Description
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
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:
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
