Environmental Engineer Career Profile

What the role involves

Environmental Engineers design, assess, improve or manage systems that reduce environmental harm and improve the performance of infrastructure, industry or development projects.

The work may involve water treatment, wastewater, stormwater, waste management, contaminated land, air emissions, noise, remediation, sustainable infrastructure or environmental compliance.

Typical employers

Environmental Engineer roles in Australia may be found with:

• engineering consultancies
• environmental consultancies
• water utilities and wastewater operators
• local and state government agencies
• construction and infrastructure companies
• mining, energy and industrial companies
• waste and resource recovery organisations
• research and technology firms

Key tasks

• design or assess systems for water, wastewater, waste, remediation or pollution control
• prepare engineering reports, calculations, designs or specifications
• investigate environmental problems and recommend technical solutions
• support environmental impact assessments, approvals and compliance
• work with engineers, scientists, planners, contractors and regulators
• monitor performance of treatment, containment or control systems
• support sustainable infrastructure and resource efficiency projects

Skills and qualities

Environmental Engineer work suits people with a mix of environmental knowledge, communication and practical judgement. Useful skills and qualities include:

• strong engineering, maths and problem-solving ability
• understanding of environmental systems and pollution pathways
• technical report writing and design documentation
• attention to safety, standards and regulatory requirements
• ability to work with data, drawings, models and site conditions
• communication with clients, regulators and multidisciplinary teams
• interest in practical environmental protection and infrastructure performance

Qualifications and pathways

Useful study options and pathways may include:

• Accredited engineering degree with a major or specialisation in environmental, civil, chemical or related engineering
• Professional engineering accreditation or registration may be required for some roles
• training in water, wastewater, remediation, waste, air quality, risk, environmental impact assessment or sustainability may be useful
• site, consulting, project or industry experience is valuable

Environmental Engineers may progress into Senior Environmental Engineer, Principal Engineer, Project Manager, Water Engineer, Remediation Engineer, Sustainability Engineer, Environmental Manager or Engineering Manager roles.

Salary and job outlook

Environmental Engineer salaries can vary depending on engineering discipline, years of experience, chartered or registered status, industry, project scale, location and whether the role involves design sign-off, site responsibility, consulting or project management. Senior and principal engineers generally earn more where they carry technical leadership or statutory responsibility.

Where jobs are usually found in Australia

Jobs are found in consultancies, utilities, infrastructure projects, government agencies, industrial sites, mining and resources, water and waste sectors and city-based engineering teams across Australia.

Tips for getting started

• choose an accredited engineering pathway relevant to the environmental area you want to work in
• build experience with design, calculations, modelling, site work and technical reports
• learn relevant environmental regulations, standards and approval processes
• develop strong communication with non-engineering stakeholders
• consider professional accreditation as your career progresses

Related environmental careers

• Air Quality Engineer
• Water Quality Officer
• Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
• Remediation Officer
• Environmental Consultant
• Geotechnical Engineer
• Energy Efficiency Engineer