Energy Engineer

King County•Multiple locations in King County, WA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

This recruitment will be used to fill two openings. Wastewater treatment is critical to water quality and the health and wellbeing of our communities. Wastewater treatment is also energy-intensive and can result in significant greenhouse gas emissions. This position will play a key role in advancing King County’s ambitious climate action plan, including leading efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy, and water use, optimize the production and use of renewable resources, and support equity and social justice efforts. The Wastewater Treatment Division's Energy Program is looking for two new team members who enjoy solving real-world engineering problems, learning complex systems, and making a measurable impact on one of the region's largest public infrastructure systems. In this role, you'll help identify, evaluate, and develop energy efficiency and energy recovery opportunities across King County's wastewater facilities. You'll work alongside operations staff, maintenance personnel, engineers, consultants, and project teams to better understand how treatment plants and wastewater facilities use energy—and help find practical ways to reduce consumption while improving reliability and performance. This is a hands-on engineering position for someone who enjoys digging into unfamiliar systems, asking questions, reviewing engineering drawings, analyzing operational data, and developing technical recommendations. Rather than simply coordinating work performed by others, you'll often perform the initial engineering analysis yourself – evaluating opportunities, estimating feasibility and potential savings, identifying additional data needs, and helping determine whether projects should move forward. The successful candidate will become an energy representative on capital improvement projects, helping ensure energy efficiency, electrification, and energy recovery opportunities are thoughtfully incorporated into facility designs from the earliest planning stages. You'll also help develop dashboards and performance metrics, support utility incentive applications, and communicate technical information to audiences ranging from operators in the field to project managers and executive leadership. One position will primarily support treatment plant facilities and serve as the lead for a collaborative plant energy team, bringing together operations, maintenance, and engineering staff to identify and advance energy improvement opportunities. A second position will focus on the division's offsite facilities – including pump stations, regulator stations, and other wastewater infrastructure – supporting energy planning and project development across the regional system. Both positions are expected to work onsite at least three days per week and have the option to work remotely two days. This position is well suited for engineers who are self-directed, action-oriented, and excited to continuously learn. Experience with HVAC systems, pumping systems, industrial process equipment, heat recovery systems, controls, fans, chillers, compressors, or similar mechanical systems is highly desirable, but just as important is the curiosity and initiative to quickly learn new systems and confidently tackle unfamiliar engineering challenges. This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science or a related technical field.
Three years progressively responsible experience in energy engineering, industrial energy systems, or a closely related area.
Demonstrated ability to use operational, engineering, or energy data to evaluate system performance, identify significant findings and opportunities, and develop technical recommendations.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, diagrams, and other technical documentation to understand system configuration and operation.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical analyses and findings into clear recommendations that inform cross-disciplinary decision-making.
Valid Washington State Driver’s License (or ability to obtain upon hire).

Nice To Haves

Experience evaluating, designing, operating, or troubleshooting energy-using mechanical systems, such as HVAC and controls, pumping systems, industrial heating/cooling loops, fans, chillers, compressors, or similar equipment.
Experience working with wastewater treatment, pump stations, CSO facilities, or other complex industrial infrastructure.

Responsibilities

Identify and evaluate energy opportunities – Investigate facility systems and equipment, analyze operating conditions and energy use, perform initial technical and feasibility analyses, identify information needs, and develop recommendations for energy-efficiency and energy-recovery improvements.
Provide energy engineering support to capital projects – Serve as an Energy Program representative on capital projects; review plans, drawings, and technical information; evaluate energy considerations and opportunities; and work with project teams and consultants to incorporate energy efficiency and energy recovery into project designs.
Develop and secure utility energy-efficiency incentives – Identify eligible projects, develop and submit incentive applications, collect and analyze required technical and performance data, coordinate with utility representatives and project teams, and support projects through verification and incentive payment.
Manage and analyze energy performance information – Monitor facility energy use and equipment performance, identify data and metering needs, analyze trends and anomalies, and develop dashboards, metrics, and other tools to track and communicate progress toward energy goals and targets.
Lead and coordinate facility energy activities – Collaborate with operations, maintenance, engineering, and other staff to identify and advance facility energy priorities. For the South Plant position, lead the plant Energy Team and coordinate activities between meetings. For the Offsite position, coordinate energy activities with staff supporting pump stations, regulator stations, and other distributed facilities.
Support Energy Program planning and priorities – Participate in annual work planning, maintain communication and coordination across the Energy Program, contribute to broader program initiatives, and independently lead or support special assignments and emerging energy-related efforts as needed.