Assistant/Air Quality Engineer I & II (Engineering & Permitting)

Job Description:

Assistant/Air Quality Engineer I & II (Engineering & Permitting)

Description

SOUTH COAST AQMD AND JOB OVERVIEW

South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) is one of the largest and most technologically sophisticated environmental regulatory agencies in the Nation. We serve a four-county region that includes large areas of Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley, which is home to more than 17 million people. South Coast AQMD's headquarters is located in Diamond Bar, 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, at the junction of the 57 and 60 freeways. With a highly diverse "Clean Air Team" of over 850 employees, an annual budget of $211.4 million, and a state-of-the art air quality laboratory, our mission is to ensure clean air and a healthy environment. South Coast AQMD is an organization you can be proud to work for -- we make a difference in the quality of life in Southern California!

South Coast AQMD’s mission requires diverse perspectives, talents, and life experiences to solve some of the most complex technical air quality issues. We are committed to creating and maintaining a work environment that appreciates the unique contributions of our employees and fosters professional development and growth. South Coast AQMD respects the distinct ideas and perspectives of our stakeholders and works to bring them together toward the common goal of clean air.

ABOUT THE POSITIONS:
South Coast AQMD currently has multiple vacancies throughout various teams within the Engineering and Permitting Division. From this recruitment process, we expect to establish an eligibility list from which current and future vacancies at these levels may be filled, during the life of the list.

ABOUT THE JOB OF AN AIR QUALITY ENGINEER
The primary function of engineers assigned to a permitting or other related engineering units, is the review and processing of permits to construct and permits to operate equipment, to ensure that resulting emissions comply with our rules and do not negatively affect air quality in this region.

Air Quality Engineers may be expected to support various other South Coast AQMD programs, and may be assigned responsibilities such as:

• Developing new or amendments to South Coast AQMD rules.
• Auditing annual emissions reports.
• Working in the AB-2588 or AER programs (emissions inventory, risk assessment, and community right-to-know about air toxic emissions).
• Handling equipment registration/certification and other area source programs.
• Assisting small businesses with permitting and compliance issues.
• Providing staff assistance to the small business advisory group.
• Administering grant programs.
• Overseeing the noticing of public workshops and hearings.
• Conducting inspections and field source tests.
• Reviewing/evaluating protocols, source test data, and reports submitted to the South Coast AQMD.

CAREER PATH
New engineers may be placed at any level below, depending on their qualifications and our needs. Typically, however, individuals are placed as an Assistant Air Quality Engineer and become eligible for non-competitive promotions to each successive level upon successful performance of duties for the required minimum period of time. At each level, the duties performed are similar, but vary in the degree of difficulty and complexity of work, the breadth and depth of knowledge required, the kind and amount of supervision received, and the degree of independence of action with which the work is performed.

ASSISTANT AIR QUALITY ENGINEER
Biweekly Salary Range: $3,003.14 - $4,147.34
Annual Salary Range: $78,081.52 - $107,830.79

This is the entry-level class in the professional Air Quality Engineer class series. Incumbents perform the less complex engineering assignments, and serve under training conditions, while acquiring the necessary air quality engineering skills and knowledge to qualify for promotion to the Air Quality Engineer I level.

AIR QUALITY ENGINEER I
Biweekly Salary Range: $3,344.97 - $4,617.40
Annual Salary Range: $86,969.15 - $120,052.47

This is the intermediate-level class in the professional Air Quality Engineer class series. Incumbents are expected to complete a variety of engineering assignments, working under general supervision.

AIR QUALITY ENGINEER II
Biweekly Salary Range: $3,542.73 - $4,891.85
Annual Salary Range: $92,111.10 - $127,188.11
This is the experienced, journey-level class in the professional Air Quality Engineer class series. Air Quality Engineer II is characterized by the responsibility for performing complex air quality engineering assignments requiring the use of judgment and initiative to develop solutions to problems and the interpretation and application of general policies and rules. Incumbents at this level may act as team leaders with lead responsibility for others.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES

The general Example of Duties for this classification are highlighted below, for full description of duties please refer to the job description linked here.

• Evaluates, for conformity with federal and State air quality laws and South Coast AQMD rules and regulations, applications for permits to construct and to operate equipment subject to South Coast AQMD permitting requirements and recommends issuing or denying permits.
• Performs complex engineering calculations and analyses of the design and operation of various industrial processes and air pollution control equipment to quantify and assess air emissions impacts.
• Interprets and explains air quality rules and regulations, policies, and South Coast AQMD fee schedules to technical and non-technical permit applicants and business representatives and explains why operation of certain equipment or processes may result in violations of air quality rules and what requirements must be met for approval of permits.
• Audits privatized source emissions testing for compliance with rules and regulations; develops, reviews, evaluates and approves emission test protocols and reports; validates test methods, protocols, and reporting requirements; conducts source emissions tests; and evaluates and approves continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS).
• Performs complex instrumentation engineering work involving the design, modification, construction, calibration, and maintenance of instruments and equipment used in air monitoring and air quality measurement.
• Conducts technical engineering research; collects and analyzes data in support of rule-making activity; may draft and amend rules and regulations for air quality control programs; writes technical reports; assists in budget preparation; and prepares procedural manuals and other documents.
• Provides expert testimony at the Hearing Board.

MINIMUM AND DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• California State Registration as a Professional Engineer.
• Ability to identify emission sources and make recommendations on how to minimize emissions and to improve rules and regulations will be required in all units.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in chemical, mechanical, environmental, metallurgical, or petroleum engineering, or other related engineering field as described below.

