SUPERVISING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ENGINEER I

State of California; California; Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 168,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) in California is seeking a Unit Chief to lead a team focused on the investigation and remediation of contaminated sites, including landfills in the Greater Los Angeles area. The role oversees technical direction, regulatory decisions, and project coordination for complex cleanup efforts.

This position requires strong engineering and geotechnical expertise, staff supervision, and experience with regulatory compliance, CEQA, and environmental

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements indicate the Supervising Hazardous Substances Engineer I classification.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical direction and training to staff who oversee environmental investigations and cleanup activities at properties with hazardous materials, ensuring compliance with procedures and policies.
• Oversee staff review of documents, field work oversight, regulatory decisions, and communication with responsible parties and project teams.
• Oversee investigation and cleanup of properties with hazardous materials including NOA and groundwater contamination.
• Evaluate sampling and mitigation techniques based on engineering principles to ensure accuracy of results.
• Provide engineering analysis and conceptual design guidance for remediation technologies and select the best remedial alternative; participate in project meetings and negotiations.
• Monitor staff reviews for compliance with standards and supervise field work per DTSC-approved work plans and CEQA compliance.

Job description

Job Posting: Unit Chief

Department of Toxic Substances Control

$10,138.00 - $15,019.00 per Month

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/23/2026

Job Description and Duties

The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) Site Mitigation and Restoration Program is looking for highly qualified and motivated staff to assist with the investigation and remediation of contaminated properties and the assessment of landfills experiencing subsurface elevated temperature events in the Greater Los Angeles area. This Supervising Hazardous Substances Engineer I position has direct reports and is responsible for the oversight of the Chiquita Canyon Landfill project located in Castaic. This challenging site requires applying engineering, geotechnical, and regulatory expertise to ensure compliance with DTSC's Imminent and Substantial Endangerment Determination and Order.

As a Supervising Hazardous Substances Engineer I you will have the opportunity to:

• Provide technical direction and training to staff who oversee environmental investigations and cleanup activities at property where hazardous materials, substances, or waste were released into the environment, including implementation of Removal Action Workplans, and equivalents to ensure compliance with procedures/policies
• Provide guidance on staff’s review of submitted documents, field work oversight, regulatory decision making, and communication with responsible parties, project
• Utilize high-level technical skills to oversee investigation and cleanup of property with hazardous materials including naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) and contaminated groundwater problems
• Oversee and assist staff in evaluating appropriate sampling and mitigation techniques, based on accepted engineering principles and practices to ensure accuracy
• Provide engineering analysis and conceptual engineering design guidance for remediation technologies and the selection of the best remedial alternative, participate in project meetings related to project specific issues, negotiations with responsible parties and/or project proponents, and settlement meetings
• Monitor staff’s review of documents for compliance with applicable standards and requirements, conducts oversight of field work consistent with DTSC approved workplans, and ensures remediation work meets federal and state standards, including compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month. For more details, please click here https://hrmanual.calhr.ca.gov/Home/ManualItem/1/2113

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment. The Department of Toxic Substances Control does not participate in E-Verify for employment authorization purposes.

A hybrid telework schedule may be available for this position.

DTSC - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• SUPERVISING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ENGINEER I

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #: JC-533475

Position #(s): 810-513-3724-003

Working Title: Unit Chief

Classification: SUPERVISING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ENGINEER I

$10,138.00 - $12,603.00 A

$11,998.00 - $15,019.00 B

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions: 1

Work Location: Los Angeles County

Telework: Hybrid

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Facility: Chatsworth Regional Office

Department Information

This position is located at DTSC’s Regional office in Chatsworth, CA.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is a member of the boards, departments, and offices (BDOs) within the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA).

Our Mission: To protect California’s people, communities, and environment from toxic substances, to enhance economic vitality by restoring contaminated land, and to compel manufacturers to make safer consumer products.

Our Vision: All of California is thriving in a healthy environment.

Our Core Values: DTSC values diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the organization. We foster an environment where employees from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We believe the diversity of our employees is essential to inspiring innovative solutions. Together we further our mission to protect California’s people, communities, and environment from toxic substances, to enhance economic vitality by restoring contaminated land, and to compel manufacturers to make safer consumer products. Join DTSC to improve the lives of all Californians!

Department Website: http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions.

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required for the hiring manager’s review. Applications submitted without an SOQ may be disqualified.

The SOQ should be no more than 2 pages in length typed in Arial, 12-point font. Your response should include references to the information in the position’s duty statement.

Please describe why you are the best candidate for this position. Include your experience leading teams, managing environmental conditions at landfills, and oversight of hazardous substances releases.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience assessing, investigating, or remediating properties with releases of hazardous substances
• Experience working for or under the oversight of an environmental regulatory agency
• Project management experience
• Experience with written and verbal science communication, including preparation of investigation, cleanup and/or Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment reports and work plans
• Experience working with landfill regulations or landfills experiencing subsurface elevated temperature events
• Experience conducting or reviewing geotechnical analysis
• Experience leading teams or managing staff

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Department Website: http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/

Human Resources Contact:
Classification & Recruitment
[phone]
[e-mail]

Hiring Unit Contact:
Gregory Shaffer
[phone]
[e-mail]

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Office
[phone]
[e-mail]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Examination Information

List eligibility is established through an examination process in which one must apply and successfully pass the examination for the classification. If you have not established list eligibility for the Supervising Hazardous Substances Engineer I, please click on the link to the examination bulletin for more information.

https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=2548