Environmental engineers develop innovative solutions to address environmental challenges and emerging issues related to water supply, climate change, new energy resources and sustainability.
What do environmental engineers do?
Environmental engineers design systems to both safeguard and improve the quality of the environment. By utilizing a combination of scientific and engineering principles, environmental engineers work to protect the world and its people from negative environmental impacts caused by both natural and human activities. The work of environmental engineers is increasingly important, as healthy environments are critical for enabling livable, sustainable, equitable communities and cities.
What problems are environmental engineers trying to solve?
- Environmental engineers focus on protecting and preserving the environment through water quality research, air pollution control, wastewater management and more.
- Environmental engineers design increasingly efficient and selective methods to remove contaminants from air, water, contaminated soils and sediments, and decrease the amount and adverse effects of wastes.
- Environmental engineers design solutions to better utilize water, air and soil resources to maintain a sustainable environment.
Opportunities in Environmental Engineering
- More than 80% of our students obtain an internship before they graduate.
- ENVE students participate in research projects in air resources, environmental systems, hydrology, hydrodynamics, and water quality engineering.
- Each year the CEE department awards more than $400,000 in scholarships to its own students.
ENVEs enjoy careers in:
- General Environmental Engineering
- Hazardous Waste Management
- Hydropower
- Land-Use Planning
- Public Utilities
- Solid Waste Management
- Stream Restoration
- Surface Hydrology
- Water Resource Management
- Water Supply and Wastewater Engineering
- And much, much more!
Where do CEE alumni work?
Air and space
Jobs: Air quality engineering, air pollution control, air dispersion modeling
Employers: Geosyntec, Boeing,SpaceX, Department of Defense
Computing, data and digital technologies
Jobs: Mathematical modeling, data analysis
Employers: Amazon, Google, Uber, Zillow, Thornton Tomesetti
Environment, sustainability and energy
Jobs: Climate change/adaptation, renewable energy, water treatment, sustainability, environmental chemistry, hydropower
Employers: AESI, Anchor QEA, Army Corps of Engineers, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, Parametrix, Seattle Public Utilities, TRC Companies, UNICEF, Anchor QEA, AESI
Health and medicine
Jobs: Drinking water treatment, air pollution control
Employers: Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Aspect Consulting, Clark Construction
Infrastructure, transportation and society
Jobs: Air and water quality facilities, site remediation, sustainability, habitat restoration, project management
Employers: Jacobs, WSP, HDR, GeoEngineers, KPFF, Magnusson Klemencic, Kiewit, Stacy and Witbeck, Perteet, Sound Transit, Walsh Group, WSDOT, AESI, Anchor QEA
Robotics and manufacturing
Jobs: Construction materials, tunneling, 3D printing, autonomous vehicles/robots
Employers: Lane Construction, Traylor Brothers, Kiewit, Clark Construction, WSDOT
ABET accredited
The program prepares students to obtain their Engineering in Training License (EIT).
Annual Career Fair
connects students with over 80 employers.
The cohort model
helps contribute to CEE's tight-knit culture and extensive collaboration.
How can I learn more?
- Join a CEE student organization: CEE has over 15 active registered student organizations!
- Study abroad: CEE students travel to Rome and India!
- Get involved in research: CEE faculty do groundbreaking research in a variety of areas, and are always happy to hear from interested undergraduates.
- Contact our advising staff: We can help you find your fit in environmental engineering! Email ceadvice@uw.edu to set up an advising appointment today!