review of facility engineers’ inspection reports to ensure accuracy and consistent decision-making across all facilities. 
• Conduct audits of Bechtel National, Inc’s (BNI) procedures in support of United States Department of Energy (USDOE) requirements; review BNI’s quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program and Caliber’s audit of BNI’s QA/QC program to ensure procedure compliance; and identify and perform additional Ecology audits as needed, including similar oversight of Integrated Disposal Facility (IDF) processes. 
• Review documentation required for the certification of the WTP and other facilities, ensuring compliance with permit requirements. 
• Obtain and review USDOE processes and procedures for documenting final certification of the WTP and other facilities under construction, evaluating their adequacy and appropriateness; identify deficiencies and work together with the permittee to achieve voluntary compliance. Perform similar functions for IDF processes. 
• In collaboration with other engineers, ensure construction drawings and specifications align with permit design drawings. 
• Track Independent Qualified Registered Professional Engineer (IQRPE) hold points and inspection schedules, communicating updates to the WTP team. 
• Identify and document inspection opportunities across the facilities. 
• Coordinate WTP construction engineers’ activities to ensure work is performed consistently and high technical standards are maintained. 
• Conduct and supervise field inspections and site visits of the WTP facility. In coordination with the facility permit writer and engineer, follow the Nuclear Waste Program and WTP Construction Oversite Program procedures to perform weekly inspections, prepare inspections reports, obtain permit writer review, and post reports.
• Maintain on-site presence at the WTP, reviewing bi-weekly IQRPE reports and engaging daily with USDOE inspectors to understand and monitor construction activities, ensure state interests are addressed, and provide feedback to Ecology facility engineers for inspection planning.

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

• Five (5) years of experience in environmental engineering.

Note: Requirements for registration as a Professional 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 registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington within six months of appointment to this class.

Individuals who are interested in applying to this position, and believe they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington based on reciprocity, are responsible for ensuring they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington prior to submitting their application materials.  These requirements can be found at the following website: WA State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors: How To Get Your Professional Engineer License When Licensed in Another Jurisdiction

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Must meet U.S. Department of Energy requirements to acquire and maintain a badge for access to the Hanford Site and Waste Treatment Plant Brown Badge.
• Complete initial 40-hour HAZWOPER training within six months of appointment and annual 8-hour refreshers.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in design, construction, and/or operation of systems supporting waste treatment systems, including corrosion phenomena (including chemistry and potential impacts on waste systems); physical and biological sciences as related to environmental engineering; principles and practices of environmental engineering; and laws and regulations governing waste systems, tanks, and environmental issues (e.g., WAC 173-303-640, others).

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

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.

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

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 Suzanne Dahl at Suzanne.Dahl@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 at careers@ecy.wa.gov

About the Nuclear Waste Program

The mission of the Nuclear Waste Program (NWP) is to ensure sound management of nuclear waste statewide and to promote the sound management and protection of the environment at, and adjacent to, the United States Department of Energy’s Hanford Site. This position is in NWP’s Tank Waste Treatment Section.

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 (Download PDF reader), 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.

Please apply here: Ecology Job Opportunities | Careers at Ecology