Senior Environmental Engineer (Environmental Engineer 3 / Environmental Engineer 2 - Underfill)

Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for a Senior Environmental Engineer (Environmental Engineer 3 / Environmental Engineer 2 - Underfill). This position will be located Portland, Oregon.

About DEQ!

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is the primary regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. State of Oregon responsible for protecting and enhancing the state's natural resources. Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU

The Regional Divisions are responsible for implementation of Water Quality, Air Quality, and Waste Management and Cleanup Programs. The Regions provide the following services: compliance inspection of regulated entities; enforcement of permit requirements and administrative rules; issuance of air, water, and solid waste permits; investigation of complaints; issuance of subsurface permits; response to spills or other incidents with environmental impacts; direct contact and liaison with other governmental entities, industries, and the public; and technical assistance to regulated entities and the public. The Regions consist of Northwest, Eastern, and Western Region. This position is in Northwest Region and focuses on the Air Quality Program.

What you will do!

You will draft Title V and other highly complex Air Quality permits for industrial, commercial, and municipal air quality sources. You will rigorously analyze facility operations and applicable regulations to determine emission and pollution control, monitoring, and testing requirements for ongoing operations, and new businesses. You will apply engineering principles and specific industry knowledge in evaluating control technologies, discharge rates, and impacts for new and modified sources, and you will serve as a technical resource for internal and external partners on air quality and emission control technologies and issues. You will perform on-site compliance inspections; handle complaints where solutions may not be readily apparent and resolutions may be more problematic in resolution; provide explanations, assistance, and response to complaints for partners; and recommend necessary enforcement options.

What’s in it for you!

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today!

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications for Environmental Engineer 3:

• 7 years of engineering experience, OR 4 years of engineering experience and a Bachelor’s degree in an engineering field, such as environmental, chemical, civil, or mechanical.
• 2 years of experience in an environmental protection/control program.
• A current PE.

Minimum Qualifications for Environmental Engineer 2 - Underfill:

• 5 years of engineering experience, OR 2 years of engineering experience and a Bachelor's degree in an engineering field, such as environmental, chemical, civil, or mechanical.
• 1 year of experience in an environmental protection/control program.

The underfill option is available to you if you do not meet the minimum qualifications for the Environmental Engineer 3 upon hire. In order to retain this appointment, you must be able to meet the minimum qualifications for the Environmental Engineer 3 by obtaining your Oregon registration for Professional Engineer within 3 years of employment.

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following desired attributes:

• Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to provide clear, concise, and compelling communication of policy and technical information tailored to the needs of diverse audiences; skill in writing and presenting clear and concise reports that include qualitative and quantitative analyses, recommendations, and conclusions to diverse audiences.
• Extensive experience and expert knowledge with air emission sources, pollution control devices and equipment, source permitting, compliance inspection methods, source operations, state and federal air quality regulations, and atmospheric chemistry.
• Extensive experience with NESHAP, NSPS, NSR/BSD, BACT, and MACT.
• Expert knowledge and experience with Title V industrial sources.
• Advanced environmental, science, or engineering education.
• Experience drafting and reviewing environmental permit conditions that are accurate, clear, and enforceable; experience evaluating permit applications and modifications and ensuring that all proposed actions comply with all applicable regulatory requirements and good engineering practice.
• Experience conducting site investigations and inspections to evaluate compliance status, and experience creating accurate and clear enforcement documents.
• Demonstrated experience building and fostering relationships with a diverse group of partners including colleagues, interested parties, communities, organizations, and businesses; skill in conflict resolution, negotiation, and collaboration.
• Strong data analysis and mathematical skills.
• Project management experience in an environmental/natural resources setting, including development, implementation, and evaluation; experience managing concurrent multiple complex projects with many interested parties and multiple deliverables, all with resource constraints.

Working Conditions:

DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness.

This position will be based out of DEQ’s Portland office; however, the successful candidate may be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.

There will be regular travel on official State business for meetings, trainings, conferences, seminars, public hearings, and site visits, some of which may include evening work, weekend work, and/or overnight stays. During site visits, there may be exposure to inclement weather, pollutants, chemicals, contaminated soil and water, fumes, airborne contaminants, and challenging field conditions (steep slope, heavy vegetation, ladders, stairs, and uneven terrain).