Job Description

Posting number: 2026-SWMT319T320-09297

Department: Dept. of Ecology

Division: Solid Waste Management

Job classification: ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER 1

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Environmental Services, Public Health, Natural Resources, Sciences, Green-Collar/Environmental

Summary

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring two Industrial Section Engineer (Environmental Engineer 1) positions within the Solid Waste Management program.

These are temporary positions that will end June 30, 2027.

Location:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• These positions are eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• A minimum of three days in the office. Some field work and travel will be required (approximately once or twice a month).
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by November 22, 2026
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

Examples of duties

These positions are located in the Industrial Section which regulates some of the largest industrial facilities in the State. In one of these roles, you will provide support for the environmental engineering work conducted by the section, such as data analysis, evaluating compliance, drafting enforcement documents, and drafting permits). This work is conducted to implement water quality, air quality, and dangerous waste regulations.

What you will do:

• Provide engineering support for Industrial Section engineers.
• Review environmental monitoring data to determine compliance with permit and regulatory requirements.
• Review technical reports and submittals.
• Draft and issue environmental permits.
• Assist with on-site compliance inspections and report writing (air, water, hazardous waste) at large industrial facilities.
• Investigate environmental releases/spills and complaints.

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 and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Five Years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position.

Note: An Engineer-Training Certificate is equal to four of the years’ required experience.

Demonstrated competencies in the following:

• Technical Review & Analysis – Ability to review technical documents and analyze environmental data to identify trends, issues, or potential noncompliance.
• Environmental & Regulatory Understanding – Ability to apply basic environmental concepts and interpret regulations to support compliance and responsible facility oversight.
• Workload & Time Management – Ability to organize and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines and maintain consistent work quality.
• Report Preparation – Ability to write clear, factual reports and summaries to document findings and support decisions.
• Collaboration & Professional Conduct – Ability to work respectfully and effectively with others to support a positive, inclusive, and productive work environment.
• Communication Skills – Ability to communicate clearly in writing and verbally to ensure information is accurate, understood, and actionable.

Education in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, water resource, civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or related field.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 5 years of experience.
• 4 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 3 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 2 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 1 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree or an Engineer-Training Certificate
• a Master’s degree or higher.

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of: Environmental engineering principles including wastewater treatment, air pollution controls, environmental regulations.
• Ability to: Follow directions; comprehend complex regulatory rules; work with others; problem solve; work independently; effectively communicate technical environmental concepts.

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

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 and select #2 for Recruitment or email 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 Shingo Yamazaki at: Shingo.Yamazaki@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 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.

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 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.

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 Incentive, 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.

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