Entry Level Wastewater Engineer Jobs
New grad wastewater engineer jobs are open to recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong internship work or a senior design project can carry more weight than a lengthy resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Consulting & Professional Services, Manufacturing, and Food & Beverage, with employers like Brown and Caldwell, EZ Industrial Equipment, and HRG hiring at this level now.
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Our Richmond office is currently seeking a Mid-Level Engineer / Project Engineer with a capability and familiarity with infrastructure design and condition assessment as it pertains to municipal buried infrastructure for the water-wastewater industry. The successful candidate will be responsible for project engineering and/or managing the design of municipal wastewater and water infrastructure and maintaining and enhancing relationships with existing clients.
Job Summary
The Project Engineer role supports the design and management of civil-specific elements of water/wastewater utility infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with regulations and standards. The role may include conducting site inspections, collecting and verifying data, preparing assessments, completing calculations, initiating the preparation of detailed plans, and collaborating with other professionals to deliver efficient and sustainable solutions. This role has some decision-making authority with a senior, licensed engineer’s oversight.
Responsibilities
- Assist in the planning, design, and creation of civil engineering plans, specifications, and reports.
- Conduct site investigations to identify existing conditions, requirements for demolition, and construction phasing processes.
- Coordinate with Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) subconsultant to identify the following:
- SUE data quality requirements
- Critical crossing locations for design
- Gathering and documenting field results
- Supervise the completion of a desktop review of publicly available data to assess site constraints, utility availability, and environmental impacts.
- Coordination with geotechnical subconsultants to meet project and client requirements for subsurface investigations including the following:
- Number of borings
- Boring locations
- Other geotechnical data as required, such as groundwater monitoring, pump tests, slope stability, seismic risk, or corrosion potentials.
- Coordination with survey subconsultants to meet project and client requirements for the following:
- Extents of survey
- Accuracy of the survey required for design
- Datum and coordinate system
- Data to be collected
- Direct the review of survey data and historic record drawings.
- Identify and confirm compliance with relevant codes, laws, and permits to ensure regulatory adherence in all tasks performed.
- Supervise the preparation and review of existing conditions base mapping.
- Preparation of horizontal and vertical alignments.
- Design temporary erosion and sediment control as well as construction phasing, staging, and access points.
- Complete hydrology and hydraulic calculations for stormwater management design.
- Participate in the development of the following design elements:
- Site planning
- Paving and grading
- Stormwater management
- Yard piping and utilities
- Coordinate with CAD to prepare the following design documentation:
- Construction phasing, staging, and access plans
- Temporary erosion and sediment control plans
- Support the creation of the following design documentation:
- Demolition Plans
- Site, paving, grading, and drainage plans
- Yard piping and utility plans
- Permanent erosion and sediment control plans
- Stormwater management calculations and reporting
- Parking and vehicle access calculations
- Creation and draft of the following specifications:
- Temporary erosion and sediment control
- Existing conditions
- Demolition
- Earthwork
- Exterior improvements
- Utilities
- Assist with construction phase services, including the following:
- Request for Information (RFI) responses
- Submittal reviews
- Change order directives
- Collect vendor data meeting the project requirements.
- Support generating cost estimations to include the following:
- Preparing quantity take-offs
- Collection of vendor data, cutsheets, and quotes
- Flexibility to adapt and execute various additional assignments based on evolving needs.
Mentorship
- May provide mentorship, guidance, support, and knowledge-sharing to help less experienced team members develop their skills and grow within their roles.
Skills and Competencies
- Familiarity with project schedules for design and construction.
- Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks.
- Ability to communicate with coworkers efficiently.
- Proficient in civil engineering design and planning principles.
- Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance for civil engineering projects.
- Able to perform site planning, stormwater management design, and related calculations.
- Proficient in earthwork, exterior improvements, and utility specifications.
Experience
- Typically, a minimum of 2 years of work experience in civil engineering or related field.
- Has passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam required for Engineer-in-Training registration.
- Typically certified in BC’s Subject Matter Specialist (SMS) Framework, and progressing through the SMS competencies.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Experience in the study, design, and construction administration of municipal water-wastewater facilities
- Demonstrated strong project management skills
Education
- A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field, or equivalent experience is required.
Preferred Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Civil, Environmental or Mechanical Engineering
- Professional Engineer (PE) Certification or ability to get your PE license within 6 months
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification as defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI)
Salary Range: The anticipated starting pay range for this position is based on the employee’s primary work location and may be more or less depending upon skills, experience, and education. These ranges may be modified in the future.
