Senior Energy Engineer

Summary

This opportunity is open to current King County employees.

We are not accepting external applications at this time

Wastewater treatment is critical to water quality and the health and wellbeing of our communities. Wastewater treatment is also energy-intensive and can result in significant greenhouse gas emissions. This position will play a key role in advancing King County’s ambitious climate action plan, including leading efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy, and water use, optimize the production and use of renewable resources, and support equity and social justice efforts.

About the Role:

This position will serve as a senior technical leader within WTD’s Energy Program, advancing complex energy and greenhouse gas reduction initiatives across treatment facilities and offsite wastewater systems.

The Senior Energy Engineer will lead development and continuous improvement of the program’s analytical and performance tracking framework. This includes overseeing advanced energy and greenhouse gas modeling, long-range forecasting, and integration of capital project data, operational metrics, maintenance cost information, and renewable energy revenues into cohesive tools that support strategic planning and transparent progress reporting.

The role leads preparation and maintenance of the division’s greenhouse gas inventory and monitors emerging trends and evolving methodologies in wastewater-related emissions accounting. The position provides technical analysis to inform program decision-making and ensure reporting practices remain accurate and consistent.

The Senior Energy Engineer brings advanced expertise in offsite wastewater systems-including pump stations and CSO facilities-and may serve as the primary energy representative on complex or high-impact capital projects. The position provides technical input during project scoping, chartering, planning, design, and commissioning, and guides project teams through required energy analyses to ensure energy efficiency, electrification, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas reduction strategies are appropriately evaluated and incorporated.

A key responsibility of this role is leading the development, revision, and stewardship of energy-related technical standards, design guidelines, and guide specifications to ensure consistent application of best practices across capital and operational programs.

This position works closely with the Energy Program Lead and the Climate, Energy & Sustainability Supervisor to align technical efforts with program priorities and division climate commitments. The successful candidate will bring strong technical expertise in energy and wastewater systems, a demonstrated commitment to climate mitigation, and the ability to work collaboratively across diverse teams. Candidates must be self-motivated, detail oriented, and possess strong interpersonal skills to effectively partner across WTD.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

About the Team:

This position will be supervised by the Climate, Energy and Sustainability Supervisor. The Climate, Energy and Sustainability work group is part of the Resource Recovery Unit in WTD’s Operations and Maintenance Section. The Resource Recovery Unit strives to bring valuable resources, technology, and sound business practices together to deliver products and programs that inspire our customers to be part of an environmentally sustainable future-today. It is responsible for ensuring safe, environmentally friendly products are made from an urban renewable waste stream including, Loop® biosolids soil amendment, recycled water, and renewable energy, as well as managing programs including sustainability, energy, technology assessment, and nutrient management.

The Climate, Energy and Sustainability work group includes the Energy Program. This team is focused on efforts to optimize processes and operational efficiencies and recommending advanced technologies that expand WTD’s ability to recover energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and costs.

WTD’s mission is to protect public health and enhance the environment by collecting and treating wastewater while recycling valuable resources for the Puget Sound region. To our agency, success means clean water. It means honoring our legacy while keeping a promise to future generations that our beautiful environment will be there for them to enjoy. We are committed to the principles of equity and social justice. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences in our workforce and are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. WTD strives to provide equitable services to residents and businesses across King County.

Join our team dedicated to ensuring clean water for generations to come! With about 1000 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, our agency is at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Success for us means upholding our legacy while promising future generations a pristine environment.

We partner with regulatory agencies to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection. We prioritize accountability to our ratepayers and operate a well-managed agency that services over 2.3 million King County residents . Our regional wastewater treatment system not only sustains a healthy environment but also fuels economic development, fostering prosperity in our region. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative environment, join us in our mission to safeguard our precious water resources.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Senior Energy Engineer, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .
Apply now for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Lead development and maintenance of integrated programmatic tracking tools that consolidate energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and related operational and financial data to support performance reporting and long-term planning.
• Lead preparation and management of the division’s greenhouse gas inventory; monitor evolving emissions accounting methodologies and provide technical analysis to inform program decisions.
• Conduct advanced energy modeling, normalization, and forecasting analyses to support operational planning, capital prioritization, and climate performance evaluation.
• Serve as the Energy Program representative on selected complex or high-impact capital projects, particularly those associated with offsite facilities such as pump stations and CSO systems.
• Lead development and stewardship of energy-related technical standards, design guidelines, and guide specifications to ensure consistent integration of energy efficiency and decarbonization strategies.

• Support WTD’s Energy Program and other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field and progressively responsible experience in energy engineering, industrial energy systems, or a closely related area; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  
• Demonstrated experience leading complex energy modeling, forecasting, and/or greenhouse gas analysis in an industrial or utility setting.
• Experience designing or significantly improving structured performance tracking or reporting systems that integrate technical, operational, and financial data.
• Experience serving as a primary or lead technical representative on complex infrastructure or capital projects, providing independent analysis and recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical analyses into clear recommendations that inform cross-disciplinary decision-making.

Competencies You Bring:

• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

Required Licenses:

• Ability to obtain Professional Engineer (PE) license in the state of Washington within three months of employment.
  
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License (or ability to obtain upon hire).
  

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Experience working with wastewater treatment, pump stations, CSO facilities, or other complex industrial infrastructure.
• Experience developing or managing greenhouse gas inventories or emissions reporting in an industrial or utility setting.
• Experience building or refining analytical tools that integrate technical, operational, and financial data to support program or capital planning decisions.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: The Energy Program team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center - 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Technical Employees’ Association (TEA) - Wastewater Treatment Division

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment: (subject to change)

• Technical interview: Virtual week of May 18th

• Panel interviews: Virtual week of May 25th

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Mark Workinger at Mworkinger@kingcounty.gov

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube and our WTD Blog .

Visit our website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 5/7/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• King County Water and Land Resources Division

• 206-477-4800

Show more