Wastewater Treatment Engineer Jobs in California

Wastewater Treatment Engineer jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, concentrated in municipal utilities, water districts, and environmental consulting firms, with openings at every level from entry-level process engineer through senior project engineer and principal. The heaviest hiring is in the Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco Bay Area metros, where large employers like AECOM, Black & Veatch, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power maintain sustained operations. The most in-demand specialties include nutrient removal process design, recycled water facility engineering, and regulatory compliance under California's Title 22 water reuse standards. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles14
Top employerKennedy/Jenks Consultants
Top cityVista, CA
Cities hiring13
Work type75% Hybrid
Top industryConsulting

Showing 5 of 14+ Wastewater Treatment Engineer jobs

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator II
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Added 3d ago
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator II
Veolia
Burlingame, California
Compliance & Risk
Health & Safety
Project Management
$43 - $50/hr
Wastewater Certification
10,000+

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Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Superintendent
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Added 1w ago
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Superintendent
Dublin San Ramon Services District
Pleasanton, California
Logistics & Fleet Management
Project Management
$16k - $20k/yr
Wastewater Certification
51-200

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Chief Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
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Added 3w ago
Chief Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
County of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California
Business Operations
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Project Management
Sales
$104k.8 - $139k.59/yr
Wastewater Certification

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Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator (2nd Shift 2pm - 10:30pm)
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Added 1mo ago
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator (2nd Shift 2pm - 10:30pm)
CAPTEK Softgel International
Vista, California
Factory & Production Work
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Control
$36 - $42/hr
On-Site
Wastewater Certification
51-200

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Wastewater Treatment Operator
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Added 1mo ago
Wastewater Treatment Operator
TDK Headway Technologies, Inc.
Milpitas, California
Factory & Production Work
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Control
$20 - $31.25/hr
High school diploma or GED
501-1,000

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See All 14 Wastewater Treatment Engineer Jobs in California

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Wastewater Treatment Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Vista
1 job
Colusa
1 job
Oxnard
1 job
Milpitas
1 job
Monterey
1 job
Burlingame
1 job
Pleasanton
1 job
Santa Rosa
1 job
Santa Clara
1 job

Wastewater Treatment Engineer Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Kennedy/Jenks Consultants6 open roles
Veolia1 open role
City of Oxnard1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Consulting & Professional Services

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in wastewater treatment engineer jobs across California.

  • Active California Professional Engineer license or eligibility to obtain one
  • Bachelor's degree in civil, environmental, or chemical engineering from an accredited program
  • Experience with wastewater treatment process design, operations, or facility planning
  • Familiarity with California State Water Resources Control Board regulations and NPDES permitting
  • Proficiency with engineering design software such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or process modeling tools
  • Strong written communication skills for technical reports and regulatory agency correspondence

Wastewater Treatment Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a wastewater treatment engineer in California?

You need a bachelor's degree in civil, environmental, or chemical engineering from an ABET-accredited program, followed by licensure through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. The path runs from the Fundamentals of Engineering exam to the Professional Engineer exam after gaining qualifying experience. Many California water agencies and consulting firms also value familiarity with State Water Resources Control Board permitting requirements, which you can build through junior engineering or associate engineer roles at municipal utilities.

How much do wastewater treatment engineers make in California?

Wastewater treatment engineers in California earn a median of about $122,500 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,980 for the lowest 10% to over $175,940 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire wastewater treatment engineers in California?

Employers hiring wastewater treatment engineers in California right now include Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, Veolia, and City of Oxnard, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's extensive network of municipal water agencies, regional sanitation districts, and environmental engineering consultancies means consistent hiring activity across both the public and private sectors.

Which California cities have the most wastewater treatment engineer jobs?

Vista, Colusa, and Oxnard post the most wastewater treatment engineer openings in California, driven by the scale of their municipal utility systems, the concentration of environmental engineering consulting firms, and ongoing capital improvement programs at regional sanitation districts serving large metropolitan populations.

Are there remote wastewater treatment engineer jobs in California?

Yes, but they're rare. About 75% of wastewater treatment engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most roles. The portions most likely to allow remote work are planning studies, hydraulic modeling, and report writing phases of larger infrastructure projects.

How can I get hired as a wastewater treatment engineer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is an associate engineer or junior engineer role at a California municipal water or sanitation agency, where structured programs at employers like the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts and the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District bring in new graduates under supervising professional engineers. Internships with large environmental consulting firms are also a strong foothold. Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam before you graduate gives you a concrete credential that distinguishes you immediately in California applications.

Where can I find and apply to wastewater treatment engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to wastewater treatment engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Find roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to the employers posting them.

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