ENGINEERING SPECIALIST I - 37010410

Socket.dev; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Southeast District seeks an Engineering Specialist I in West Palm Beach to support compliance inspections, permit reviews, and technical guidance. This role involves fieldwork, data entry, and coordination with enforcement activities as needed.

Required are a valid driver license, ability to travel, and at least 4 years of verifiable related experience or equivalent education; CWE certification may be required within 9 months.

Qualifications

• Valid Driver License.
• Ability to travel, overnight if required.
• At least 4 years of verifiable related experience in regulatory inspection/compliance/permitting or other related experience.
• A credential evaluation report from an approved agency must be submitted with foreign degrees.
• Certification upon appointment or within 9 months as CWE as applicable.
• Ability to use safety equipment and complete a 24-hour HAZWOPER course as applicable.
• Meet snorkeling/skin diving validation requirements per DEP Underwater Operations Manual, as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Conducts engineering compliance/technical assistance site visits to increase compliance.
• Cultivates relationships with industry to improve compliance rates.
• Provides education and guidance to residential, commercial, institutional, and public sectors.
• Supports and assists in compliance assistance workshops.
• Plans and conducts engineering inspections, site visits, sampling/testing, and field work.
• Produces documentation of inspections and enters data into databases.
• Coordinates enforcement actions when necessary.

Skills

Regulatory inspections

Field travel

Technical guidance

Data entry

Education

Driver license

Regulatory experience 4+ yrs

Tools

HAZWOPER

Job description

Requisition No:883677

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: ENGINEERING SPECIALIST I - 37010410

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number:37010410

Salary: 49,931.04

Posting Closing Date: 10/05/2026

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

ENGINEERING SPECIALIST I

STATE OF FLORIDA

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

**THIS IS AN ANTICIPATED VACANCY**

This position is located in West Palm Beach, FL

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

This is an entry level Environmental Engineering I position that will exhibit and implement organizational and time management skills. Supports the Southeast District’s mission, goals, and values. The job requires skills in applying instructions to accomplish different job functions and a general understanding of scientific principles.

External Compliance Assistance, Outreach, Training, and Partnership Implementation

• Conducts engineering compliance/technical assistance site visits of regulated facilities to increase compliance rates.
• Seeks and cultivates positive partnering relationships with industry and regulated facilities to increase or maintain the highest possible compliance rates.
• Provides education and guidance to residential, commercial, institutional, and public sectors. When available, arrange for the application of CEUs and the like towards outreach participants’ licensure.
• Supports, develops, participates, and/or assists in the execution of compliance assistance workshops for the regulated community.

Internal Training, Consulting, and Organizational Improvement

• When directed, conduct peer review of work products for accuracy.
• Provides technical assistance as needed. Internal assistance includes training and providing technical assistance to Department staff.
• Evaluates and makes recommendations on training material and methodology. Develops and refines training aids such as SOPs, manuals, and handbooks.
• Participates, develops, and leads training activities and safety events. Facilitates learning through a variety of delivery methods including classroom instruction, virtual training, on-the-job coaching, job shadowing, and team building initiatives.
• Participates in training and is a self-advocate for training needs. Partners with appropriate district staff to learn about multiple DEP program areas.

Compliance – In general, this position may conduct engineering inspections at facilities and sites known to be moderately high complexity in multiple program areas.

• Plans and conducts engineering inspections, site visits, sampling/testing, and/or other required field work. Reviews permitting files, reports, and other documents applicable to the inspection. Makes calculations and technical evaluations to determine compliance status of regulated facilities.
• Produces timely and accurate documentation of inspections, site visits, or field work. Reports are to be processed in accordance with established program rules, requirements, and policies. Enter inspection documentation, compliance data and resolution actions into the designated databases.
• Provides compliance assistance to regulated facilities before, during, and after inspections. Conducts follow up visits as needed to assist facilities with returning to compliance without enforcement.
• When necessary, recommend enforcement action. Drafts enforcement documents, coordinates, and leads enforcement meetings.
• Responds to, investigates, and takes steps to resolve complaints.

