Air Quality Engineer - Assistant/Associate

Clay Today; Sacramento, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 99,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Clay Today is seeking an Air Quality Engineer in Sacramento, CA, in a regular full-time capacity within the Engineering & Compliance Division. The role focuses on evaluating emission sources, writing enforceable permits, and conducting dispersion modeling and inspections to ensure compliance with air quality regulations.

The position has two levels: Assistant and Associate Air Quality Engineer, with pay ranges of $47.58–$67.17/hour and responsibilities aligned to certification and experience.

Responsibilities

• Reviews and evaluates engineering plans and permit applications for equipment which emits or controls air pollution to determine if equipment meets all applicable rules and regulations; researches and determines best control technology; performs economic analysis on technology determination; drafts permit conditions; determines fees, issues permits.
• Calculates and analyzes pollution emissions; determines appropriate emission standards for proposed rules; performs air dispersion modeling and health risk assessments.
• Performs initial inspection of equipment to determine that conditions are in compliance and equipment is constructed and operated as required; conducts periodic inspections of vehicle fleets to maintain continuing compliance; performs engineering evaluations related to engine efficiency and mechanical/electrical/structural aspects of vehicles.
• Reviews source test protocols; observes source tests; reviews and analyzes test results.
• Consults with management and technical staff of industrial and commercial establishments on solutions to engineering problems arising from stationary source, mobile source or toxic air contamination and proposed rules; makes recommendations on how to comply with federal, state, and local legislation, ordinances, regulations, and policies.
• Researches local air quality; performs necessary studies and analysis of technological feasibility, economic and other impacts of proposed practices and rule changes.
• Reviews, evaluates, writes, analyzes and justifies new/revised rules and advisories; reviews and comments on legislation and regulations; writes justification and background for rule changes.
• Represents the District on committees and at public activities, meetings, and before official bodies.
• Develops, maintains, reviews, and analyzes emissions inventories; develops, plans and implements emissions inventory procedures and program.
• Drafts programs to introduce clean fuels and low emission vehicles; directs and manages demonstration projects of light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles and off-road vehicles.

Job description

Air Quality Engineer - Assistant/Associate Salary $47.58 - $67.17 Hourly Location Sacramento, CA, CA Job Type Regular Full-Time Remote Employment Flexible/Hybrid Job Number 1922-O Department Engineering & Compliance Division Engineering & Compliance Opening Date 09/17/2026 Closing Date 10/14/2026 4:00 PM Pacific

The Engineering and Compliance Divisionis seeking a highly motivated, organized and detail-oriented Air Quality Engineer. This position requires the ability to evaluate sources of emissions from a wide range of mechanical and industrial processes, collect information from thousands of businesses and estimate air pollution emissions from the data, write enforceable air quality permits, and perform inspections. This includes reviewing air quality regulations and other technical documents, performing mathematical computations, running air dispersion modeling programs, utilizing sound engineering principals to quantify emissions, witnessing and evaluating source tests, and preparing technical written documents that demonstrate compliance with applicable air quality regulations.

An Air Quality Engineer performs a variety of professional engineering work in connection with evaluation, control, monitoring, and assessment of air quality standards, conditions, plans and strategies to ensure public and private compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; and performs other related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

Assistant Air Quality Engineer – The entry level class in the professional air quality engineering series. Incumbents are responsible for office and/or field projects of average difficulty and complexity and are required to direct them to completion. Assistant Air Quality Engineers have no supervisory responsibility but do provide technical direction to others. Incumbents are expected to demonstrate increased proficiency and knowledge and work under less supervision during the training period. Incumbents are gradually given more difficult and responsible assignments and may assist experienced staff on more difficult projects.

Associate Air Quality Engineer – The fully experienced, journey level professional engineering class in the series who performs difficult and complex engineering work under general supervision. Incumbents provide technical guidance or training to other staff or may act as a project leader.

Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the lower grade of Engineer Specialist, or when filled from the outside, require prior engineering experience.

Assistant Air Quality Engineer

Pay Range: $47.58 - $57.83/hour with typical starting pay between $47.58 - $52.45/hour*

Associate Air Quality Engineer

Pay Range: $55.26 - $67.17/hour with typical starting pay between $55.26 and $60.92/hour*

*Placement higher in the range may be considered based on education, prior experience, and internal equity.