Location A: $78,000 - $106,000
Location B: $85,000 - $116,000
Location C: $93,000 - $127,000
You can view which BC location applies to you here. (http://bit.ly/3uQe7gi) If you have any questions, please speak with your Recruiter.
Benefits and Other Compensation: We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee health, performance, and success which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off and parental leave, paid holidays, 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match, performance-based bonus eligibility, employee referral bonuses, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance and long-term care insurance. Click here (https://brownandcaldwell.com/careers/benefits/) to see our full list of benefits.
About Brown and Caldwell
Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Brown and Caldwell is a full-service environmental engineering and construction services firm with 50 offices and over 2,100 professionals across North America and the Pacific. For more than 75 years, we have created leading-edge environmental solutions for municipalities, private industry, and government agencies. We strive to be the company of choice—to our clients, who benefit from our passion for delivering exceptional quality, and to our employees, present and future, who share our commitment to client service, collaboration, and innovation. Join us, and you will find a home where you can do your best work, reach new levels of expertise, and enjoy exceptional development opportunities. For more information, visit www.brownandcaldwell.com (http://www.brownandcaldwell.com)
This position is subject to a pre-employment background check and a pre-employment drug test.
Notice to Third Party Agencies: Brown and Caldwell does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and approved engagement request with Brown and Caldwell, Brown and Caldwell reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.
Brown and Caldwell is proud to be an EEO/AAP Employer. Brown and Caldwell encourages protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, and applicants from all backgrounds to apply. Brown and Caldwell ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
#LI-Hybrid
#LI-Remote
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
Our Richmond office is currently seeking a Mid-Level Engineer / Project Engineer with a capability and familiarity with infrastructure design and condition assessment as it pertains to municipal buried infrastructure for the water-wastewater industry. The successful candidate will be responsible for project engineering and/or managing the design of municipal wastewater and water infrastructure and maintaining and enhancing relationships with existing clients.
Job Summary
The Project Engineer role supports the design and management of civil-specific elements of water/wastewater utility infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with regulations and standards. The role may include conducting site inspections, collecting and verifying data, preparing assessments, completing calculations, initiating the preparation of detailed plans, and collaborating with other professionals to deliver efficient and sustainable solutions. This role has some decision-making authority with a senior, licensed engineer’s oversight.
Responsibilities
- Assist in the planning, design, and creation of civil engineering plans, specifications, and reports.
- Conduct site investigations to identify existing conditions, requirements for demolition, and construction phasing processes.
- Coordinate with Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) subconsultant to identify the following:
- SUE data quality requirements
- Critical crossing locations for design
- Gathering and documenting field results
- Supervise the completion of a desktop review of publicly available data to assess site constraints, utility availability, and environmental impacts.
- Coordination with geotechnical subconsultants to meet project and client requirements for subsurface investigations including the following:
- Number of borings
- Boring locations
- Other geotechnical data as required, such as groundwater monitoring, pump tests, slope stability, seismic risk, or corrosion potentials.
- Coordination with survey subconsultants to meet project and client requirements for the following:
- Extents of survey
- Accuracy of the survey required for design
- Datum and coordinate system
- Data to be collected
- Direct the review of survey data and historic record drawings.
- Identify and confirm compliance with relevant codes, laws, and permits to ensure regulatory adherence in all tasks performed.
- Supervise the preparation and review of existing conditions base mapping.
- Preparation of horizontal and vertical alignments.
- Design temporary erosion and sediment control as well as construction phasing, staging, and access points.
- Complete hydrology and hydraulic calculations for stormwater management design.
- Participate in the development of the following design elements:
- Site planning
- Paving and grading
- Stormwater management
- Yard piping and utilities
- Coordinate with CAD to prepare the following design documentation:
- Construction phasing, staging, and access plans
- Temporary erosion and sediment control plans
- Support the creation of the following design documentation:
- Demolition Plans
- Site, paving, grading, and drainage plans
- Yard piping and utility plans
- Permanent erosion and sediment control plans
- Stormwater management calculations and reporting
- Parking and vehicle access calculations
- Creation and draft of the following specifications:
- Temporary erosion and sediment control
- Existing conditions
- Demolition
- Earthwork
- Exterior improvements
- Utilities
- Assist with construction phase services, including the following:
- Request for Information (RFI) responses
- Submittal reviews
- Change order directives
- Collect vendor data meeting the project requirements.