Regarding a "related engineering field" that might be acceptable: An accredited degree in another engineering field may be acceptable IF your official college transcript documents that your course of study included at least 24 semester or 36 quarter units in chemistry, physics, physical metallurgy, power plant design, heat transfer, air pollution control, air conditioning, differential equations, combustion or thermodynamics. (All coursework must have been completed with a grade of C or above. Foreign degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. degrees before we can accept them.)

EXPERIENCE:

ASSISTANT AIR QUALITY ENGINEER:
No experience is required.

AIR QUALITY ENGINEER I:
One year as an Assistant Air Quality Engineer at South Coast AQMD or equivalent engineering experience is required.

AIR QUALITY ENGINEER II:
Eighteen months of professional air quality engineering experience, either as an Air Quality Engineer I at South Coast AQMD or at an equivalent level in a similar public agency.

SUBSTITUTION:
A master's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the above-listed engineering disciplines or other related engineering field may substitute for up to six months of the required experience.

SKILL OR ABILITY TO:
Ability to make field visits, climb ladders, investigate emission release points on top of building or equipment roofs, may be required for positions in some units.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

APPLICATION PACKETS MUST INCLUDE : A completed employment application covering at least the past 10 years of employment history (or longer if you have other relevant experience), and your entire South Coast AQMD employment history if you are a South Coast AQMD employee.Up to four references which include the names and phone numbers of your present and past supervisors or managers, and/or college professors or persons for whom you have directly provided services, not peers.Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ). The SQ is a form of written test and will be evaluated as such. Your responses should be well written, clear, concise, and directly responsive to the question.An unofficial copy of your transcripts (or equivalency evaluation if your education was obtained outside the U.S.), documenting all qualifying education claimed, submitted as an attachment to your online application *. *You MUST submit acceptable documentation for all education claimed on your application . Acceptable documentation consists of an unofficial copy of your transcripts/equivalency evaluation attached to your application . At a later date, candidates under final consideration will be required to arrange for original, official transcripts (or equivalency evaluation, if applicable) to be mailed directly from their college/university to South Coast AQMD, documenting all education claimed on their application.

Job applications must be completely filled out. A resume cannot be substituted for the required information . Be sure to detail any education, training or other relevant coursework that would make you a particularly strong candidate.

THE SELECTION PROCESS
Application packets, including responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire, will first be screened, and the most competitively qualified candidates will be invited to a multiple-choice examination, to be rated on a pass/fail basis. Candidates who pass the exam will advance to the next step in the process, which may include a panel interview. (Please note that all exams/interviews will be conducted remotely).

Following the exam and/or interviews, a ranked eligible list is expected to be created, from which current and future vacancies may be filled, during the life of the list. Only those who demonstrate at each successive step of the selection process that they are among the most competitively qualified will be advanced to the next step. (Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to future steps in the process.)

Important note for potential candidates who do not have the continued and unrestricted right to work full time in the United States: If you currently, or will in the future, require sponsorship (i.e., H1-B Visa) in order to maintain your right to work in the United States, please be aware that this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

South Coast AQMD reserves the right to add, delete, or modify any elements of the selection process as deemed appropriate, based on the number and quality of applicants at each step.

Candidates who may need accommodations during the selection process must call the Human Resources Department at least one week prior to any test dates.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact the Human Resources Department at (909) 396-2800.

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OVERVIEW

BENEFIT

DESCRIPTION

Monthly Benefit Allotment

$1,912, to purchase medical, dental, and life insurance, with unused portion paid to you as cash. Your insurance coverage becomes effective on the first of the month following completion of 30 days of continuous service. Dependent children may be covered to age 26 on medical, dental and vision plans.

Medical Health Plans

Blue Shield PPO

Blue Shield PPO Savings Plus 2250 (High Deductible Plan)

Blue Shield HMO

Kaiser HMO

Kaiser HSA HMO 1500 (High Deductible Plan)

Dental Plans

Delta Dental PPO (without orthodontic benefits)

Delta Dental PPO (with orthodontic benefits for children only)

DeltaCare (PMI) Dental

Vision Plan

EyeMed - Optional

Life Insurance

$10,000 Term Life Insurance

(Optional additional life insurance, paid by you, at 1X, 2X, or 3X your salary)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Claremont EAP, powered by Uprise Health. EAP is available to all employees and their familiels at no cost. EAP offers confidential advice, support and practical solutions to real-life issues.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment

Optional

Section 125

Optional Plans (Medical Reimbursement; Dependent Care)

Work Schedule

Four 10-hour days, Tuesday through Friday

Vacation

80 hours per year, increasing to 120 after five years

Holidays

13 paid holidays per year

Sick Leave

100 hours per year

Other Leaves

Bereavement; Jury Duty; Military; Witness

Tuition Reimbursement

Reimbursed up to $5,000 per year

Deferred Compensation (457 Plan)

Optional (Employee may contribute up to the IRS maximum). South Coast AQMD matches, dollar for dollar up to $300 per year for the regular plan.

Retirement

2.5% @ 67 defined benefit plan - Applies to employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 who, at time of hire, were not members of the San Bernardino County Employees' Retirement Association (SBCERA) or another public employee retirement system through which reciprocity may be established.

2.0% @ 55 defined benefit plan - Applies to employees who, prior to January 1, 2013, were active members of SBCERA or another public employee retirement system through which reciprocity may be established.

Employees pay only the Medicare portion of Social Security.

03/01/2024

Closing Date/Time: 11/6/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$78,081.52 - $127,188.11 Annually