Full Time Air Quality Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $131,969.41 - $160,409.65 Annually
Location : Richmond, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: AK-26-6P003-ST
Department: Source Test
Opening Date: 06/25/2026
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 Air Quality Engineer (Source Test) in the Source Test Section. This is an open recruitment for one (1) full-time, represented position.
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.
About the Division/Office
The Source Test Section performs source emission tests at regulated facilities for compliance determination, emission factor development, and information gathering. Facilities that are commonly tested include petroleum refineries, power plants, manufacturing facilities, wastewater treatment plants, landfills, and gasoline dispensing facilities. The section also provides regulatory oversight for facility continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) operation, facility contracted source testing, and special testing or measurement projects.
About the Air District
Bay Area 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.
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.
Conducts environmental audits, compliance inspections and source tests; evaluates results and recommends appropriate actions, including violation notices.
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.
Responds to industry, public and District inquiries regarding regulation interpretation, permit preparation, various compliance measures and emission calculation methods in person, by telephone and in writing.
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. 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 than500 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-Sharin