Principal or Senior Air Quality Engineer/Scientist

Intera-Incorporated-1; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid parental leave

Stock ownership opportunities

Bonuses and awards for publications

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

INTERA Incorporated is seeking a Principal or Senior Air Quality Engineer/Scientist to lead air quality permitting and regulatory compliance projects in the Texas, New Mexico, or Colorado region. The role blends technical leadership with business development, client advisory, and project management to grow INTERA’s air quality practice.

The successful candidate will mentor staff, manage high-profile projects, and expand INTERA’s reputation with clients and regulators while delivering defensible,

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in air quality permitting and compliance.
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Chemical, Environmental Engineering, Meteorology, or a related field.
• Proven success in business development, client development, or growth of consulting services.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including explaining complex regulatory issues.
• Strong technical understanding of air quality regulations and practical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities aligned with INTERA’s capabilities and goals.
• Lead project scoping, budgeting, and proposal development.
• Develop and expand INTERA’s reputation in air quality services market.
• Lead and manage complex air quality projects for mining, industrial, and other clients.
• Provide senior technical expertise in air quality permitting and regulatory compliance.
• Mentor and develop engineers and scientists; review technical work products.

Skills

Air quality permitting

Client relationships

Business development

Regulatory communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering (or related)

Master’s or Ph.D. preferred

Tools

AERMOD

ISC-PRIME

Job description

Description

Principal or Senior Air Quality Engineer/Scientist

Location: Texas, New Mexico, or Colorado[AT1]

INTERA Incorporated has been advancing environmental science and engineering since 1974, with roots in the atmospheric sciences through dispersion modeling and remote sensing for the mining and chemical industries. Today, our growing Air Quality Services business is expanding our talented roster of technical and client-focused professionals. We are seeking a Principal or Senior Air Quality Engineer/Scientist to help lead the continued growth of our air quality practice. This is a high-impact seller-doer role that combines technical leadership, project management, client advisor, and business development.

The right candidate will have deep experience in air quality permitting and compliance, strong technical judgement, and the demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with clients and regulators. This individual will play a key role in expanding INTERA’s air quality capabilities and market presence while delivering high-quality technical solutions. At INTERA, we believe technical excellence, professionalism, and strong relationships are fundamental to the great work we do, and we are looking for someone who wants to contribute to this culture while helping grow a successful Air Quality Services business.

What You Will Do

As a Principal or Senior Air Quality Engineer/Scientist, you will:

• Identify, develop, and pursue new business opportunities that align with INTERA’s capabilities and strategic goals.
• Lead project scoping, proposal development, budgeting, and execution.
• Develop and expand INTERA’s reputation and brand within the air quality services market.
• Lead and manage complex, high-profile air quality projects for mining, industrial, and other environmental clients.
• Provide senior technical expertise in air quality permitting, regulatory compliance, and air dispersion modelling.
• Interpret and apply federal, state, and local air quality regulations to develop practical, defensible solutions for clients.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients and serve as a trusted technical advisor.
• Represent INTERA at professional organisations, industry conferences, scientific meetings, and other external events.
• Collaborate with technical staff and project managers across INTERA’s Mining and Environmental Line of Business.
• Mentor and develop engineers and scientists, providing technical guidance and constructive feedback.
• Review technical work products and ensure that deliverables meet INTERA’s standards for quality and technical excellence.
• Interact directly with regulatory agencies and participate in permitting and compliance discussions on behalf of clients.
• Serve as an expert witness in administrative proceedings, hearings, or litigation, as appropriate.
• Help shape the continued growth, capabilities, and strategic direction of INTERA’s Air Quality Services practice.

About INTERA & Our Benefits

INTERA is a Top Workplaces USA 2025 award winner!

Founded in 1974, INTERA has grown into an international geosciences and engineering consulting firm that helps clients make informed business decisions, mitigate risk, and drive optimal outcomes in a multitude of industries. Building and sustaining a strong company culture is at the heart of INTERA’s practice of good stewardship. We strive to foster an environment where people love the work that they do and the place that they work because we believe that our employees are our most valuable asset. As an employee-owned company, we are committed to investing in our people’s needs for security, health, and well-being with:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance that includes a free health plan option for employee-only coverage
• Paid parental leave – up to 12 weeks for birthing and non-birthing parents
• Group term life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short-term and long-term coverage – paid 100% by the company
• Paid holiday, vacation, and sick time
• Opportunities for stock ownership
• Performance-based bonuses and award programs for technical paper publication and employee referrals
• Career coaching instead of performance evaluations
• Tuition reimbursement, financial assistance for professional licensure and registration, and one paid membership to a professional society
• Pet insurance, LegalShield, IDShield, and more

These are just some of the reasons why many of our employees have spent 10 to 25 years at INTERA. We love what we do, and it shows.

Requirements

We are looking for an experienced air quality professional who combines strong technical capabilities with business and relationship-building skills.

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in air quality permitting and compliance projects, with the level determined by the candidate’s experience, leadership, technical depth, and business development track record:
  • Principal Engineer/Scientist: Established client relationships, demonstrated revenue-generation ability, and experience as an air quality subject matter expert.
  • Senior Engineer/Scientist: Strong project leadership abilities, successful client management experience, and emerging business development responsibilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering, Meteorology, Atmospheric Sciences, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success in business development, client development, or the growth of consulting services.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical and regulatory issues to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong technical understanding of air quality regulations and the ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical solutions.
• Ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with clients, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to mentor and develop technical staff.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high-quality work.
• A collaborative, professional approach and a willingness to provide and receive constructive feedback positively.
• Demonstrated commitment to delivering successful client outcomes and contributing to business growth.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5–10 years of business development experience.
• 5–10 years of experience with project scoping, budgeting, and proposal preparation.
• Project experience in air quality dispersion modelling using approved regulatory models, such as AERMOD and ISC-PRIME.
• Experience working directly with environmental regulatory agencies.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license or an E.I.T. certification with the goal of obtaining a P.E. license.
• Master’s or Ph.D. in Civil, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering, Meteorology, Atmospheric Sciences, or a related field.
• An established network of clients and industry contacts within the air quality and environmental consulting market.