The duties listed below are examples of the work typically performed by employees in this class. An employee may not be assigned all duties and may be assigned duties which are not listed below. Marginal duties (shown in italics) are those which are least likely to be essential functions for any single position in this class.

• 1. Reviews and evaluates engineering plans and permit applications for equipment which emits or controls air pollution to determine if equipment meets all applicable rules and regulations; researches and determines best control technology; performs economic analysis on technology determination; drafts permit conditions; determines fees, issues permits.
• 2. Calculates and analyzes pollution emissions; determines appropriate emission standards for proposed rules; performs air dispersion modeling and health risk assessments.
• 3. Performs initial inspection of equipment to determine that conditions are in compliance and equipment is constructed and operated as required; conducts periodic inspections of vehicle fleets to maintain continuing compliance; performs engineering evaluations related to engine efficiency and mechanical/electrical/structural aspects of vehicles.
• 4. Reviews source test protocols; observes source tests; reviews and analyzes test results.
• 5. Consults with management and technical staff of industrial and commercial establishments on solutions to engineering problems arising from stationary source, mobile source or toxic air contamination and proposed rules; makes recommendations on how to comply with federal, state, and local legislation, ordinances, regulations, and policies.
• 6. Researches local air quality; performs necessary studies and analysis of technological feasibility, economic and other impacts of proposed practices and rule changes.
• 7. Reviews, evaluates, writes, analyzes and justifies new/revised rules and advisories; reviews and comments on legislation and regulations; writes justification and background for rule changes.
• 8. Represents the District on committees and at public activities, meetings, and before official bodies.
• 9. Develops, maintains, reviews, and analyzes emissions inventories; develops, plans and implements emissions inventory procedures and program.
• 10. Drafts programs to introduce clean fuels and low emission vehicles; directs and manages demonstration projects of light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles and off-road vehicles.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Assistant Air Quality Engineer – Completion of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in civil, chemical, environmental, automotive, or mechanical engineering or a closely related field or any combination of training and experience that provides the desired knowledge and abilities.

Associate Air Quality Engineer -- Completion of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in civil, chemical, environmental, automotive, or mechanical engineering or a closely related field and two years of experience as an Assistant Air Quality Engineer or two years of full-time experience performing responsible engineering work in air quality management or any combination of training and experience that provides the desired knowledge and abilities.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Both Classes – Principles of mathematics necessary to evaluate, monitor, and control air quality; basic computer principles and applications; statistical techniques; engineering principles used in the various types of industrial processes; major Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations related to air quality and vehicle emission standards; internal combustion engine cycles; thermodynamic and heat transfer principles; the effects of vehicle emissions on air quality and human health.

Associate Air Quality Engineer -- Engineering principles, methods, practices, and equipment used in determining, evaluating, monitoring, and controlling air quality; various types of industrial processes and control equipment; current Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations related to air quality management; methods of collecting and analyzing air and stack gas samples; design and use of atmosphere pollution control devices; relationship of Federal and State air quality programs to local government programs; air quality plan components and methods of calculating impacts of air pollution control measures; light, medium, heavy-duty, and off-road powertrain and emission control systems; environmental and safety aspects of conventional and alternative fuels; State vehicle emission standards; Federal, State, and local laws, rules and regulations related to vehicle air quality management.

ABILITY TO:

Both Classes – Review, interpret, and evaluate air pollution control engineering plans and test data; conduct research and special studies of air quality; analyze engineering problems and propose solutions; prepare technical reports; interpret, apply and explain Federal, State and local policies, procedures, and laws; deal with a variety of different personalities and situations; evaluate and review permit applications, plans, assessments, tests, rules and proposals; speak and write clearly and concisely; communicate in public and private meetings with people of varying technical skills, including representatives of government, industry and the public.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Possession of a valid Class C California driver's license is required for positions performing inspections or air monitoring activities.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

Generally clean work environment with occasional exposure to chemicals, dust, fumes, odors, and noise. Computer monitor used in a daily basis. Travel throughout the District may be required.
Positions within these classes that perform inspections or air monitoring activities will require the ability to bend, stoop, climb ladders and stairs, crouch, and lift weights up to approximately 25 pounds (weights include briefcase, manuals, testing equipment, etc.)