Atmospheric Modeling Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $145,496.28 - $176,851.64 Annually
Location : 375 Beale St # 600, San Francisco, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: KW_2026_6P005_AIM
Department: Assessment, Inventory, and Modeling
Division: Air Quality Modeling & Analysis
Opening Date: 07/09/2026
Closing Date: 7/30/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
Description
Join an agency committed to creating a healthy breathing environment for every Bay Area resident while protecting and improving public health, air quality, and the global climate!
The Air District is currently accepting applications for the position of Senior Atmospheric Modeler in the Assessment, Inventory, and Modeling Division. This is an open recruitment for one (1) vacancy which is full-time, represented position.
About the Position
Ready to lead and conduct high-impact technical projects that shape the future of clean air in the Bay Area? The Bay Area Air District is seeking a Senior Atmospheric Modeler to support complex modeling-related analyses in the Assessment, Inventory, and Modeling (AIM) Division. In this role, you'll use air quality modeling results to assess pollution levels, human exposures, and health impacts-especially in communities most affected by air pollution. This position will have a special focus on making air quality and exposure modeling results more useful and interpretable by AIM stakeholders.
About the Division
The Assessment, Inventory, and Modeling (AIM) Division prepares comprehensive emissions inventories for the Bay Area and conducts air quality modeling at both regional and community scales. AIM prepares technical assessments that evaluate equity in air pollution exposures and health impacts in support of Air District programs. AIM coordinates and implements programs to improve and report estimates of emissions of criteria pollutants, toxic air contaminants, and climate forcing pollutants. AIM assesses emissions, modeled concentrations, and exposures of toxic air contaminants, particulate matter, ozone, and their precursors, to support targeted strategies that reduce impacts of air pollution both regionally and within communities, especially communities requiring action plans in accordance with Assembly Bill 617 (AB617). AIM reviews and provides guidance on environmental health risk assessments within environmental review documents prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Definition
Under direction, provides lead direction to professional and technical staff and performs complex scientific research; performs related work as assigned.
Distinguished Characteristics
This is the advanced lead level in this atmospheric science series. Incumbents provide lead direction and perform highly complex atmospheric research. Incumbents exercise significant independent, professional judgment and the work requires extensive scientific knowledge. This class is distinguished from Research and Modeling Manager in that the latter has managerial responsibility for the staff and activities of the section.
About the Air District
The Bay Area Air District (Air District) is a regional government agency, committed to achieving clean air to protect the public's health and the environment. The Air District accomplishes this goal through regulation of industrial facilities and various outreach and incentive programs designed to encourage clean air choices. The Air District's jurisdiction encompasses all of seven counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Napa, and portions of two others - southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma.
At the Air District, we take pride in our commitment to fostering a workplace that values diversity and promotes cultural awareness. We prioritize employee engagement by providing a collaborative and inclusive environment that encourages active participation and open dialogue. Additionally, we believe in pay equity and strive to create an equitable compensation structure. With a strong emphasis on work-life balance, we understand the importance of supporting our employees' well-being both inside and outside the workplace. Join us in a dynamic and inclusive culture where your contributions are celebrated, and your growth is nurtured. The Air District recognizes and values the contributions of every employee and works to sustain an environment where everyone is respected. We incorporate the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion within our decision-making strategies, policies, procedures, regulations, funding initiatives, public outreach, planning, and hiring.
Examples of Duties for this Position
The following duties are typical for jobs in the class. They are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect the full scope of job duties.
Provides lead direction, develops work assignments and reviews the work of professional and technical staff; prioritizes and follows up on work to ensure timely completion.
Provides input into selection decisions; evaluates performance and provides for professional development and training.
Selects, acquires, optimizes, maintains and applies large and complex photochemical and meteorological models; obtains and maintains state-of-the-art knowledge of the hardware, software, their uses and applications and modeling technologies.
Develops methodologies to simulate, analyze and rank air quality control strategies.
Organizes and directs the work of other staff on a project basis.
Establishes and maintains professional contacts and working relationships with modeling specialists outside the District.
Designs and implements interconnected modeling systems into powerful application systems; designs and implements computer tools necessary for the evaluation and analysis of these models.
Applies these complex meteorological and photochemical models for the District's air quality planning process.
Develops appropriate simulation techniques and methods to evaluate and interpret the simulation results; conducts simulations, analyzes simulation results, interprets the application of modeling results and prepares reports.
Designs field studies for the purpose of collecting data for modeling.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience
A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills is:
Equivalent to a graduate degree in the physical sciences, atmospheric science or a closely related field and three years of experience in modeling and scientific research involving air quality or atmospheric sciences.
Preferred Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of environmental engineering and regulation.
• Applicable District rules and regulations and state and federal laws.
• Methods and techniques of research, statistical analysis, and report presentation.
• Principles of air quality management and its technology.
• Operations and functions of air quality agencies.
• Principles and practices of effective technical writing.

