Environmental Engineer Job Description Template
Free environmental engineer job description templates: standard, entry-level, senior PE, EHS compliance, and small firm. Download 5 as one DOCX.
Environmental Engineer Job Description Templates
5 free templates by level and focus. Download as DOCX or copy-paste.
The environmental engineer job description has to get one thing right that most templates skip: the licensing question. An entry-level engineer who supports senior staff and a licensed PE who signs and seals deliverables are two very different hires that get the same title, and most ranking templates blur them into one generic page. Naming the level and the license requirement up front is what gets the right candidates and keeps you legally covered on the work that needs a stamp.
At FirstHR, we build for small consulting and engineering firms that hire and onboard directly, where the owner or principal runs the hire and the same person tracks licenses and certifications. The five templates below cover the role by level and focus: standard, entry-level, senior PE, EHS and compliance, and a small-firm version. Fill in the brackets and post. For the principles behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description covers the fundamentals.
What Does an Environmental Engineer Do?
An environmental engineer designs and manages projects that protect human health and the environment, conducting site assessments, designing remediation and treatment systems, preparing permits, ensuring compliance with EPA, OSHA, and state regulations, and writing technical reports. The role is classified by federal labor data as an environmental engineer (SOC 17-2081), and the recognized task profile is detailed in the O*NET profile for environmental engineers.
For the employer writing the posting, the key point is that the work depends on the level and focus. A consulting engineer runs assessments and design; an EHS engineer owns facility permits and reporting; an entry-level engineer supports senior staff while building toward licensure. The five templates on this page split by level and focus so the posting matches the actual job.
Environmental Engineer Duties and Responsibilities
Environmental engineer duties center on four areas: assessment and design, compliance and permits, reporting and documentation, and project and client work. The level and focus shift the emphasis, but these four categories hold across the role. These are the duties grouped the way the templates use them.
A strong posting grounds these in your specifics: the type of work, the regulatory framework, the level, and who the engineer reports to. For a structured way to scope any role before posting, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by the level of the role and the focus of the work. All five share the same skeleton, but each emphasizes the responsibilities, certifications, and experience that fit a specific kind of environmental engineer. Use this guide to choose.
5 Free Environmental Engineer Job Description Templates
Download all five as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: company summary, job summary, key responsibilities, required and preferred qualifications, licenses and certifications, work environment, and compensation, with an EEO statement. Fill in the brackets, especially the license requirement, before you post.
Template 1: Environmental Engineer (Standard)
The universal version: assessments, design, permits, reports, and compliance. Use this if your role does not match a more specific version below.
Template 2: Entry-Level Environmental Engineer
For a junior hire working under senior engineers. No PE required, FE preferred, with a clear path toward licensure and independent project work.
Template 3: Senior Environmental Engineer (PE)
For a licensed PE who leads projects and signs and seals deliverables. Adds design ownership, client and regulator management, and mentoring junior staff.
Template 4: EHS / Compliance Environmental Engineer
For a facility-focused role. Adds permit management, EPA and OSHA reporting, audits, hazardous-materials handling, and on-site safety programs.
Template 5: Environmental Engineer (Small Firm)
For a small consulting or civil firm. A wear-many-hats version with project ownership from assessment to closeout, written for a firm without an HR department.
Licenses and Certifications
Licensing is the detail that most shapes an environmental engineer posting, and it depends on the level. Here is how the common credentials map to the role.
| Credential | What it is | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| FE / EIT | Fundamentals of Engineering exam, engineer-in-training | Entry-level, first step to PE |
| PE license | Professional Engineer, state-issued, can stamp work | Required for senior sign-off roles |
| HAZWOPER | Hazardous-waste operations safety training | Remediation and hazardous-materials work |
| CHMM / LEED | Hazardous-materials manager / green building | Preferred, role-specific |
Only a licensed PE may sign and seal engineering documents for a public authority, which is why the senior template requires it and the entry-level template does not. The path to a PE runs through an ABET degree, the FE exam, qualifying experience, and the PE exam, as the NSPE overview of the PE license describes. The work itself is governed by EPA laws and regulations and, for hazardous-waste operations, the OSHA HAZWOPER standard.
