Senior or Principal Engineer
Metropolitan Council· Government Administration· Oct 14, 2026 · 12d ago
MN
Hybrid
Full-time
Principal
$89K–$144K
Job description
We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.
The Environmental Services (ES) Division is hiring either a Senior Engineer or Principal Engineer (depending on qualifications). This posting will create a 6-month eligibility list for future vacancies.
Join an award-winning wastewater industry leader in protecting our environment! The Environmental Services (ES) Division of the Metropolitan Council operates and maintains the wastewater collection and treatment system in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. It also provides coordinated long-range water resources and supply planning, and air and water quality monitoring to meet future needs. ES Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs) consistently earn state and national awards for complete compliance with their environmental permits. ES received a Governor’s Award as a Great Place to Work.
To find out more about the Environmental Services Division, please click on the link for more information: metrocouncil.org .
Senior Engineer
Full Salary Range: $42.58 - $69.09 hourly/$88,566 - $143,707 yearly
Anticipated Salary Range*: $48.33 - $58.17 hourly/$100,526 - $120,993 yearly
Principal Engineer
Full Salary Range: $46.06 - $74.71 hourly/$95,805 - $155,397 yearly
Anticipated Salary Range*: $53.55 - $74.51 hourly/$111,384 - $154,981 yearly
*The starting salary will depend on the selected candidate's experience, skills, education, and internal salary equity.
How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:
The Wastewater Planning and Community Programs team leads infrastructure planning efforts for the regional wastewater system that is operated by the Environmental Services division of the Metropolitan Council. This work involves close coordination with the 111 communities that are connected to the regional wastewater system, in order to understand system needs to meet the anticipated growth of the region as well as to thoughtfully plan for cost-effective and reliable wastewater service. The wastewater planning role is critical to orderly and economical growth of the region while protecting public health and the environment. Our team brings a regional perspective to infrastructure planning, drafting and interpreting policy, and looking broadly at solutions that provide the greatest benefit to the region. We do this through coordinated planning, permitting, and administration of programs to provide a regional wastewater system and integrated water planning to meet the needs of the Twin Cities region every day to secure clean water that current and future generations can rely on. Our work is both challenging and rewarding, involving collaboration with internal and external partners to anticipate future conditions and to prepare our region for that future.
This position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.
This position includes planning technical analysis, collaboration, and administration of programs and projects in the Wastewater Planning and Community Programs team. The work may also include cross-functional participation on projects and programs in Met Council's Water Resources and Water Supply Planning teams. Some examples of duties include: • Manage complex wastewater system planning projects, including identifying future wastewater system needs through forecasting, assessing capacity of existing infrastructure through modeling and hydraulic analysis, and identifying and evaluating alternative solutions to meet the needs of the communities we serve. May involve managing contracts with engineering consultants and performing engineering evaluations on internal teams.
• Work with engineering teams to inform project scope and capital programming of system expansion projects.
• Develop and update the regional Wastewater System Plan and Council policies in collaboration with internal and external partners.
• Analyze flow meter data to identify trends in community wastewater flow, to allocate wastewater system costs to communities, and to administer inflow and infiltration mitigation program. Work with cities to problem-solve where meter data identifies increases in inflow and infiltration.
• Participate on or lead task forces or work groups composed of community partners to evaluate policy related to regional wastewater system planning or water supply planning.
• Review local comprehensive plans, environmental permits, and Sanitary Sewer Extension Permits to ensure alignment with regional policies and system plans. Partner with staff from the Met Council Community Development division in applying regional policy to review of local plans. Involves meeting with city staff and other community partners to build relationships and coordinate local and regional planning.
• Provide technical support to our finance teams for the Met Council's sewer connection charge program and inflow and infiltration grant programs.
• Mentor less-experienced staff to help to develop engineering and project management skills.
Senior Engineer • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related discipline AND
• 4 or more years of relevant experience as an Engineer AND
• Successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE)* or registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Minnesota or a state with reciprocity.
OR • Master's degree in Engineer or a related discipline AND
• 2 or more years of relevant experience as an Engineer AND
• Successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE)* or registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Minnesota or a state with reciprocity.
Principal Engineer • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related discipline AND
• 5 or more years of relevant experience as an Engineer AND
• Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Minnesota or a state with reciprocity.
OR • Master's degree in Engineering or a related discipline AND
• 3 or more years of relevant Engineering experience AND
• Registered as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Minnesota or a state with reciprocity.
Note: FE exam replaces the former Engineer in Training (EIT) exam.
What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications): • Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Minnesota or a state with reciprocity.
• Managing project budgets, schedules, and scope.
• Managing wastewater conveyance and treatment infrastructure projects.
• Design of wastewater conveyance and treatment systems.
• Developing collaborative teams to take in multiple perspectives in planning for water and wastewater infrastructure.
• Water or wastewater system planning or comprehensive plan development.
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with internal and external stakeholders from diverse occupational, educational, and cultural backgrounds.
• Fluid mechanics and hydraulic analysis experience or coursework.
• Hydraulic modeling using PC-SWMM.
• ArcGIS software for analysis or geographic data.
• Using Microsoft Excel, PowerBI, and other tools for complex data analysis.
What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job: • Advanced skills with ArcGIS and PC-SWMM software.
• Ability to review and understand local comprehensive plans and sanitary sewer plans.
• Ability to use Microsoft Excel tools to analyze data and to perform hydraulic calculations.
What you can expect from us: • We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through onsite training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work/life balance.
More about why you should join us!
Senior Engineer
Union/Pay Grade: AFSCME Grade H
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No
Principal Engineer
Union/Pay Grade: AFSCME Grade I
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No
What your work environment would be:
The majority of time, work is performed in a standard office setting. Conducting field inspections and performance of duties at off site locations as required. Some positions may require work to be performed at off-site work locations (e.g., field inspections) where the position may be exposed to moving parts, fumes, airborne particles, outdoor weather conditions and vibration. Confined space entry at industry and various facilities is required.
What steps the recruitment process involves: • We review your minimum qualifications.
• We rate your education and experience.
• We conduct a structured panel interview.
• We conduct an in-person selection interview.
Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:
If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety-sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation. If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety-sensitive position) and criminal background checks if the job you're applying for is safety-sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.
IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.
The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.
If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us .
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