Senior Air Quality Engineer (Source Test)

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.

Hybrid Work Schedule - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve maybe available depending on the assignment.

This position is a field and office position. DEFINITION Under direction, provides lead direction to engineering staff and performs the more difficult and complex professional engineering work in a variety of areas such as permit application evaluation, toxic risk screening and assessment evaluations, compliance audits and source testing; modeling and source inventory; performs related work as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS This is the specialist level class in this series. In addition to performing the more difficult and complex engineering work, responsibilities include functioning as the project leader for a variety of engineering projects, providing training to other District staff and coordinating technical data gathering and compilation and the preparation of special and technical reports.

This class is distinguished from Supervising Air Quality Engineer in that the latter supervises the staff and participates in the activities of assigned air quality engineering responsibilities.

This is the advanced lead level in the professional engineering series. Incumbents provide lead direction to air quality engineers and performs highly specialized and difficult engineering projects.

Incumbents are assigned to design and implement programs that require considerable professional knowledge and the use of independent judgement.

This class is distinguished from the Principal Air Quality Engineer in that the latter has the responsibility for developing new programs and handling the most difficult, sensitive, or critical projects.

Examples of Duties for this Position EXAMPLES OF DUTIES (Illustrative Only) Upon request, 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.

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.

Upon assignment, 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.

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.

May manage 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.

Minimum Qualifications Education and Experience: A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills is: 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 and two years of air quality environmental engineering experience at a level equivalent to the District's class of Air Quality Engineer II.

A directly related graduate degree may be desirable for some assignments and may be substituted for one year of the experience. Other Requirements Must possess a valid California driver's license.

Physical, Lift & Climb Test: Must pass a physical exam and be able to meet the requirements of a lift test for occasional physical duties.

Qualifications Knowledge of: The specialty area to which assigned.

Authority and functions of governmental agencies involved in air pollution control and environmental regulations. Air quality engineering principles and practices.

Air pollution analysis techniques and control methodologies and equipment Applicable District rules and regulations and state and federal laws Principles and practices of computer science including programming and data base structures.

Industrial chemical processes and pollution control equipment. Skill in: Applying sound engineering principles and techniques in difficult and complex air quality engineering matters.

Computing complex engineering calculations quickly and accurately. Performing detailed analyses of designs, specifications and plans. Coordinating a variety of air quality engineering studies.

Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work. Preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials.

Exercising sound independent judgement. How to Apply & Selection Criteria How to Apply Interested individuals must submit a completed Air District application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire.

The Air District may hire from this recruitment process to fill future vacancies occurring within the next 18 months. Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations Persons with disabilities who may require reasonable accommodations during the application and/or selection process should notify the Human Resources Division at (415) 749-4980.