Associate Environmental Engineer - Coke

DTE Vantage; River Rouge (MI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

DTE Energy is seeking an entry-level Environmental Engineer at the EES Coke facility in River Rouge, MI. You will support day-to-day environmental compliance for heavy industrial coke manufacturing operations, including inspections, reporting, permit tracking, data management, and program support.

You will collaborate with operations, maintenance, engineering, and environmental staff to ensure compliance with permits, regulations, and company expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field.
• Two years of relevant work experience.
• Understanding of environmental regulations and compliance recordkeeping.
• Strong organization and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct routine environmental field inspections and compliance checks at coke battery and related operations.
• Assist with air, water, waste, reporting obligations and manage data.
• Support permit conditions, procedures, and recordkeeping systems.
• Maintain environmental databases, trackers, logs, and calendars.
• Support investigations of environmental incidents and corrective actions.
• Assist with agency inspections, field visits, sampling events, and contractor activities.
• Research and interpret environmental requirements with guidance from experienced professionals.
• Prepare compliance summaries, inspection reports, and internal communications.
• Coordinate with operations to gather information and resolve issues.
• Perform other related environmental compliance duties.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Field work

Documentation

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Compliance tracking systems

Job description

DTE is one of the nation's largest diversified energy companies. Our electric and gas companies have fueled our customer's homes and Michigan's progress for more than a century. And as Michigan's largest source of renewable energy, we’re creating a cleaner, healthier environment to power our future. We’re also serving communities beyond Michigan, where our affiliated businesses offer renewable energy, emission control technologies, and energy services to industries in 19 states. But we’re more than a leading energy company... and working at DTE is more than just a job. At DTE, we take great care of each other and our customers, and we use our energy to be a force for growth and prosperity in our communities. When you join us, you’ll be part of a team that welcomes, recognizes, and celebrates differences, and values everyone’s health, safety, and wellbeing. Are you ready to make that kind of difference? Bring your energy to DTE. Together, we can achieve great things.

EES Coke Operations

is a facility in River Rouge, MI on Zug Island. The plant produces coke from various types of coal blends and is then used as fuel in the blast furnaces at the steel mill.

Job Summary

Location: River Rouge, MI

Embedded at the EES Coke facility, this entry-level Environmental Engineer supports day-to-day environmental compliance for heavy industrial coke manufacturing operations, including inspections, reporting, permit tracking, data management, and program support. The role partners with operations, maintenance, engineering, and environmental staff to identify issues, maintain records, support corrective actions, and help ensure activities align with permits, regulations, and company expectations.

EES Coke Role Distinction:

Unlike a multi-asset support role, this position is dedicated to one complex facility, heavy industrical facility. Success requires strong organization, field presence, attention to detail, technical curiosity, and the ability to translate compliance obligations into practical support for coke battery, by-product, wastewater, waste management, and supporting operations.

Key Accountabilities

• Conduct routine environmental field inspections, walkdowns, and compliance checks of coke battery, by-product recovery, wastewater treatment, material handling, and supporting facility operations.
• Assist with air, water, waste, chemical, and community-right-to-know reporting obligations, including collection, validation, organization, and retention of compliance data.
• Support implementation of permit conditions, environmental procedures, inspection programs, and recordkeeping systems.
• Maintain environmental databases, trackers, logs, and compliance calendars to help ensure regulatory obligations are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Assist with investigation and documentation of environmental incidents, deviations, abnormal operating conditions, complaints, and corrective actions.
• Support agency inspections, information requests, field visits, stack testing, sampling events, and consultant or contractor activities.
• Research and interpret environmental requirements with guidance from experienced environmental professionals.
• Prepare draft compliance summaries, inspection reports, training materials, and internal communications for review.
• Coordinate with operations and maintenance personnel to gather information, communicate basic compliance expectations, and support issue resolution.
• Perform all other related environmental compliance duties as assigned.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, environmental science, chemistry, or a related technical field from an accredited college or university.
• Two years of relevant work-related experience.
• Basic understanding of environmental regulations, industrial operations, and compliance recordkeeping.
• Strong organization, follow-through, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in field and office settings while managing shifting priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and compliance tracking systems.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage plant personnel and agency representatives.

Other Qualifications

• Experience in heavy industrial, coke, steel, refining, chemical, power generation, utility, consulting, regulatory, or comparable facility environments.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

Required

• Frequently stand or walk and sit.
• Occasionally climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch or occasionally crawl.
• Occasionally lift objects of up to 25 pounds in weight.
• Possess the following vision requirements: close, color, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• Talk & hear; use hands & fingers; handle & feel; and able to reach with hands and arms.
• Use computers, mouse, keyboard, and other office equipment.
• Wear required PPE and follow all applicable site safety procedures.
• Work in both an office setting and heavy industrial field environment where exposure to noise, weather, dust, odors, traffic, operating equipment, uneven walking surfaces, and other varying environmental conditions may be present.

Additional Information

Incumbents may engage in all or some combination of the activities and accountabilities, and utilize a variety of the competencies cited in this description depending upon the organization and role to which they are assigned. This description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by incumbents in this job. It is not intended as an all-inclusive list of accountabilities or responsibilities, nor is it intended to limit the rights of supervisors or management representatives to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.

PRIVACY NOTICE TO CALIFORNIA JOB APPLICANTS

At DTE Energy, we are committed to providing an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome and a sense of belonging. We seek individuals with a heart for service, a passion to help our communities prosper, and ideas to help shape the future of energy. We are proud to be an equal opportunity, employer that considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, citizenship, height, weight, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable federal and/or state laws.