Skill in:

• Analyzing and interpreting outputs of complex air quality models such as WRF-Chem and CMAQ.
• Using air quality modeling results and population data to assess human exposures to air pollution.
• Applying models such as BenMAP to quantify health impacts associated with exposure to specified levels of air pollution.
• Applying complex technical information to real-world problems, evaluating alternative solutions and recommending effective courses of action.
• Representing the District effectively in contracts with governmental and regulatory agencies, industry and the public.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

• Exercising sound independent judgement within general policy guidelines.
• Preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
• Making persuasive presentations of ideas and recommendations.

How to Apply & Selection Criteria
Interested individuals must submit a completed Air District application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30th, 2026. Resumes are encouraged, but not mandatory, and will not be accepted in lieu of the required application materials. Applications must be submitted online; please visit our website at to apply. Postmarked, faxed, and e-mailed applications will not be accepted.
Except as requested in this announcement, do not include any additional documents, such as letters of recommendation, performance evaluations, work samples, etc. They will not be considered.
Supplemental Questions Instructions
Individuals who apply for this position must respond to each of the required supplemental questions. Applications must be received by the Human Resources Division no later than the time and date specified in this vacancy announcement. The responses to the supplemental application questions will be used in accordance with the procedures indicated under the Selection Criteria section. Please limit your responses to no more than 500 words per question. Do not combine your responses or reference your application, resume, or any other requested documentation that you have included with your application packet to answer a question. This information will be evaluated as is and may be used to determine those applicants with the most directly related experience, education, and training to continue in the selection process. It is very important to provide a concise, clear, legible, complete response to each question.
Please limit your responses tono more than 500 words per question. Do not combine your responses or reference your application, resume, or any other requested documentation that you have included with your application packet to answer a question. This information will be evaluated as is and may be used to determine those applicants with the most directly related experience, education, and training to continue in the selection process. It is very important to provide a concise, clear, legible, complete response to each question.
Selection Criteria
Selection may be based upon a competitive examination consisting of a written exercise, interview, or combination of the two. Depending on the number of qualified applicants, an application screening and/or panel interview may be used to determine the most qualified applicants.
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.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Air District does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, ethnic group identification, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, color, genetic information, medical condition, or mental or physical disability, or any other attribute or belief protected by law. It is the Air District's policy to provide fair and equal access to the benefits of the programs or activities it administers.
The Air District offers the following benefits for full-time, represented and management positions:

• Cost-Sharing Medical, Dental & Vision Options
• Life Insurance (up to 5 times annual salary)
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• Money Purchase Pension Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Transit Subsidy
• Education Reimbursement
• Vacation Leave
• Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Floating Holiday Leave
• 9-80 Compressed Work Week
• Flexible schedule and Remote Work option
• Employees Assistance Program
• and the Opportunity to Help Provide a Healthy Breathing Environment for Every Bay Area Resident.

For a list of the full benefits, please click
01
Describe your professional experience related to air quality management, environmental policy, engineering, or a closely related field. Include your role, years of experience, and the types of programs or projects you have led or supported.
02
Provide an example of an air quality-related technical or administrative project you led. Describe the project's objectives, your role, challenges encountered, and the outcome. How did you exercise independent judgment in decision-making?
03
Explain how you have used air quality modeling results to assess human exposure to air pollution or associated health impacts. What tools have you used and how did you summarize or present the results of this work?
04
Describe your experience working with interdisciplinary teams to assess impacts of air pollution. How did you build positive relationships within your organization and with outside stakeholders?
Required Question