Environmental Engineering Trainee

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Harrisburg (Dauphin County); Hybrid; USD 61,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework up to 3 days/week

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Air Quality, Permits Division is seeking an Environmental Engineering Trainee to gain hands-on experience in engineering reviews, permit applications, and regulatory decisions that protect air quality.

You will participate in training on technical and economic assessment of emissions, assist with regulatory activities, and support data management while traveling to industrial sites as needed.

Qualifications

• One year of engineering experience or an active Engineering Intern certificate.
• A bachelor’s degree in engineering.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements within three months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the review of plan approvals and operating permits.
• Help with the development of policies and guidance on air permitting regulations, permitting criteria, plan approvals, and operating permit programs.
• Assist regional staff with determining source-specific control technology requirements and considering energy, environmental, and economic impacts.
• Prepare and review reports, technical comments, and responses to inquiries for internal teams, regulated entities, or other governmental agencies.
• Input, maintain, update, and validate data to ensure accuracy, completeness, consistency, and integrity of all entries.
• Visit industrial sites to observe and gather data on various air contaminant sources and controls; participate in outreach efforts.

Skills

Engineering Intern certificate

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

Learn what it takes to protect Pennsylvania’s air quality as an Environmental Engineering Trainee with the Bureau of Air Quality, Permits Division! This role provides the hands‑on experience needed to effectively make preliminary engineering, permitting, and regulatory decisions based on clean air and pollution control laws. Each day brings opportunities to develop your professional skills through structured training and real‑world projects that contribute to environmental work supporting public health and responsible industry practices.

This position participates in a formal and on‑the‑job training program focused on the technical and economic assessment of air emissions, associated air pollution control equipment, and permit applications. It also supports a variety of regulatory and analytical activities to help maintain effective air quality programs throughout the Commonwealth. As an Environmental Engineering Trainee, you will learn and perform the following duties:

• Permit Reviews: Participate in the review of plan approvals operating permits issued by regional office staff
• Policy Development: Help with the development new policies and guidance on air permitting regulations, permitting criteria, plan approval, and operating permit programs
• Technology Assessments: Assist regional staff with determining source‑specific control technology requirements and considering energy, environmental, and economic impacts
• Technical Guidance: Prepare and review reports, technical comments, and responses to inquiries for internal teams, regulated entities, or other governmental agencies
• Data Management: Input, maintain, update, and validate data to ensure the accuracy, completeness, consistency, and integrity of all entries
• Fieldwork Collaborations: Visit industrial sites to observe and gather data on various air contaminant sources and controls; participate in public and private sector outreach efforts

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full‑time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 60‑minute lunch.
• This position may require travel.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part‑time, up to three days per week. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high‑speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Harrisburg. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: Most selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $67,658.00 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year of engineering experience and possession of an active Engineering Intern certificate issued by or acceptable to the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists; or
• A bachelor’s degree in engineering.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within three months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Veterans

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.