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// Water & Wastewater Engineering Recruiting — CA
Water & Wastewater Recruiter
San Francisco, CA
SFPUC's $8+ billion Sewer System Improvement Program, the largest infrastructure investment in the city's history, is rebuilding the Southeast Treatment Plant's digesters and hardening the system against sea-level rise and seismic risk.
// San Francisco Water & Wastewater Recruiting
Specialized staffing for San Francisco water infrastructure
Metro Associates is a leading water and wastewater engineering recruiter providing specialized staffing solutions across San Francisco and the Bay Area. We help firms and utilities hire licensed Professional Engineers (PE), process engineers, and construction inspection specialists across treatment, distribution, and collection-system disciplines — for projects reviewed under San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and beyond.
Locally, that has included work like sewer system improvement program (ssip) digester rebuild — we match vetted talent to the regulatory, operational, and performance demands of that kind of water infrastructure program.
Recruiting expertise
- Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Design
- Water Distribution & Collection Systems
- Stormwater Management & Drainage Design
- Hydraulic & Hydrologic Modeling
- Water/Wastewater Process Engineering
- Utility Infrastructure Rehabilitation
- Environmental Compliance & Permitting (NPDES)
- Construction Engineering & Inspection (CEI)
// Roles we place
Water & wastewater roles we place in San Francisco
01Water/Wastewater Project Engineer (PE)
02Senior Process Engineer
03Water Resources Engineer
04Utility / Pipeline Design Engineer
05Water/Wastewater Plant Operations Manager
06Environmental Compliance Engineer
07Construction Engineer & Inspector (CEI)
08SCADA / Controls Engineer
09Water Resources Project Manager
10Director of Water/Wastewater Engineering
// Skills we screen for
Water & wastewater skills & software we recruit for in San Francisco
We screen every candidate against one bar — the modeling software, licensure, and code fluency the role actually calls for, not a generic checklist.
AutoCAD Civil 3DBentley WaterGEMSBentley SewerGEMSBentley HAMMER (surge analysis)EPANETHEC-RAS / HEC-HMSInfoWorks ICMBioWin (process modeling)ArcGIS / utility GISCityworks / Lucity (asset management)Bluebeam RevuProfessional Engineer (PE) licenseGrade IV Water/Wastewater Operator certificationNPDES permitting fluencySCADA & instrumentation (Ignition, Wonderware)Pump station designMembrane & UV treatment systemsTrenchless rehabilitation (CIPP) methodsConfined space / collection system safety (OSHA)State DEP/DEQ regulatory fluency
// 2026 hiring trends
2026 San Franciscowater & wastewater hiring
Heading into 2026, San Francisco's market is shaped by aging-infrastructure replacement, PFAS and emerging-contaminant compliance, and federally funded resiliency work. Licensed process engineers and inspection specialists who can deliver permit-compliant, resilient systems remain in short supply.
Representative 2026 compensation
Process Designer / CAD Technician$58,000 – $80,000
Water/Wastewater Engineer (EIT)$68,000 – $92,000
Treatment Process Engineer$90,000 – $130,000
Plant Operations & Maintenance Manager$95,000 – $135,000
Licensed PE (Mid-Level)$100,000 – $145,000
Collection & Conveyance Engineer (PE)$105,000 – $145,000
Senior Project Manager$140,000 – $185,000+
Director of Water/Wastewater Engineering$175,000 – $245,000+
Ranges vary by firm, licensure, and project mix; figures are directional for the San Francisco metro.
// Projects we support
Supporting San Franciscowater & wastewater programs
Sewer System Improvement Program (SSIP) digester rebuild
Southeast Treatment Plant modernization
Seismic resiliency upgrades (Hetch Hetchy pipeline)
Lead service line replacement
Combined sewer overflow reduction projects
// FAQ
Water & wastewater recruiting in San Francisco — FAQ
Do you place water and wastewater engineers in San Francisco, CA?
Yes. Metro Associates is a specialized water and wastewater engineering recruiter serving San Francisco and the Bay Area, placing licensed PEs, process engineers, and construction inspection specialists on treatment, distribution, and collection-system programs.
What water/wastewater roles do you recruit for in San Francisco?
Typical San Francisco searches include Water/Wastewater Project Engineer (PE), Senior Process Engineer, Water Resources Engineer, Utility/Pipeline Design Engineer, and SCADA/Controls Engineer.
How quickly can you fill a water/wastewater position in San Francisco?
With a national pipeline of pre-vetted water and wastewater professionals, we typically deliver a shortlist of qualified CA candidates within days — every placement backed by our guarantee.
Do you recruit for NPDES permitting and utility compliance work?
Yes. Candidates are screened for NPDES permitting, SCADA/instrumentation, and utility rehabilitation experience, matched against San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and California's regulatory requirements.
// Why partner with us
Why San Francisco firms partner with Metro Associates
Multi-State Licensing Expertise
We understand NCEES comity and the complexities of multi-state PE licensure.
Passive Candidate Acquisition
Our recruiters reach high-performers who are not actively on job boards.
Scalable Staffing Solutions
From a single PE to an entire treatment-plant design team for a multi-year program.
Regulatory & Codes Fluency
Fluency in Clean Water Act / NPDES permitting, state DEP/DEQ requirements, and SRF-funded project compliance.
Hiring water & wastewater engineers in San Francisco?
Tell us about the role — we'll deliver a vetted shortlist of licensed CA water and wastewater talent, backed by our placement guarantee.
Other markets we serve
New York, NYLos Angeles, CAChicago, ILHouston, TXPhoenix, AZPhiladelphia, PADallas, TXAtlanta, GAMiami, FLSeattle, WADenver, COBoston, MAMinneapolis, MNDetroit, MICharlotte, NCNashville, TNPortland, ORLas Vegas, NVColumbus, OHSalt Lake City, UTKansas City, MOIndianapolis, INMilwaukee, WIRichmond, VABaltimore, MDNew Orleans, LALouisville, KYOklahoma City, OKCharleston, SCNewark, NJSan Diego, CASan Antonio, TXAustin, TXJacksonville, FLOrlando, FLPittsburgh, PACincinnati, OHCleveland, OHSt. Louis, MORaleigh, NCWashington, DCHartford, CTAlbuquerque, NMBirmingham, ALMemphis, TNOmaha, NEBoise, IDProvidence, RIBuffalo, NY