Sr. Engineering Associate – Chemical/Environmental Specialty

Job Appointment: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8 am-5:00 pm. 
Work location: 5001 N COLUMBIA BLVD, PORTLAND OR 97203
Benefits: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefits for this position.
Union Representation: PROTEC17
To view current labor agreements, please visit https://www.portland.gov/bhr/employee-relations/labor-relations/labor-agreements.

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to attach a resume and a cover letter.

Are you a results-driven individual with an interest in doing meaningful work that has a real impact on the community? 

The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is seeking a Sr. Engineering Associate – Chemical/Environmental Specialty to work in the Treatment and Pumping System Division of their Engineering Services Group. This position will provide process and automation subject matter expert (SME) support for capital project delivery and on-going Operations & Maintenance Group (O&MG) needs for the Bureau's treatment plant and pump station assets. Capital project work will focus on improving project integration and handoff. This includes design milestone reviews and in-house commissioning (including control narrative development, operational readiness testing, process training and improved documentation) during construction. O&MG support includes coordinating with operations and maintenance trades to support and document efforts towards permit compliance, KPIs, trials and innovation at the City’s treatment plants and pump stations.

What you’ll get to do: 

• Evaluate effectiveness and options of treatment processes for pumping and wastewater treatment plants and processes; make recommendations for and implement change or improvements. 
• Prepare and review reports that analyze and interpret wastewater pumping and treatment process and automation data. 
• Design and review plans for chemical or physical processes to be used in wastewater treatment. 
• Create documentation and conduct training for process and automation topics. 
• Develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and work on Dashboarding and analytical tools to track system performance. 
• Coordinate commissioning activities for programmable logic controller (PLC) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) programming, demonstration testing, and process troubleshooting.

An ideal candidate will demonstrate through direct or transferrable experience:
 
A proactive, self-motivated approach to operational efficiency, combined with a strong sense of ownership that ensures initiatives are executed through final implementation. As a collaborative and conscientious peer, the ideal candidate will partner effectively across engineering, operations, and maintenance teams. Finally, they will back these core strengths with exceptional written and visual communication skills, that translate complex technical information into clear, accessible visual tools for everyone.

About the Bureau of Environmental Services

This is an exciting time to join the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES).  Together we are re-imagining the work we do to ensure it aligns with Our Values:

• We implement equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery.
• We value our customers and partners.
• We carefully manage our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources.
• We encourage leadership among our employees in our City and community.
• We support a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce.
• We urge respectful communication and transparency.
• We advance innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

At BES, we value our customers and partners; Portlanders’ sense of connection to their waterways; conscientious stewardship of our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources; a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce; leadership among our employees and in our City and community; equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery; clear communication and transparency; innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions. 

BES is seeking talented individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities; and that desire to work collaboratively and creatively to broaden the variety of innovative ways to partner with and serve all Portland communities.

To learn more about the work we do at BES, click on the link: About Environmental Services | Portland.gov

Our BES 10-Year Strategic Plan can be found here: download (portland.gov)

Questions?:
Terrol Johnson
Senior Recruiter
[email protected]

Applicants should specifically address and demonstrate in their cover letter and résumé how their education, training, and/or experience meet each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Knowledge of Chemical and/or environmental engineering principles, practices and fundamentals that relate to potable water or wastewater treatment systems. 
2. Knowledge of water and wastewater distribution and treatment systems.
3. Knowledge of Federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental programs, wastewater treatment systems and/or drinking water systems 
4. Ability to plan and manage large or multiple construction, design, research or other engineering related projects
5. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diversity of others 

Additional Requirements

• A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in chemical or environmental engineering; and two years of responsible engineering experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. 
• Experience in mechanical or electrical engineering may be preferred for some assignments.
• An Engineer-In-Training Certification, i.e., passed the State Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination at time of appointment.
• A valid state driver’s license may be required for certain assignments.
  

STEP 1: Apply online between September 28, 2026, and  October 19, 2026
 

• Cover letter.
  • Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Resume
• Answer to Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

• Veteran’s Preference documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) must be submitted by the closing date.
• Update: As of March 3, 2025, if you have already submitted veteran documents and qualified for preference, you do not need to resubmit them for future recruitments.
• To update or remove veteran preference for this recruitment or from your profile, contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

Application Tips:

• Your cover letter can exceed one page but no more than three, to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. A subject matter expert will evaluate your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your cover letter.
• How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying.  It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid, regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note that all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage the use of AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. 

BOLI: Equal Pay for Workers: State of Oregon
Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics.

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and cover letter, is weighted 100%.
• Your resume and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required before the establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

• The hiring bureau will review and select candidates to interview.

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations 

Did you know? The City of Portland has How to Apply Videos and offers How to Apply Classes once per month.  If you have questions after watching the videos you are invited to contact the recruiter listed on the announcement.