Skills and Qualifications
Environmental engineer roles weigh an accredited degree, regulatory knowledge, technical writing, and field capability, with licensure depending on the level. List what the role genuinely requires.
| Type | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Education | ABET degree in environmental, civil, or chemical engineering |
| Licensure | FE/EIT (entry) or active PE (senior sign-off roles) |
| Regulatory | EPA, OSHA, RCRA, and applicable state knowledge |
| Practical | Technical writing, data analysis, and field work |
Keep the posting neutral and inclusive, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements showing a preference based on protected characteristics, and the SHRM guide to writing a job description covers the standard sections. Match the requirements to the level so you do not screen out capable entry-level candidates or under-spec a senior PE role.
How to Write an Environmental Engineer Job Description
A strong environmental engineer posting takes about fifteen minutes once you settle the level, the license requirement, the regulatory scope, and the responsibilities. Here is the process the templates are built around. If you are building out your team, the small business hiring guide covers the steps around the posting itself.
Environmental Engineer Pay
Environmental engineering is a well-paid technical role, and pay rises with experience and licensure. The federal data gives a solid anchor.
An entry-level engineer sits toward the lower end and a senior PE toward the higher end, with engineering and consulting services and government as the largest employers. These are the most recent confirmed federal estimates.
| Level | Pay tendency | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | Lower end | No PE, supervised work |
| Mid-level / standard | Around the median | Independent project work |
| Senior / PE | Higher end | Licensed, signs and seals |
| EHS / compliance | Varies by industry | Facility-based |
For setting pay, anchor on the federal figure, adjust for the level, your industry, and local market, add a premium for the PE license and relevant certifications, and state an honest range, since a growing number of states require one in the posting.
Hiring an Environmental Engineer at a Small Firm
A large consulting firm hires environmental engineers through a recruiting team and a structured ladder. A small consulting or civil firm makes the same hire directly, where the owner or principal has to set the level, decide the license requirement, and track certifications. Here is how to do it well.
After You Hire: Onboarding an Environmental Engineer
Environmental engineer onboarding should put the offer, paperwork, and license tracking first, because the role is licensed and regulated. The basics come first: the offer letter with the salary stated, then the I-9, tax forms, and state new-hire reporting, plus safety and SOP acknowledgements. Then comes role-specific onboarding: verifying and recording the PE license with its state and renewal date, HAZWOPER and any required safety training, certifications like CHMM or LEED, software and system access, and a walkthrough of the firm's processes and active projects. For the broader flow, the new hire paperwork guide covers the documents and the training new employees guide covers running orientation with sign-offs.
The documents around the hire follow the usual sequence: the offer letter template for the terms, and the onboarding checklist template for the first days of license verification, safety training, and project ramp-up.
FirstHR fits this directly: e-signature for the offer and acknowledgements, an AI onboarding wizard that turns this very job description into a role-specific onboarding plan, document management for licenses and certifications with renewal reminders, training modules for safety and HAZWOPER, task workflows for setup, an HRIS with an org chart for your firm, and a self-service portal. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR; today the platform handles onboarding and document tracking once the candidate signs, which helps a small firm keep licenses current and the hire productive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an environmental engineer do?
An environmental engineer designs and manages projects that protect human health and the environment. The role conducts site assessments and sampling, designs remediation, treatment, and pollution-control systems, prepares permit applications and regulatory submittals, ensures compliance with EPA, OSHA, and state environmental regulations, writes technical reports, performs calculations and modeling, and coordinates with clients, regulators, and contractors. The exact mix depends on the setting: a consulting engineer runs assessments and design across client projects, an EHS or compliance engineer owns permits, reporting, and audits at an operating facility, and an entry-level engineer supports senior staff while learning the work. Most environmental engineers split their time between an office and field sites. The templates on this page cover these common variations so the posting matches the role you are filling.
Does an environmental engineer need a PE license?
It depends on the level. An entry-level environmental engineer does not need a PE license and can perform assessments, sampling, calculations, and report support under the supervision of a licensed engineer. A senior engineer who signs and seals engineering deliverables, in most states, must hold an active Professional Engineer (PE) license, because only a licensed PE may prepare, sign, and seal engineering documents submitted to a public authority. The path to a PE runs through an ABET-accredited degree, the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam to reach engineer-in-training status, about four years of qualifying experience, and the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. When you write the posting, state clearly whether the PE is required, preferred, or not needed for the level, since this is the single most important detail to get right.
What should an environmental engineer job description include?
