Air Pollution Control Engineer - Assistant

Introduction

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Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov .

POSITION INFORMATION

The Placer County Air Pollution Control District is accepting applications to fill one (1) Assistant Air Pollution Control Engineer vacancy. The eligible list established as a result of this recruitment may be used to fill additional vacancies as they arise, subject to position-specific requirements.

BENEFITS

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

DEFINITION

To perform professional engineering duties in the administration and enforcement of federal, state, and local air pollution control statutes and regulations; and to assist the public in providing information in understanding and complying with air pollution standards and regulations.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the entry-level class in the Air Pollution Control Engineer series. This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level. Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience. Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direct supervision from supervisory and management staff.

May exercise technical and functional supervision over technical and clerical staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide engineering analysis and evaluation of new and modified source air pollution control engineering plans, permit applications, and modifications to permit requests for compliance with various air pollution control standards. Research, process, and evaluate applications and permit renewal requests according to engineering and air pollution control standards and make recommendations regarding approval, denial, or issuance of warnings or violation notices; conduct field inspections, samplings, and emissions tests as necessary.
• Research and determine the appropriate emission control technology for proposed processes and draft recommended permit language; operate and monitor conditions for approval.
• Perform facility inspection to verify initial compliance with the construction and operation of permitted equipment and activities.
• Identify, research, and prepare new and amended air pollution control regulations for submittal and approval by appropriate air pollution control agencies.
• Provide information to the public, commercial, industrial, and agricultural contacts and consultants regarding air pollution control requirements, permit processing, and associated engineering standards.
• Make engineering calculations to determine emission rates and permit fees; prepare flow charts, drawings and sketches of process and related equipment as installed; compile and calculate emission inventory data; prepare reports and studies for department use and to various regulatory agencies.
• Conduct engineering calculations for criteria and toxic air pollutants from reported operational data inventories for use in annual emissions inventories, air dispersion modeling, and health risk analyses and assessments.
• Coordinate with other County departments and other public agencies; meet with applicants as necessary and correspond with them or their representatives regarding permit or project status.
• Assist in developing and preparing policy positions related to air pollution for the Board.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in both an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions and in the field requiring travel to various locations throughout the County in a variety of outdoor weather conditions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience: No professional experience is required.

Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in air pollution, environmental, chemical, mechanical, petroleum, or combustion engineering or a related field.

Note: Relevant, equivalent experience (performing the same or similar job requiring similar knowledge, skills, and abilities) may be substituted for the required education as determined by the Human Resources Department. Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of engineering as applied to evaluating and controlling sources of air pollution.
  
• Principles and practices of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, chemistry, and physics.
  
• General application of current federal and state air pollution statutes.
  
• Computer software spreadsheet and data base applications.
  
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
  
• Occupational hazards and standard safety measures.
  
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; statistics and statistical analysis and advanced mathematical calculations.
  

Ability to:

• Learn and understand all aspects of the job. Intermittently analyze work papers, reports, and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe air pollution control activities and problem solve when appropriate; recall, understand, interpret, and explain applicable statutes and regulations.
  
• On a continuous basis sit at a desk and in meetings for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, reach, push, pull, bend, squat, crouch, crawl, climb, stoop, kneel, or twist to reach office equipment surrounding desk or while conducting field inspections; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use a telephone and write or use keyboard to communicate through written means; see with sufficient acuity to read characters and decipher colors on a computer screen; regularly lift heavy weight.
  
• Operate various testing and sampling equipment.
  
• Compile, analyze, and evaluate technical data using sophisticated computer spreadsheet and data base applications and prepare recommendations and reports based on such data.
  
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
  
• Obtain information through interview and work firmly and courteously with the public.
  
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and to determine proper course of action.
  
• Use a computer, calculator, telephone, facsimile machine, postage meter and photocopy machine.
  
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
  
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
  

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Length of Probation:

All permanent appointments to this classification shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) calendar months or two thousand eighty (2,080) hours, whichever is more.

Bargaining Unit:

General

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a credit check, voice stress analysis, and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

SUBSTITUTE LISTS

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of the following characteristics: gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits associated with race, which include, but are not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, the person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or any combination of two or more characteristics stated herein. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

Conclusion

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Kristen Cannon, Administrative Technician, at kcannon@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4661.

Closing Date/Time: 11/12/2025 5:00:00 PM

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• Placer County

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