Senior Air Quality Engineer

Bay Area Air Quality Management District; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Bay Area Air Quality Management District in San Francisco Bay Area seeks a Senior Air Quality Engineer to lead complex engineering work across permit applications, emissions calculations, risk screening and rule development. You will supervise project coordination, data collection, and reporting for air quality programs within the Refineries Section of the Engineering Division.

The role requires a strong background in air quality engineering, regulatory compliance, and emissions modeling, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in environmental, chemical, mechanical, petroleum engineering, or a closely related field.
• Three years of air quality or environmental engineering experience.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Provide lead direction and perform complex engineering work in permit applications evaluation, emissions, risk screening and assessment.
• Lead projects, coordinate data collection and prepare detailed reports.
• Reviews and evaluates permit applications, calculates emission rates, and defines permit conditions.

Skills

Air quality engineering

Regulatory compliance

Emissions modeling

Data analysis

Technical reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental/chemical/mechanical/petroleum engineering

Tools

GIS

Emissions models

Permitting & Compliance System

Relational databases

Job description

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) is a regional government agency, committed to achieving clean air to protect the public's health and the environment. The Air District accomplishes this goal through regulation of industrial facilities and various outreach and incentive programs designed to encourage clean air choices. The Air District's jurisdiction encompasses all of seven counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Napa, and portions of two others - southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma. The Air District is currently accepting applications for the position of Senior Air Quality Engineer in the Refineries Section of the Engineering Division. This is an open recruitment for one (1) vacancy which is a full-time, represented position.

Under general direction, provides lead direction and performs the more complex engineering work in a variety of areas such as permit application evaluation, air pollutant emissions, toxic risk screening and assessment evaluations, compliance audits, modeling, source inventory, source testing, and rule development.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced lead level in the engineering series. Incumbents perform the more complex engineering work and lead a variety of engineering projects, coordinating technical data collection and preparing detailed reports. Incumbents are assigned to implement programs that require increased professional knowledge and the use of independent judgement.

This class is distinguished from Principal Air Quality Engineer in that the latter is responsible for providing subject matter expertise and project leadership in the most difficult, sensitive, or critical projects. This class is also distinguished from Supervising Air Quality Engineer in that the latter assigns, supervises, and evaluates the work of assigned staff on a continuing basis.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND/OR EXERCISED

Supervision is provided by a supervisor or manager. No supervision is exercised over others.

Provides lead direction, coordination, training and work review to staff on routine, continuing, or well-defined tasks.

Coordinates, leads, and reviews the work of engineers, support staff, vendors, and contractors involved in complex, sensitive and controversial engineering projects, studies and audits.

Reviews and evaluates permit applications, including calculating emission rates of criteria air pollutants and toxic air contaminants and permit fees, determining compliance with air quality regulations, recommending best available control technology, defining permit conditions, and issuing authority to construct and/or permits to operate.

Uses a computer and a variety of software to make engineering calculations, enter and retrieve data and to monitor and correct data entry; investigates and corrects errors in the Permitting & Compliance System.

Coordinates on-site compliance inspections of sources and abatement devices. Evaluates compliance and recommends enforcement actions.

Responds to industry, public and Air District inquiries regarding regulation interpretation, permit preparation, various compliance measures and emission calculation methods.

Reviews permit and enforcement files to prepare responses for variance requests, violation notices, case summaries and hearing board referrals. Recommends appropriate actions.

Performs, reviews, and directs the preparation of air quality impact analyses for permits, risk assessments, and environmental impact documents. Recommends approval or denial of permit applications.

Uses emissions models, geographic information systems, and relational databases to prepare, quality-check, and modify large data files on inventory assessment and emissions input to air quality models.

Develops and documents procedures to calculate and forecast pollutant emissions from natural and man‑created sources of air pollution.

Develops, calculates, reviews, corrects and documents the emissions inventory. Evaluates accuracy of source emission calculations and methodologies. Analyzes emissions inventory to determine baseline emissions and reduction estimates for rules under development.

Provides engineering expertise in preparing air quality plans, including developing required programs, structuring data and preparing long‑range emission forecasts for major industrial classifications.

Conducts special studies and writes technical reports related to research and planning functions, and coordinate activities with Air District Staff, outside agencies and organizations.

Represents the Air District as a technical expert in meetings with outside agencies, environmental groups, and industry personnel regarding air quality control regulations.

Leads the research and development of new and revised rules and procedures for regulation of air quality. Determines emissions, potential emission reductions, and cost controls. Establishes control level and technology. Prepares technical assessment reports.

Leads and coordinates with internal and external professional and technical staff to conduct scientific research and engineering evaluations. Participates in developing regulations to control air pollutants, including pollutants contributing to climate change and localized air quality impacts in overburdened communities.

Performs and reviews economic and environmental analyses.

Researches and develops recommendations concerning air quality and climate protection reports, programs, plans, legislation, and regulations.

Prepares and presents staff reports and recommendations to the Air District's Board of Directors, sub‑committees, leadership, and others as assigned.

Performs quality control functions on air monitoring or source test equipment and calibrations in conformance with Air District, state, and federal standards. Coordinates and tracks the certifications of reference standards used in the section.

Evaluates and determines submissions to install and/or modify continuous emission monitoring equipment.

Researches new air emissions measurement technologies and test methods for unique applications and remains up to date on technologies.

Reviews, calculates, evaluates, summarizes and records emissions data collected electronically or manually from scientific/analytical instrumentation, and ensures accuracy, completeness, validity, and compliance with Air District, state, and federal standards.

May testify on behalf of the Air District.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Some positions in this classification may require possession of a valid California driver's license or ability to obtain one.

5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2026.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Selection may be based upon a competitive examination consisting of a written exercise, interview, or combination of the two. Depending on the number of qualified applicants, an application screening and/or panel interview may be used to determine the most qualified applicants.

The Air District may hire from this recruitment process to fill future vacancies occurring within the next 18 months.

Updates regarding your status in the recruitment will be sent via email, unless you indicate a different preference on your application.

Persons with disabilities who may require reasonable accommodations during the application and/or selection process should notify the Human Resources Office at [phone].

The Air District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The items listed below are the minimum requirements for this classification.

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in environmental, chemical, mechanical, petroleum engineering, or a closely related field and three years of air quality or environmental engineering experience.

Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the necessary qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position will be considered.