A strong environmental engineer job description includes a company summary, a job summary, key responsibilities, required and preferred qualifications, the licenses and certifications expected, the work environment, the salary, and how to apply, written for your specific work and level. Because the role is technical and regulated, the most important details are the licensing requirement (PE required, preferred, or not needed), the certifications you value (HAZWOPER, CHMM, LEED), and the regulatory framework you work under (EPA, OSHA, RCRA, Clean Water Act). Name the type of work (consulting, remediation, water, EHS compliance), the degree requirement, and the years of experience. Separate true requirements from preferred items so you do not screen out capable candidates. Add an honest salary range and an equal opportunity statement. The five templates here each match a common level and focus.
What skills and certifications does an environmental engineer need?
Most environmental engineer roles require an ABET-accredited degree in environmental, civil, or chemical engineering, strong technical writing and data-analysis skills, knowledge of EPA, OSHA, and applicable environmental regulations, and the ability to do both office and field work. On the licensing and certification side, the FE exam and engineer-in-training status matter for entry-level roles, an active PE license is typically required for senior roles that stamp deliverables, and HAZWOPER certification is common where hazardous-materials or remediation work is involved. Additional certifications like CHMM (Certified Hazardous Materials Manager) and LEED add value for specific work. When writing the posting, match the requirements to the level: an entry-level role leads with fundamentals and a willingness to learn, while a senior role requires the PE and proven project experience. Listing advanced certifications as preferred rather than required widens your candidate pool.
What is the difference between an entry-level and a senior environmental engineer?
The difference is licensure, independence, and responsibility. An entry-level environmental engineer works under the supervision of senior staff, assisting with assessments, sampling, calculations, and reports while learning the firm's processes and building toward PE licensure; no license is required. A senior environmental engineer is typically a licensed PE who leads projects, signs and seals deliverables, owns client and regulator relationships, manages scope, schedule, and budget, and mentors junior engineers. Pay rises accordingly. When you write the posting, the level determines almost everything: the entry-level template leads with fundamentals and a path to licensure, while the senior PE template requires the active license and years of progressive experience. Matching the title to the real level prevents both overpaying for a junior role and under-spec'ing a role that legally needs a PE.
How much does an environmental engineer make?
Environmental engineering is a well-paid technical role. Based on federal data from May 2024, environmental engineers had a median annual wage of about $104,170, with the lowest ten percent earning under about $64,950 and the highest ten percent over about $161,910. Pay rises with experience and licensure, so an entry-level engineer sits toward the lower end and a senior PE toward the higher end, and pay varies by industry and region, with engineering and consulting services and government as the largest employers. Employment is projected to grow about 4 percent through 2034, roughly as fast as average, with about 3,000 openings projected each year. For setting pay, anchor on the federal figure, adjust for the level, your industry, and local market, add a premium for the PE license and relevant certifications, and state an honest range, since a growing number of states require one in the posting.
How do I write an EHS or compliance environmental engineer job description?
Lead with the facility and the regulatory scope. An EHS or compliance environmental engineer typically works at an operating facility or plant rather than a consulting firm, so the posting should center on managing air, water, and waste permits, ensuring compliance with EPA, OSHA, RCRA, and state rules, preparing required regulatory reports, running environmental audits, supporting safety programs and hazardous-materials handling, and serving as the contact for regulators and inspections. State the regulatory framework specific to your operation, the reporting and audit responsibilities, and certifications like HAZWOPER, CHMM, CSP, or CIH that fit the work. The EHS template on this page is written for exactly this case, so you can start from it rather than editing a consulting-focused description to fit a facility role.
What happens after I hire an environmental engineer?
Once the candidate accepts, the hire moves into onboarding, and for a licensed technical role, license and certification tracking sits alongside the standard paperwork. The first steps are the offer and paperwork: the offer letter with the salary stated, then the I-9, tax forms, and state new-hire reporting, plus safety and SOP acknowledgements. Then comes role-specific onboarding: verifying and recording the PE license with its state and renewal date, HAZWOPER and any required safety training, certifications like CHMM or LEED, software and system access, and a walkthrough of the firm's processes and active projects. FirstHR fits this directly: e-signature for the offer and acknowledgements, an AI onboarding wizard that turns the job description into a role-specific onboarding plan, document management for licenses and certifications with renewal reminders, training modules for safety and HAZWOPER, task workflows for setup, an HRIS with an org chart, and a self-service portal. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR; today the platform handles onboarding and document tracking once the candidate signs, which helps a small firm keep licenses current and the hire productive.