ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER SPECIALIST 2/3

Arizona Department of Administration • Phoenix, AZ

6d • $70,000 - $90,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is seeking an Environmental Engineer Specialist for the Water Quality Division’s Groundwater Protection Inspection & Compliance Enforcement Unit. As an Underground Injection Control (UIC) Inspector, the employee evaluates and oversees regional injection operations to protect subsurface drinking water resources. The role combines engineering inspections, permit and facility-design reviews, mechanical integrity testing, pressure and fluid-dynamics calculations, technical analysis, compliance support, and enforcement documentation. The position includes field work outdoors approximately one to two days per week and may allow remote work within Arizona depending on department needs and performance. The posting describes the position as approximately 60% virtual work and 40% field/office work. Statewide travel, including overnight stays, is required.

The role is offered at two levels. At Level 2 (EES 2), the employee performs moderately complex UIC well compliance evaluations, field inspections, standard mechanical integrity test witnessing, fluid-dynamics and pressure calculations, and technical or enforcement report drafting. At Level 3 (EES 3), the employee provides advanced technical leadership for Class I–VI wells, reviews complex permits, witnesses advanced mechanical integrity tests, performs hydrogeologic modeling, and supports legal enforcement actions.

The position requires applying engineering principles and regulatory requirements to well construction, injection operations, groundwater and chemical data, pressure and fracture analyses, and compliance issues. The employee works independently, communicates with interdisciplinary teams, stakeholders, the public, and legal counsel, and may lead initiatives and mentor junior staff.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental, mechanical, electrical, chemical, or geotechnical engineering, or an engineering-related discipline.
• For Level 2 (grade 25), 2–5 years of engineering experience; a master’s or doctoral degree may substitute for two years of experience.
• For Level 3 (grade 26), at least five years of engineering experience; a master’s degree may substitute for two years or a doctorate may substitute for four years of experience.
• For Level 3 (grade 26), Engineer in Training certification through the Arizona Board of Technical Registration or an equivalent organization in a reciprocal jurisdiction is required.
• For Level 3 (grade 26), Professional Engineering certification through the Arizona Board of Technical Registration or an equivalent organization is listed.
• Valid Arizona driver license.
• Ability to travel statewide and work remotely as required by department needs; the position requires overnight travel.
• Knowledge of fluid mechanics, hydrogeology, geomechanics, and environmental remediation.
• Knowledge of wellbore integrity, casing and tubing metallurgy, cementing, surface piping, and packers.
• Understanding of the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA UIC rules for Classes I–VI, state codes, and procurement standards.
• Ability to apply mathematics, algebra, geometry, engineering statistics, and thermodynamics to fluid dynamics.
• Familiarity with research, agency rules and structure, confidentiality, and standard workplace software such as MS Office or G-Suite.
• Skills in fluid-dynamics and subsurface-pressure calculations, engineering plan review, data analysis, technical documentation, communication, customer service, and statistical analysis.
• Ability to analyze geophysical logs, MIT results, fall-off tests, water chemistry, advanced logs, and matrix data.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, prioritize work, meet deadlines, exercise sound judgment, and communicate tactfully and diplomatically.
• Newly hired State employees must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Responsibilities

• Conduct site inspections of injection wellheads, piping, pressure-relief equipment, and monitoring systems to assess compliance with engineering plans and regulations.
• Manage file reviews, respond to complaints, and travel statewide, including overnight stays, for facility inspections.
• Perform UIC well compliance evaluations and conduct physical field inspections.
• Witness standard and advanced Mechanical Integrity Tests (MITs), including pressure tests, temperature logs, radioactive tracer logs, and noise logs, as appropriate to the position level.
• Calculate fluid dynamics, annulus behavior, subsurface pressures, fracture pressures, and fracture gradients using standard or advanced methods.
• Evaluate UIC permit applications, facility designs, well construction, engineering plans and specifications, stress calculations, pump sizing, and plugging specifications for Class I–VI wells.
• Analyze injection rates, well pressures, groundwater data, water chemistry, and chemical compatibility using engineering principles and mass-balance calculations.
• Apply hydrogeologic models to evaluate fluid behavior and subsurface conditions.
• Draft engineering technical reports, decision documentation, and compliance action plans.
• Provide technical justifications and expert determinations to legal counsel for enforcement proceedings.
• Provide field guidance to help facilities achieve compliance during inspections.
• Manage caseloads and resolve open compliance cases to return facilities to compliance promptly.
• Conduct cost-benefit analyses to evaluate overall project efficacy.
• Develop innovative solutions to recurring compliance and permitting issues.
• Provide technical assistance and communicate with interdisciplinary teams, stakeholders, and the public.
• Lead cross-disciplinary initiatives, mentor junior staff, and apply technical authority to complex subsurface scenarios.
• Work independently, prioritize assignments, and adapt to changing priorities while meeting deadlines.

Benefits

• 10 paid holidays per year.
• Sick and annual leave accrual beginning at 12 and 13 days per year, respectively, for full-time employees.
• Paid parental leave of up to 12 weeks per year for a newborn or newly placed foster or adopted child (pilot program).
• Arizona State Retirement System lifetime pension benefits.
• Medical, dental, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance.
• Incentivized commuter club and public transportation subsidy program.
• Workplace flexibility to support work/life balance.
• Learning and career development opportunities.
• Option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, subject to management discretion and agency needs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level