Permitting and Waste Cleanup

• Reviews permit applications, plans, specifications, and reports for assigned programs from an engineering aspect.
• Ascertains that all Department rules are met.
• Reviews technical aspects of projects to determine that all materials and methods described in the application package are addressed, complete and suitable to the circumstances and in accordance with sound engineering practices and principles and particularly in accord with specific engineering publications referenced in Department rules.
• Updates permitting data/records in all applicable data management systems.
• Recommends issuance or denial of permits as appropriate.
• Ensures that Chapter 120, Florida Statutes, deadlines, and district metrics are met.
• Conducts permit determination and communicate final decisions with the facility/site owner.
• Coordinates with Compliance staff and supports inspections to determine compliance with permit.
• Writes Requests for Additional Information permit documents and other correspondence clearly and professionally as needed.

Technical Assistance

Provides technical assistance to applicants, Utilities, and engineers as regards to department rules, guidelines, and policies on regulated entities.

Performs related duties as required. including the conducting of meetings, data management, record keeping and streamlining of office procedures and document production.

Performs other duties as needed.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the terminology, principles, and analytical techniques of the physical or natural sciences.
• Ability to determine work priorities and ensure proper completion of work assignments.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable regulations, policies, and procedures relating to environmental programs.
• Ability to communicate in an effective, tactful, and courteous manner, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to evaluate, analyze and interpret scientific and technical data.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to physically conduct field inspections/investigations.
• Ability to work well with people.
• Knowledge of the Department's compliance, enforcement, and permitting rules, policies, and procedures.
• Skill and proficiency in computer operations and programs.
• Knowledge of procedures for reading, entering, and editing data.
• Ability to organize and structure the creation and processing of documents.
• Certification upon appointment or within 9 months of appointment as a Certified Wetland Evaluator. (CWE) as applicable
• Ability to use safety equipment and complete a 24-hour HAZWOPER course as applicable.
• Have prior approval and meet the snorkeling / skin diving validation requirements in the DEP Underwater Operations Manual, as applicable

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid Driver License
• Ability to travel, overnight if required
• At least 4 years of verifiable related experience in regulatory inspection/compliance/permitting or other related experience. Post-secondary degrees may be used as an alternative for the required 4 years of experience on a year-for-year basis.A credential evaluation report from an approved agency must be submitted along with all foreign degrees.

Position of Special Trust Requirement:

This position is designated as a Position of Special Trust in accordance with DEP Directive 422, Positions of Special Trust or Responsibility. Successful completion of background screening will be required for this position.

Pay:

$49,931.04

Our Organization and Mission:

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the state’s leading agency for environmental management and stewardship - protecting our air, water and land. The vision of DEP is to advance Florida’s position as a world leader in protecting natural resources while growing the state’s economy. DEP encourages its leaders to constantly innovate and seek efficiencies. We believe in supporting and encouraging you as you take on important and often complex projects while offering you the opportunity to gain valuable experience quickly.

Where You Will Work:

This position is located in West Palm Beach Florida. West Palm Beach isPalm Beach County's capital city and its cultural center. Its active downtown stretches from a scenic pier on the Lake Worth Lagoon to a waterfront Great Lawn, which hosts a weekly green market, outdoor concerts and this season a 35-foot-tall holiday sandcastle. Dozens of local beaches provide easy access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Several State Parks as well as National Parks are in the immediate area as well.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits.
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year.
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com );
• Tuition waivers.
• Total Compensation Estimator Tool
• And more!

For a complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEP SOUTHEAST DISTRICT OFFICE, PLEASE ACCESS THE FOLLOWING LINK: https://floridadep.gov/southeast

Special Notes:

DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferable skills that veterans and individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact our recruiter for guidance and answers to questions through the following email addresses:

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

An individual with a disability is qualified if he or she satisfies the skills, experience, and other job-related requirements for a position and can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.Candidatesrequiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must contact the DEP Human Resources (HR) Office at [phone]. DEP requests applicants notify HR in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes,candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.