- Support generating cost estimations to include the following:
- Preparing quantity take-offs
- Collection of vendor data, cutsheets, and quotes
- Flexibility to adapt and execute various additional assignments based on evolving needs.
Mentorship
- May provide mentorship, guidance, support, and knowledge-sharing to help less experienced team members develop their skills and grow within their roles.
Skills and Competencies
- Familiarity with project schedules for design and construction.
- Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks.
- Ability to communicate with coworkers efficiently.
- Proficient in civil engineering design and planning principles.
- Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance for civil engineering projects.
- Able to perform site planning, stormwater management design, and related calculations.
- Proficient in earthwork, exterior improvements, and utility specifications.
Experience
- Typically, a minimum of 2 years of work experience in civil engineering or related field.
- Has passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam required for Engineer-in-Training registration.
- Typically certified in BC’s Subject Matter Specialist (SMS) Framework, and progressing through the SMS competencies.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Experience in the study, design, and construction administration of municipal water-wastewater facilities
- Demonstrated strong project management skills
Education
- A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field, or equivalent experience is required.
Preferred Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Civil, Environmental or Mechanical Engineering
- Professional Engineer (PE) Certification or ability to get your PE license within 6 months
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification as defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI)
Salary Range: The anticipated starting pay range for this position is based on the employee’s primary work location and may be more or less depending upon skills, experience, and education. These ranges may be modified in the future.
Location A: $78,000 - $106,000
Location B: $85,000 - $116,000
Location C: $93,000 - $127,000
You can view which BC location applies to you here. (http://bit.ly/3uQe7gi) If you have any questions, please speak with your Recruiter.
Benefits and Other Compensation: We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee health, performance, and success which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off and parental leave, paid holidays, 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match, performance-based bonus eligibility, employee referral bonuses, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance and long-term care insurance. Click here (https://brownandcaldwell.com/careers/benefits/) to see our full list of benefits.
About Brown and Caldwell
Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Brown and Caldwell is a full-service environmental engineering and construction services firm with 50 offices and over 2,100 professionals across North America and the Pacific. For more than 75 years, we have created leading-edge environmental solutions for municipalities, private industry, and government agencies. We strive to be the company of choice—to our clients, who benefit from our passion for delivering exceptional quality, and to our employees, present and future, who share our commitment to client service, collaboration, and innovation. Join us, and you will find a home where you can do your best work, reach new levels of expertise, and enjoy exceptional development opportunities. For more information, visit www.brownandcaldwell.com (http://www.brownandcaldwell.com)
This position is subject to a pre-employment background check and a pre-employment drug test.
Notice to Third Party Agencies: Brown and Caldwell does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and approved engagement request with Brown and Caldwell, Brown and Caldwell reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.
Brown and Caldwell is proud to be an EEO/AAP Employer. Brown and Caldwell encourages protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, and applicants from all backgrounds to apply. Brown and Caldwell ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
#LI-Hybrid
#LI-Remote
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
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- Consulting & Professional Services
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- Food & Beverage
Entry Level Wastewater Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level wastewater engineer job?
Start by targeting roles that explicitly list zero to two years of experience or welcome new graduates. Internship experience, a senior capstone project involving water or environmental systems, and familiarity with tools like AutoCAD or EPA modeling software give candidates a real edge at this stage. An EIT certification also signals readiness to employers who want someone who can grow into a licensed PE role.
Which companies hire entry level wastewater engineers?
Companies hiring entry level wastewater engineers right now include Brown and Caldwell, EZ Industrial Equipment, and HRG, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this level, municipal utilities, environmental consulting firms, and civil engineering contractors tend to be the most active, since they build long-term teams by developing junior engineers from early in their careers.
Are there remote entry level wastewater engineer jobs?
Yes, though most roles in this field involve hands-on fieldwork or site visits that require a physical presence. About 0% of entry level wastewater engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to lean toward design, permitting review, or report-writing duties rather than operations or construction inspection work.
Are these new grad wastewater engineer jobs?
Yes, this page includes new grad, recent graduate, and junior wastewater engineer roles alongside other entry level positions. A posting is typically new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, counts internships or co-ops toward that requirement, or accepts a strong academic portfolio in lieu of full-time work history. Look for language like "entry level," "junior," or "recent graduates encouraged to apply."
Which industries hire the most entry level wastewater engineers?
Entry Level wastewater engineer roles concentrate in Consulting & Professional Services, Manufacturing, and Food & Beverage, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at the entry level because they face ongoing regulatory requirements around water quality and infrastructure investment, creating steady demand for junior engineers who can support project delivery and compliance work.