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Water Distribution Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Water/Wastewater Design Engineer

Vancouver, WA · On-site

$28 - $35/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Produces civil designs for sanitary sewer collection systems, wastewater lift stations, wastewater treatment systems, water distribution and storage systems, and water treatment systems. Additional ...

Water Operator (Technician, 1 or 2) Non-Union Position WTR-Operations Water Services-Hiland 4; ... Locate, identify and mark distribution system facilities, including valves, fire hydrants and blow ...

Water Operator (Technician, 1 or 2) Non-Union Position WTR-Operations Water Services-Hiland 4; ... Locate, identify and mark distribution system facilities, including valves, fire hydrants and blow ...

New

Lead Consultant, Water

Portland, OR · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

You will lead planning, design, and delivery of water treatment, storage, transmission, distribution, and capital improvement projects, helping clients address aging infrastructure, regulatory ...

Lead Consultant, Water

Portland, OR · On-site

$107.60 - $159.80/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

You will lead planning, design, and delivery of water treatment, storage, transmission, distribution, and capital improvement projects, helping clients address aging infrastructure, regulatory ...

Lead Consultant, Water

Portland, OR · Hybrid

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

You will lead planning, design, and delivery of water treatment, storage, transmission, distribution, and capital improvement projects, helping clients address aging infrastructure, regulatory ...

Portland DC Distribution Driver

Portland, OR · On-site

$21/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... oil, water, etc., reporting any defects, to maintain the safety of driver and goods. Ensure the ... High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate). 2-3 years distribution ...

Portland DC - Distribution Driver

Portland, OR · On-site

$21/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... water, etc., reporting any defects, to maintain the safety of driver and goods. * Ensure the ... High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate). * 2-3 years distribution ...

Portland DC - Distribution Driver

Portland, OR · On-site

$21/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... water, etc., reporting any defects, to maintain the safety of driver and goods. * Ensure the ... High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate). * 2-3 years distribution ...

Showing results 21-40

Water Distribution information

See Portland, OR salary details

$9

$25

$57

How much do water distribution jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for water distribution in Portland, OR is $25.91, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.84 and $30.73 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a water distribution operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Water Distribution Operator, you need a solid understanding of water systems, hydraulics, maintenance procedures, and typically a high school diploma or equivalent, often supplemented by state certification. Familiarity with SCADA systems, water quality testing equipment, and GIS mapping software is commonly required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication set standout operators apart. These skills ensure the safe and efficient delivery of clean water to communities, uphold regulatory standards, and minimize service disruptions.

How does water distribution work?

Water distribution involves the process of delivering treated water from treatment plants through a network of pipes, pumps, and storage tanks to homes and businesses. Water distribution workers install, maintain, and repair these systems, ensuring safe and reliable water supply while adhering to safety standards and using tools like leak detectors and valves.

What is the difference between Water Distribution vs Water Treatment Plant Operator?

AspectWater DistributionWater Treatment Plant Operator
CertificationsWater Distribution Operator LicenseWater Treatment Operator License
Work EnvironmentFieldwork, pipelines, reservoirsPlant facilities, chemical handling
Industry UsageMunicipal water systems, pipelinesWater purification, treatment processes
Job FocusMaintaining and repairing water pipelines and infrastructureOperating and monitoring water treatment equipment

Water Distribution professionals focus on maintaining and repairing water pipelines and infrastructure, ensuring safe water delivery. Water Treatment Plant Operators manage water purification processes at treatment facilities. While both roles require similar certifications and work within the water industry, their primary responsibilities and work environments differ significantly.

What is a water distribution worker?

Water distribution workers are professionals responsible for operating and maintaining the systems that deliver clean, safe water to homes and businesses. Their duties include monitoring water quality, repairing pipes and valves, ensuring proper water pressure, and responding to leaks or service disruptions. They play a crucial role in public health and infrastructure by making sure that water distribution systems comply with safety regulations and function efficiently. This job often requires technical knowledge, attention to detail, and sometimes certification or licensing.

What are some common challenges faced by water distribution professionals, and how can they be addressed?

Water distribution professionals often encounter challenges such as aging infrastructure, leak detection, maintaining water quality standards, and responding to emergency repairs. Addressing these issues requires strong problem-solving skills, familiarity with modern monitoring technologies, and close coordination with maintenance and engineering teams. Proactive maintenance, ongoing training, and clear communication with both colleagues and the public can help mitigate these challenges and ensure reliable water service.

What cities near Portland, OR are hiring for Water Distribution jobs?

Cities near Portland, OR with the most Water Distribution job openings:

Infographic showing various Water Distribution job openings in Portland, OR as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,892 per year, or $25.9 per hour.

