Senior Air Quality Engineer (Source Test)

Bay Area Air District•Richmond, CA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

This Senior Air Quality Engineer role will be tasked with leading one, or more, source testing programs, providing senior level leadership and expertise to the section’s lower-level air quality engineering staff and performing highly complex and specialized source test program assignments. In addition, the incumbent will coordinate or perform field, shop, and office source test program duties, including, but not limited to, equipment purchase specification; instrument operation; methodology application assessment; pollutant emission regulatory and scientific research; air pollution abatement and process system engineering evaluation; data gathering, reduction and analysis; workgroup participation; report preparation; and source test contractor report and protocol review.

Requirements

Equivalent to graduation from a four year college or university with major coursework in environmental, chemical, mechanical or petroleum engineering or a closely related field.
Two years of air quality environmental engineering experience at a level equivalent to the District's class of Air Quality Engineer II.
Must possess a valid California driver's license.
Must pass a physical exam and be able to meet the requirements of a lift test for occasional physical duties.
Knowledge of the specialty area to which assigned.
Knowledge of authority and functions of governmental agencies involved in air pollution control and environmental regulations.
Knowledge of air quality engineering principles and practices.
Knowledge of air pollution analysis techniques and control methodologies and equipment.
Knowledge of applicable District rules and regulations and state and federal laws.
Knowledge of principles and practices of computer science including programming and data base structures.
Knowledge of industrial chemical processes and pollution control equipment.
Skill in applying sound engineering principles and techniques in difficult and complex air quality engineering matters.
Skill in computing complex engineering calculations quickly and accurately.
Skill in performing detailed analyses of designs, specifications and plans.
Skill in coordinating a variety of air quality engineering studies.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
Skill in preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials.
Skill in exercising sound independent judgement.

Nice To Haves

A directly related graduate degree may be desirable for some assignments and may be substituted for one year of the experience.

Responsibilities

Leading one, or more, source testing programs.
Providing senior level leadership and expertise to lower-level air quality engineering staff.
Performing highly complex and specialized source test program assignments.
Coordinating or performing field, shop, and office source test program duties.
Equipment purchase specification.
Instrument operation.
Methodology application assessment.
Pollutant emission regulatory and scientific research.
Air pollution abatement and process system engineering evaluation.
Data gathering, reduction and analysis.
Workgroup participation.
Report preparation.
Source test contractor report and protocol review.
Provides input into selection decisions and performances.
Coordinates technical data gathering and compilation, including coordination with other District sections and divisions.
Coordinates on-site compliance inspections of sources and abatement devices; evaluates compliance and recommends enforcement actions.
Conducts environmental audits, compliance inspections and source tests; evaluates results and recommends appropriate actions, including violation notices.
Performs the more difficult and complex air quality engineering work such as, but not limited to, permit processing for petroleum refineries, power plants and semiconductor manufacturing facilities, air pollution dispersion modeling, providing detailed source inventories and providing project leadership.
Provides lead direction training and work review to Air Quality Engineers on routine, continuing or well-defined tasks, priorities and follows up on work to ensure timely completion.
Coordinates and reviews the work of engineering and support staff involved in complex, sensitive and controversial engineering projects, studies and audits.
Reviews permit and enforcement files to prepare materials and responses for variance requests, violation notices and case summaries and hearing board referrals; recommends appropriate actions; may testify of behalf of the District.
Responds to industry, public and District inquiries regarding regulation interpretation, permit preparation, various compliance measures and emission calculation methods in person, by telephone and in writing.
Reviews and evaluates new developments in motor vehicle technology, fuels, and test procedures, as they affect air pollutant emissions.
Develops and recommends revisions to District procedures and regulations.
Uses a computer terminal and a variety of software and programs to make engineering calculations, enter and retrieve data and to monitor and correct data entry; writes and revises computer programs; investigates and corrects errors in the data bank.
Acquires, evaluates, and applies computer models to simulate motor vehicle use and calculate vehicle emissions.
Coordinates toxic risk screening and risk assessment analysis; calculates toxic emissions, determines and applies appropriate air dispersion models, calculates maximum concentrations and calculates risk; recommends approval or denial of permit applications.
Performs, reviews, and directs the preparation of air quality impact analyses for permits, risk assessments and environmental impact documents.
Uses emissions models, geographic information systems, and relational data base to prepare and modify large data files on inventory input to air quality models.
Manages contracts with vendors and consultants.
Develops procedures to calculate and forecast pollutant emissions from natural and man-made sources of air pollution.
Participate in calculating, reviewing, correcting and documenting the emissions inventory; evaluates accuracy of source emission calculations and methodologies.
Provide engineering expertise in preparing and updating the emission inventory and other aspects of State and Federal air quality plans, including developing required programs, structuring data and preparing long-range emission forecasts for major industrial classifications.
Conduct special studies and write technical reports related to research and planning functions, and coordinate activities with District Staff, outside agencies and organizations.
Prepare new regulations and evaluated revisions to existing District procedures and regulations based upon changes in State and Federal programs.
Represent the District as technical expert in meetings with outside agencies, environmental groups and industry personnel regarding air quality control regulations, and source inventory procedures and results; act as an expert witness before the Hearing Board.