Remote Project Engineer Jobs in Olympia, WA (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $74,748.00 - $116,544.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Lacey, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2026-TCP4324-05188
Department: Dept. of Ecology
Division: Toxics Cleanup
Opening Date: 07/16/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step
Description
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology is hiring a Cleanup Project Manager / Periodic Reviewer (Environmental Engineer 2 or 3)within the
Location:

• Headquarters Office in
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• A minimum of one day every other week is required in the office.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by July 30, 2026.
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

Duties
As the Cleanup Project Manager / Periodic Reviewer, you will help protect Washington's communities and environment by managing cleanup projects under the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) and the Uniform Environmental Covenants Act (UECA). As the section's UECA Coordinator, you will lead 5-year periodic reviews for completed cleanup sites and help ensure long-term protectiveness. You will also serve as a project engineer and site manager for contaminated sites in the Southwest Region, working independently or as part of a technical team to move sites toward successful cleanup.
You will plan, develop, and carry out engineering analyses; review and direct remedial investigations, feasibility studies, and design work; and oversee cleanup actions at a range of complex sites. The work includes conducting field inspections, interpreting environmental data, coordinating technical reviews, and ensuring that cleanup activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, and agency requirements. This position plays a key role in supporting consistent, protective cleanup decisions and advancing the region's cleanup goals.
What you will do:

• Manage cleanup of assigned contaminated sites through the implementation of applicable statutes, administrative codes, and agency guidance and policy.
• Negotiate and draft agreed orders, consent decrees, administrative orders, and cleanup action plans which can include work to be performed and associated work schedules.
• Travel to and conduct field investigations of site activities to assure compliance with Orders, Decrees, Cleanup Actions, and other agency requirements.
• Recommend compliance schedules and/or formal enforcement actions necessary to expedite contaminated site cleanups.
• Plan and direct cleanup projects by coordinating with project team members on document reviews and timelines.
• Review, evaluate, and comment on cleanup project documents, including remedial investigations, feasibility studies, site health and safety plans, engineering studies and design reports, post-cleanup as-built drawings, and soil and groundwater lab reports including quality assurance/quality control documentation.
• Determine compliance with applicable state regulations, laws and guidelines with emphasis on design and performance requirements.
• Conduct engineering analysis of project documents, evaluating the completeness and accuracy of the engineering characterization.
• Determine adequacy of engineering computations performed.

Learn more about what it is like to be an Engineer at the Department of Ecology
Qualifications
This position offers an in-training plan and may be filled at the Environmental Engineer (EE) 2 or 3 level, depending on your qualifications. If you qualify at the EE2 level and are hired, you must be able to meet the requirements to qualify for and attain a Professional Engineering license within the length of the in-training plan. For additional questions, please contact Eun-Joo Ahn, at
For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our
Required Qualifications:
At the Environmental Engineer 2 level (In-Training)
Pay Range 62, $6,229 - $8,374 monthly
Six years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which must include four of the following:
Regulatory and Compliance

• Experience supporting the interpretation and application of environmental laws and regulations to help ensure cleanup work aligns with required standards.
• Skilled in reviewing portions of project documents for consistency with applicable rules, guidance, and policies, and identifying questions or issues for senior engineering staff.

Professional Engineering

• Demonstrated ability to assist in evaluating engineering designs and calculations under the direction of a licensed engineer.
• Skilled in applying engineering principles to assess the technical appropriateness of proposed project approaches and to recommend areas needing clarification or further review.

Technical Environmental Engineering

• Experience collecting and analyzing site data, modeling information, or cleanup technology options to support project recommendations developed by more senior engineers.
• Skilled in reviewing technical studies and reports to determine whether they provide sufficient information and to flag data gaps or uncertainties for supervisory review.

Field Investigation

• Skilled in conducting or participating in site inspections to verify that field activities follow project requirements and engineering expectations.
• Experience documenting field observations, noting potential issues, and communicating them to senior project staff for further evaluation.

Project Management and Oversight

• Demonstrated ability to coordinate assigned project tasks, deadlines, and technical reviews to support timely progress on cleanup work.
• Skilled in reviewing consultant or staff work products for accuracy and completeness and confirming that they meet project expectations before final review by senior engineers.

Communication and Collaboration

• Skilled in preparing clear written and verbal summaries of technical and regulatory information to support team understanding and project decision making.
• Experience working collaboratively with consultants, responsible parties, local governments, and the public to address routine technical questions and support forward movement on projects.

Education involving a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, water resource, civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field.
Examples of how to qualify:

• 6 years of experience.
• 5 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 4 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate's degree).
• 3 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 2 years of experience AND a Bachelor's degree.
• 2 years of experience AND an Engineer-in-Training Certificate.
• A Master's degree or above.

At the Environmental Engineer 3 level (Goal Class)
Pay Range 68, $7,224 - $9,712 monthly
Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington AND
Three years of experience related to the duties of the position, which must include four of the following:
Regulatory and Compliance

• Experience interpreting and applying environmental laws and regulations to ensure cleanup work meets required standards.
• Skilled in reviewing project documents to confirm alignment with applicable rules, guidance, and policies.

Professional Engineering

• Demonstrated competence evaluating engineering designs and calculations to support sound and protective cleanup decisions.
• Skilled in applying engineering principles to determine whether proposed project approaches are technically appropriate.

Technical Environmental Engineering

• Experience assessing site data, modeling information, and cleanup technology options to inform project recommendations.
• Skilled in reviewing technical studies and reports to determine whether they provide complete and reliable information.

Field Investigation

• Skilled in conducting or supporting site inspections to verify that field activities follow project requirements and engineering expectations.
• Experience documenting field observations to identify issues that may affect cleanup performance or compliance.

Project Management and Oversight

• Demonstrated competence coordinating project tasks, timelines, and technical reviews to keep cleanup work on track.
• Skilled in reviewing consultant or staff work products to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency with project needs.

Communication and Collaboration

• Skilled in preparing clear written and verbal explanations of technical and regulatory information to support understanding and decision making.
• Experience working collaboratively with consultants, responsible parties, local governments, and the public to address technical questions and move projects forward.

Education involving a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, water resource, civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
To qualify at the Environmental Engineer 3 level: Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington.
NOTE: Individuals who are licensed as professional engineers in another U.S. jurisdiction or foreign country and wish to apply for this position must qualify for licensure in Washington State by comity. Applicants are responsible for reviewing and ensuring they meet Washington's comity requirements before submitting application materials.
Licensing requirements can be found on the Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors website:
Desired Qualifications:

• Regulatory and Policy Knowledge - Ability to interpret and apply environmental regulations (including Model Toxics Control Act, Chapter 173-340 WAC; Sediment Management Standards, Chapter 173-204 WAC; Underground Storage Tank Regulations, Chapter 173-360A WAC or other similar regulations), technical standards, and cleanup requirements to support sound project decisions and ensure compliance.
• Site Assessment and Remediation Knowledge - Demonstrated competence evaluating environmental sampling data, site conditions, and cleanup approaches to guide effective and protective remediation actions.
• Negotiation and Facilitation Skills - Skilled in guiding discussions, resolving differences, and facilitating collaborative solutions to move projects forward and achieve mutually workable outcomes.

If you are excited about this role and meet the required qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Desired qualifications reflect additional knowledge, skills, or experience that are nice to have but not required. Studies have shown that some applicants, especially women and people of color, are less likely to apply unless they meet every listed qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging, and we welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and unique perspectives.
Supplemental Information
Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit
Our Commitment to DEIR
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology's work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.
Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.
Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.
Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology's work.
Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.
We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.
Application Process
Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life exper