Water/Wastewater Design Engineer

DJ&A

Vancouver, WA • On-site

$28 - $35/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 9 days ago


Job description

About DJ&A

DJ&A is a multidisciplinary consulting firm that delivers a wide variety of professional services to clients across the nation. Specializing in Transportation Design, Survey & Mapping, Sustainability, Site Development and Utilities, Construction Inspection/Management, Geospatial Solutions, Terrestrial LiDAR, 3D Scanning, Structural Design, Project Management, Community Involvement, Right of Way, and Environmental Compliance, we perform work in some of the most beautiful locations; National Forests, National Parks and Monuments, campgrounds and other recreational facilities, and other federal lands throughout the United States. DJ&A’s unique and interesting projects create well-rounded employees, promote career development, and provide opportunities to visit these beautiful locales!

Founded in 1973 by two former U.S. Forest Service employees who saw a need for a company that uniquely understood Forest Service projects, DJ&A has continued to grow and expand over the last 48 years by embracing the values of our founders. Today, we have a team of 120+ skilled professionals spanning across offices in Missoula, MT (headquarters); Bozeman, MT; Vancouver, WA; Denver, CO; Sioux Falls, SD, and Reno, NV.

Job Summary

DJ&A is seeking a full-time Water/Wastewater Design Engineer with 1 to 5 years of relevant experience in water/wastewater engineering. Other experience can include site civil, transportation, water resources, and construction inspection. The ideal candidate will have experience working on design projects for state and/or federal clients as well as private clients.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

General

  • Candidate must be driven to be a key member of a highly competent team that tackles a variety of projects with interesting challenges that are unique to their respective locations.
  • Possesses a strong initiative to solve problems, develop creative solutions, learn new methods and techniques, and seek out answers to simple and complex questions.
  • Coordinates with other team members to ensure schedules, budgets, quality, and agency requirements are achieved.
  • Interacts with clients, customers, officials, contractors, and others.
  • Implements QA/QC procedures.

Proposal / Project Procurement

  • Assists in proposal development to procure engineering projects.

Design & Project Work

  • Produces civil designs for sanitary sewer collection systems, wastewater lift stations, wastewater treatment systems, water distribution and storage systems, and water treatment systems. Additional project work can include road and parking lot design, stormwater management, and site grading and drainage.
  • Produces drawings, layouts, sketches, maps, and graphic representations of engineering designs.
  • Develops project specifications in a wide variety of formats
  • Prepares construction cost estimates in a wide variety of formats.
  • Supports project managers, engineers, land surveyors, and survey/design teams using Bentley WaterCAD, EPANET, Autodesk Civil 3D, or similar software platforms.
  • Produces technical engineering reports with photos, figures, engineering calculations, applicable references, and relevant supporting documentation.
  • Obtains federal, state, and local approvals and permits.

Bidding/Construction Inspection

  • Develops bidding documents for a variety of civil engineering projects.
  • Assists with, and/or performs, intermittent construction inspections including documenting observations, construction activities, and field measurements.
  • Accompanies project managers to meetings related to bid openings, pre-construction meetings, and client/contractor meetings.
  • Completes special client forms and project close-out activities.

Required Skills and Abilities

  • Proficient in MS Office.
  • Demonstrated experience and proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D.
  • Proficiency with EPANET, Bentley WaterCAD and/or other water system modeling software a plus.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Excellent planning, organizational, and communication skills.
  • Highly proficient analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Independent, self-motivated, results-oriented, and dynamic.
  • Ability to work under tight deadlines and with geographically dispersed teams.

Education and Experience

  • B.S. in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related engineering field and EIT certificate (minimum). A Master’s in Civil or Environmental Engineering is a plus.
  • Between 1 and 5 years of experience related to civil or environmental engineering design projects.
  • Project experience with federal agencies (FHWA, NPS, USFS, NRCS, etc.) is a plus.

Physical Requirements

  • Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working at a computer.
  • Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
  • Must be able to travel to various (and sometimes remote) project sites.
  • Must be able to access and navigate job sites and construction areas.

Salary and Benefits

  • Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience and regional office location.
  • Medical, dental and vision benefits (Monthly HDHP medical premiums fully paid for employee and dependents).
  • Long-term disability and life insurance.
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with annual company deposit.
  • Roth and 401(k) retirement accounts.
  • Profit sharing and bonus plan.
  • 9/80 work schedule.
  • Paid time off and eleven paid holidays.
  • Professional licensure reimbursement.
  • Professional development training.
  • Friendly, supportive, knowledgeable staff and culture!

Office Location

  • Vancouver, WA; Denver, CO; Missoula, or Bozeman, MT; Sioux Falls, SD

DJ&A is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. You may view our Equal Employment Opportunity notice here and Supplemental EEO notice here.

DJ&A is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at careers@djanda.com.


DJ&A logo

About DJ&A

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Professional, scientific, and technical services

Company size

51 - 200 Employees

Headquarters location

Missoula, MT, US

Year founded

1973

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