Entry Level Water Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

If you need an accommodation for any part of the hiring process, please complete the accommodation form linked below. For assistance regarding accommodations, contact Arlington County's ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Rights at (703) 228-3929 or viaemail .

• Posting Date 07/24/2026, 04:00 AM
• Apply Before 08/07/2026, 03:55 AM
• Degree Level Bachelor's Degree
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations 4200 28th St S, Arlington, VA, 22206, US (Hybrid)
• Salary $83,158.40 - $149,240.00 Annually

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The Department of Environmental Services (DES) is seeking a Design Engineer I, II, or III to provide professional engineering and project management expertise for assigned projects, which include public works improvements and maintenance projects. Projects range in size, complexity, and scope, most of which generally don't require detailed designs and must be completed under a condensed schedule.

This employee will also provide engineering support to the drinking water program, within the Water, Sewer, and Streets (WSS) Bureau, which consists of 194 employees who work as a team to construct and maintain the County's sewers, water mains, streets, and sidewalks. The Bureau also utilizes consulting services as additional resources to augment project implementation and capacity.

This position may be filled at one of three levels. The Design Engineer at the senior-level (Engineer III) is expected to perform the specific duties listed below completely independently. The journey-level (Engineer II) is expected to perform the specific duties listed below with limited guidance from their supervisor. The junior-level (Engineer I) is expected to perform the specific duties listed below with significant guidance from their supervisor.

Major Job Duties:

• Developing designs and construction plans/drawings including cost estimates, technical specifications, and associated documentation for a diverse range of public works projects including water main replacements, water valve condition assessment and repair, water storage tank maintenance and rehabilitation, and leak detection;
• Providing engineering support to the water meter team, including conducting field investigations, coordinating and evaluating water meter testing, troubleshooting meter and service-related issues, reviewing system and usage data, and recommending solutions to address related issues;
• Analyzing water quality data and working to address unusual or unexpected water quality issues, in coordination with field crews and other staff;
• Conducting field investigations and recommending solutions to resolve public works-related maintenance issues and citizen concerns;
• Providing technical support and coordination with WSS construction crews, construction managers, and external contractors and utilities to implement a wide variety of public works improvements and maintenance projects;
• Utilizing County databases to locate records of drawings, plats, deeds, as-builts, and past engineering plans to assist crews in resolving maintenance issues;
• Coordinating with County, State, and Federal regulatory agencies to obtain permits;
• Updating and maintaining the County's water system hydraulic model;
• Overseeing and reviewing the work of external consultants who provide design and modeling services on selected projects, including providing consultation to other staff, citizens, and developers regarding the assigned area; and
• Performing other work-related duties as assigned.

The successful candidate will possess technical expertise in civil engineering, excellent teamwork skills, and the ability to solve problems quickly, along with strong multitasking capabilities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or other applicable engineering discipline; AND
• Experience using Autodesk Civil 3D or similar CAD software.
• 3 years of post-Bachelor’s professional engineering experience in street design, storm drainage design, sanitary sewer design, water distribution or related area; OR
• 2 years of post-Bachelor’s professional engineering work experience in a related field, plus at least 1 of the applicable certifications (see below).
• 5 years of post-Bachelor’s professional engineering experience in street design, storm drainage design, sanitary sewer design, water distribution or related area; OR
• 3 years of post-Bachelor’s professional engineering work experience in a related field, plus at least 2 of the applicable certifications (see below).

List of applicable certifications:

• VDOT Advanced Work Zone certification;
• Project Management Professional;
• Arlington County Project Officer;
• LEED Green;
• LEED AP;
• DEQ Combined Administrator (either Erosion and Sediment Control or Stormwater Management); and/or
• 40 hours of FHWA, VDOT, NACTO, ITE, or UVA-TTA approved training.

Substitution: Experience may not be substituted for the Engineering Degree requirement. A Master's Degree in Civil Engineering may be substituted for one year of Engineering experience.

Desirable: Preference may be given to candidates with a Master’s Degree in a related field and one or more of the following:

• Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the Commonwealth of Virginia or a state with reciprocity;
• Experience designing and implementing water main replacement projects;
• Experience using PCSWMM, SewerGEMS, WaterGEMS, InfoSewer, InfoWater, or other similar software variants for stormwater, wastewater, and water distribution systems hydraulic modeling; and/or
• Experience using software such as Civil 3D or similar CAD, and ArcGIS.

Special Requirements

Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It will include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You will be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

Driver's License: Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver’s license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon favorable review of the applicant’s driving record. Alternatively, the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite.

Please complete each section of the application including the supplemental questions. Your responses to the supplemental questions are required because they provide us with specific information necessary to evaluate your qualifications for this position. These responses are considered part of the selection process. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please do not write "see resume" as a response to the questions.

Additional Information

Employees who are registered Professional Engineers will be eligible for an additional pay premium of $2,600 annually.

Work Hours: Monday through Friday, flexible work schedule between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., with some telework opportunities with supervisor approval. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required depending on community meetings, snow events, or emergencies requiring a response.

The official job titles are Engineer I, II and III. The positions are part of a multi-grade career ladder from junior through senior and the overall annual salary range is $83,158.40 - $149,240.00. Individuals appointed to positions can progress through each level based on a combination of education, experience, and the achievement of competencies. The salary ranges for each level are as follows:

This position is eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.

For more information on Arlington County’s generous benefits and retirement plan, click here .

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