Placer County

Air Pollution Control Engineer - Assistant (#14216)

$34.37-$42.94 Hourly / $5,957.47-$7,442.93 Monthly / $71,489.60-$89,315.20 Yearly

Apply as a Inter-Agency Transfer/Public Agency Eligible List applicant

Air Pollution Control Engineer - Associate (#14217)

$39.79-$49.70 Hourly / $6,896.93-$8,614.67 Monthly / $82,763.20-$103,376.00 Yearly

Apply as a Inter-Agency Transfer/Public Agency Eligible List applicant


DEFINITION

To perform professional engineering duties in the administration and enforcement of federal, state, and local air pollution control statutes and regulations; and to assist the public in providing information in understanding and complying with air pollution standards and regulations.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Assistant Air Pollution Control Engineer 
This is the entry-level class in the Air Pollution Control Engineer series. This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level. Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience. Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.

Associate Air Pollution Control Engineer 
This is the full journey-level class within the Air Pollution Control Engineer series. This class is distinguished from the Assistant Air Pollution Control Engineer by the assignment of the full range of duties assigned. Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and they are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit.  Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry level.

This class is distinguished from Senior Air Pollution Control Engineer in that the latter performs the most difficult and responsible engineering work and exercises direct supervision over lower level professional, technical, and clerical staff.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Assistant Air Pollution Control Engineer

Receives direct supervision from supervisory and management staff.

May exercise technical and functional supervision over technical and clerical staff.

Associate Air Pollution Control Engineer

Receives general supervision from supervisory or management staff.

May exercise technical and functional supervision over technical and clerical staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Provide engineering analysis and evaluation of new and modified source air pollution control engineering plans, permit applications, and modifications to permit requests for compliance with various air pollution control standards. Research, process, and evaluate applications and permit renewal requests according to engineering and air pollution control standards and make recommendations regarding approval, denial, or issuance of warnings or violation notices; conduct field inspections, samplings, and emissions tests as necessary. 
  • Research and determine the appropriate emission control technology for proposed processes and draft recommended permit language; operate and monitor conditions for approval.
  • Perform facility inspection to verify initial compliance with the construction and operation of permitted equipment and activities. 
  • Identify, research, and prepare new and amended air pollution control regulations for submittal and approval by appropriate air pollution control agencies.
  • Provide information to the public, commercial, industrial, and agricultural contacts and consultants regarding air pollution control requirements, permit processing, and associated engineering standards.  
  • Make engineering calculations to determine emission rates and permit fees; prepare flow charts, drawings and sketches of process and related equipment as installed; compile and calculate emission inventory data; prepare reports and studies for department use and to various regulatory agencies.
  • Conduct engineering calculations for criteria and toxic air pollutants from reported operational data inventories for use in annual emissions inventories, air dispersion modeling, and health risk analyses and assessments. 
  • Coordinate with other County departments and other public agencies; meet with applicants as necessary and correspond with them or their representatives regarding permit or project status.
  • Assist in developing and preparing policy positions related to air pollution for the Board.
  • Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
  • Perform related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in both an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions and in the field requiring travel to various locations throughout the County in a variety of outdoor weather conditions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Assistant Air Pollution Control Engineer

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: No professional experience is required.

Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in air pollution, environmental, chemical, mechanical, petroleum, or combustion engineering or a related field.

Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Associate Air Pollution Control Engineer 

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Two (2) years of responsible air pollution control engineering experience performing duties similar to an Assistant Air Pollution Control Engineer with Placer County.

Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in air pollution, environmental, chemical, mechanical, petroleum, or combustion engineering or a related field.

Required License or Certificate:

  • Possession of within one (1) year of employment, a California Air Resources Board Visible Emission Certificate.
  • May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Assistant Air Pollution Control Engineer

Knowledge of:

  • Principles and practices of engineering as applied to evaluating and controlling sources of air pollution.
  • Principles and practices of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, chemistry, and physics.
  • General application of current federal and state air pollution statutes.
  • Computer software spreadsheet and data base applications.
  • Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
  • Occupational hazards and standard safety measures. 
  • English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; statistics and statistical analysis and advanced mathematical calculations.

Ability to:

  • Learn and understand all aspects of the job.  Intermittently analyze work papers, reports, and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe air pollution control activities and problem solve when appropriate; recall, understand, interpret, and explain applicable statutes and regulations. 
  • On a continuous basis sit at a desk and in meetings for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, reach, push, pull, bend, squat, crouch, crawl, climb, stoop, kneel, or twist to reach office equipment surrounding desk or while conducting field inspections; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use a telephone and write or use keyboard to communicate through written means; see with sufficient acuity to read characters and decipher colors on a computer screen; regularly lift heavy weight.  
  • Operate various testing and sampling equipment.
  • Compile, analyze, and evaluate technical data using sophisticated computer spreadsheet and data base applications and prepare recommendations and reports based on such data.
  • Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
  • Obtain information through interview and work firmly and courteously with the public.
  • Analyze situations quickly and objectively and to determine proper course of action.
  • Use a computer, calculator, telephone, facsimile machine, postage meter and photocopy machine.
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 

Associate Air Pollution Control Engineer

In addition to the qualifications for Assistant Air Pollution Control Engineer:

Knowledge of:

  • Federal, state, and local statutes and/or regulations governing air pollution control.
  • Operation, policies, and procedures of the Air Pollution Control Department.
  • Computer database applications and air dispersion modeling software.

Ability to:

  • On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job. Independently interpret and enforce air pollution control statutes and regulations.
  • Independently assess various air quality permit applications and air pollution control engineering plans and specifications to determine compliance with air pollution laws and regulations.
  • Perform studies and analyses; prepare reports, draft rules, and regulations.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Length of Probation: 

All permanent appointments to this classification shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) calendar months or two thousand eighty (2,080) hours, whichever is more. 

Bargaining Unit: 

General

CLASS: 14216; EST: 9/2/1995; REV: 2/14/2023;
CLASS: 14217; EST: 9/2/1995; REV: 2/14/2023;