Engineer Trainee (35 Hour)

State of Connecticut - DEEP Air Management; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Connecticut - DEEP Air Management is recruiting an Engineer Trainee in Hartford, CT. This full-time 35-hour-per-week role offers training in regulatory enforcement of air quality and emission testing, with potential hybrid telework.

Successful candidates will gain exposure to stack testing protocols, CEMS audits, and enforcement actions while developing professional engineering skills for advancement.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of basic engineering theories, principles and methods.
• Skill in the use of drafting and calculating instruments.
• Considerable ability to perform mathematical computations, making neat and accurate drawings.
• Ability to utilize computer software.

Responsibilities

• Review and negotiate stack test protocols.
• Audit stack test programs to ensure conformance with test methods and guidance.
• Review test results and verify emission calculations.
• Review and negotiate CEMS Plans as required by regulations.
• Draft and issue Notices of Violation to address violations.

Skills

Engineering basics

Drafting tools

Math calculations

Computer software

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or atmospheric science

Job description

Introduction

The State of Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) is recruiting for an Engineer Trainee (35 Hours) (Target Class: Environmental Protection Air Pollution Control Engineer 1.)

What We Can Offer You:

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) mission is to conserve, protect, and improve natural resources and the environment to provide enduring health and welfare as well as making clean, reliable, and affordable energy available for the Connecticut residents and businesses. The agency is also committed to playing a positive role in supporting economic development and job creation in Connecticut as well as fostering a sustainable and prosperous economic future for the state.

Within the Bureau of Air Management (BAM), our mission is to work for clean air to protect human health, safety, and the environment and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Connecticut by implementing regulatory programs and supporting policies to advance clean air and climate change objectives, advance radiation safety, and promote public health. The Bureau consists of four divisions: Planning & Standards, Engineering, Radiation, and Enforcement.

Through this recruitment, the Department is seeking to fill two Engineer Trainee vacancies in the Enforcement Division’s Source Emissions Monitoring Unit.

The Source Emissions Monitoring Unit is responsible for:

• Overseeing stack testing of stationary source to assess compliance with emission limitations based upon statutes, regulations, permits, and orders;
• Overseeing audits of continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) to assess conformance with applicable performance specifications; and
• Initiating enforcement action to address noncompliance with emission limitations and performance specifications.

Under general supervision, the incumbent will receive training on and perform duties relative to the above. The incumbent may perform other duties, as assigned.

This position offers a unique opportunity to join a team committed to the regulatory enforcement of state and federal air quality requirements at stationary air pollution sources throughout the state. Engineer Trainees learn to conduct comprehensive source inspections and to prepare enforcement cases to address noncompliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. Trainees are required to attend formal training classes and to review self-study materials to enhance their knowledge of the principles and practices of air pollution control.

This position will require routine in-state travel to audit stack testing and CEMS audits. This position will require infrequent out-of-state travel for training and to attend regional and national workgroups and conferences.

This position will be located at DEEP Headquarters, at 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106. This is a full-time, 35 hour per week, Monday-Friday position. The position may include opportunities for a hybrid schedule that includes telework.

Specific programmatic responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to:

• Review and negotiate stack test protocols.
• Audit stack test programs to ensure conformance with the applicable test methods and Department/EPA testing guidance and to verify that the air pollution source is operating representatively.
• Review test results and verify emission calculations.
• Review and negotiate Relative Accuracy Test Audit (RATA) test plans.
• Audit RATA test programs to ensure conformance with the applicable test methods and Department/EPA testing guidance and to verify that the air pollution source is operating representatively.
• Review RATA results and verify emission calculations.
• Review and negotiate CEMS Plans as required by Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies Section 22a-174-4a for sources utilizing CEMS for compliance verification.
• Coordinate and conduct investigations, including multimedia environmental investigations, with other divisions within the Department and/or with outside government agencies.
• Exercise a thorough understanding of air pollution control principles for all source categories.
• Draft and recommend the issuance of Notices of Violation to address violations of federal regulations and state statutes, regulations, permits, and orders.
• Coordinate compliance and enforcement activities with staff of the Enforcement Division’s Field Enforcement, Administrative Enforcement, Compliance Analysis and Coordination, and Investigations Units.
• Provide comments and feedback on pending permitting matters before the Department.

For an inside look at what it's like to work as an employee for the State of Connecticut, please watch the video below!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for receiving training in introductory professional engineering work for the development of technical and professional engineering skills and knowledge in order to qualify for advancement to the technical engineering work of the agency.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Performs a wide variety of increasingly difficult duties as technical skills are acquired during course of training period.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of basic engineering theories, principles and methods;
• Skill in the use of drafting and calculating instruments;
• Considerable ability to perform mathematical computations, making neat and accurate drawings and preparing minor design and structural details;
• Ability to utilize computer software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Candidates must be able to meet the experience and training requirements of the designated job class at the completion of the development program.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Professional experience or completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher in an engineering discipline or atmospheric science discipline.
• Professional experience or academic coursework in the principles and practices of air pollution control.
• Professional experience or academic coursework in the interpretation, application, and enforcement of air pollution control statutes, regulations, and permits.
• Experience communicating technical, regulatory, and policy information pertaining to the air quality field to audiences verbally and in writing.
• Experience analyzing air pollution data and quantifying emissions.
• Experience applying the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stack test methods and auditing the performance of continuous emission monitoring systems pursuant to 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 60, 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 75, and Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (RCSA) Section 22a-174-4a.

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.