Principal Air Quality Engineer (20672875)

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 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. 

The Air District is currently accepting applications for the position of Principal Air Quality Engineer. This is an open recruitment for three (3) full-time, represented positions: one (1) vacancy in the Regulatory Development Division and two (2) vacancy in the Engineering Division. 

Regulatory Development Division
The Regulatory Development Division works with all levels of the Air District, including staff, management, executives, and Board members in developing and modifying Air District rules to provide emissions reductions to improve air quality both regionally and at the neighborhood level and to protect the climate. The Principal Air Quality Engineer for the Regulatory Development Division will:

• work closely with professional and technical staff to perform and lead complex program assignments for developing regulations to control air pollutants (including those contributing to climate change and contributing to localized air quality impacts in overburdened communities);  
• work closely with the California Air Resources Board, other local air districts, community groups, community members, environmental organizations, regulated industries, and other key stakeholders to reduce harmful air pollutants, especially in communities overburdened by air pollution. 
• lead, conduct, and coordinate scientific, economic, and technical research work;  
• review and draft regulatory language, develop and implement cost effectiveness and incremental cost effectiveness calculations for a wide variety of sources in an industry with a variety of control options;  
• analyze emissions inventories to determine baseline emissions and reduction estimates for rules under development;  
• brief Air District executives and present at workshops and board meetings;  
• work closely with the Community Engagement Division staff and other Air District divisions to strengthen partnerships with key community stakeholders;  
• perform related work as assigned

Engineering Division
The Engineering Division evaluates permit applications and reviews permit renewals for equipment and operations that emit air pollutants in the Air District’s jurisdiction. The division provides technical support to other agency programs and assists businesses, trade associations, agencies, environmental groups, and community members with issues related to permitting and compliance. The division is responsible for implementing the Air District’s Facility Risk Reduction Program that focuses on reducing health risks to the community from existing facilities or sources.

The position will be working on the Air District’s Toxic Air Contaminant Control (TAC) Programs. These programs are designed to identify, assess, and reduce public exposure to toxic air contaminants—pollutants known to cause or contribute to adverse health effects, including cancer and other serious illnesses. The programs integrate federal, state, and local regulations to:

• Monitor and evaluate TAC emissions from permitted facilities through annual emissions inventories and health risk assessments
• Implement the Air Toxics New Source Review (NSR) program, requiring preconstruction review and risk assessment for new or modified sources of TACs.
• Operate Facility Risk Reduction Programs, targeting existing facilities to identify, assess, and reduce health risks, especially in communities with disproportionate air quality impacts.
• Engage with community stakeholders and provide transparent access to emissions data and health risk information through annual reports and online tools.

These efforts have led to significant reductions in health risks from toxic air contaminants across the Bay Area.

Beyond specific permitting work, some of the important programs and projects in which the Engineering Division are actively engaged include but are not limited to:

• Dispersion modeling and health risk assessments for toxic emissions
• Verification of emissions inventories
• Database development and data management 
• Development of new regulations or amendments of existing regulations
• Strategic planning of division programs

The Principal Air Quality Engineer for the Engineering Division may perform other complex and highly specialized air quality engineering work such as, but not limited to:

• Processing permit applications for complex facilities
• Analyzing air emissions and other metadata
• Evaluating program effectiveness
• Providing project leadership

This role also involves peer review, staff mentoring, and training. The incumbent may lead or contribute to sensitive, high-profile projects and deliver technical presentations to the Board of Directors, public, industry, and partner agencies. The Principal Air Quality Engineer also represents the Air District in multi-agency working groups.

Definition
Under direction, performs the most complex and highly specialized level of assigned air quality engineering activities and may supervise staff of a project basis or lead project teams; performs related work as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics
Under direction, performs the most complex and highly specialized level of assigned air quality engineering activities and may supervise staff of a project basis or lead project teams; performs related work as assigned.

 

Examples of Duties for this Position

(Illustrative only)

Review and participate in toxic screening and assessments, development of emission factors complex facilities.

Provide lead direction and work review to professional, technical and support staff, prioritizes and follows up on work assignments to ensure timely completion.

Represent the Air District in meetings with the public, industry and other agencies. 

Researches and develops new and revised rules and procedures for regulation of air quality; determines emissions and potential emission reductions and cost of controls; establishes control level and technology; writes proposed regulation; prepares technical assessment reports and conducts workshops; makes public presentations.

Coordinates the Air District's response to public and industry inquiries regarding regulation interpretation, permit preparation, various compliance measures and emission calculation methods in person, by telephone and in writing. Participate in the preparation of the goals and objectives of the assigned section.

Participate and supervise staff's review of permit application and recommends permit issuance or denial.

Recommends and implements regulatory changes and systems development to comply with the Federal permitting program.

Participate in the preparation of the budget of the assigned section.Participate and review staff's handling of Hearing Board matters involving variances, Order of Abatement and public nuisances.

Testifies as expert witness before the Hearing Board.

Conduct technical seminars for industry and other agencies.

Develop, participate and review field engineering compliance audits, source testing and sampling, analysis of the results and preparation of reports; observes and audits private contractor tests.

Provide lead direction, review and participate in the study of accidental releases as complex facilities, rule effectiveness and hazardous material storage, transportation and handling.

Provide lead direction, review and participate in community assistance program, hazardous incident investigations, and Technical Review Group.