About Bay Area Air Quality Management District
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (District) is a regional government agency,
committed to achieving clean air to protect the public's health and the environment. The District accomplishes this goal through regulation of industrial facilities and various outreach and incentive programs designed to encourage clean air choices.
The 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.
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 Principal 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
The Principal Air Quality Engineer will be tasked as the program lead for oversight of facility contracted source testing. The assigned work includes review of contractor source test reports, protocols, and special study plans and methodologies; assignment of reviews to source test staff in cooperation with the Supervising Air Quality Engineer; evaluation of results and recommendation of acceptance or rejection, and appropriate enforcement action; field observation of private contractors during facility source tests; application assessment of source test methodology and related Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) metrics; and employment of best engineering principles and practices to accurately evaluate facility emissions.
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.
- Hybrid Work Schedule - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment. This position is a field and office position.
Ideal Candidate
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.
Represent the District in meeting with the public, industry and other agencies.
Coordinates the 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.
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 and work review to professional, technical and support staff, prioritizes and follows up on work assignments to ensure timely completion.
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.
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 goals and objectives of the assigned section.
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.
Review and participate in toxic screening and assessments, development of emission factors complex facilities.
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.
Conduct technical seminars for industry and other agencies.
Testifies as expert witness before the Hearing Board.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Experience
A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills is:
Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in environmental, chemical, mechanical or petroleum engineering or a closely related field and four years of air quality environmental engineering 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.
Special Instructions
How to Apply
Interested individuals must submit a completed Air District application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 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 www.baaqmd.gov/jobs to apply. Postmarked, faxed, and e-mailed applications will not be accepted.