Air Quality Engineer

About Us                         

RTI International is one of the world’s leading research institutes, with a staff of more than 6,000 individuals, dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. RTI’s Air Quality Engineering Group includes more than 30 scientists and engineers supporting federal programs under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and supporting state programs for air toxics. For over 40 years, we have supported the development of various air quality regulations under the Clean Air Act, primarily New Source Performance Standards (NSPS, Part 60) and National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP, Part 63). We have also supported the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP, 40 CFR Part 98) since its inception, and we are currently supporting implementation of legislative mandates for the GHGRP under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Since 2023, our team has supported EPA grant programs including the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program and the Diesel Emissions Reductions Grant Program. These congressionally appropriated grant programs are authorized to award nearly $5 billion dollars to reduce air pollution and address disproportionate impacts in disadvantaged communities.

We are currently seeking highly motivated mid-level engineers and scientists (with experience in tribal, territorial, local, state, or federal air pollution control programs) to support these congressionally mandated regulatory programs and grant programs being implemented by the EPA in all states and U.S. Territories and in the sovereign tribal nations located within the boundaries of the United States.

Job Description

The successful candidate will provide technical support for government clients including the U.S. EPA’s Sectors, Policies, and Programs Division (SPPD), Climate Change Division (CCD), Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) Headquarters, and EPA Regional Offices. Primary duties will include supporting the EPA’s mission by preparing air emissions inventories, analyzing data, evaluating pollution control options, estimating costs, writing technical reports, and providing technical support for air quality grant programs. Assignments will directly support developing and amending air quality regulations under CAA sections 111 and 112 (NSPS and NESHAP), implementation of the GHGRP, and implementation of the EPA’s competitive grant programs for reducing air pollution.

The successful mid-level candidate will be expected to work under the advisement of senior staff, in teams of peers, and directly with government clients. They must be comfortable in managing multiple concurrent projects at different stages of completion and in which communication, collaboration, and teamwork are essential elements. The successful candidate is expected to assimilate quickly and move towards project leadership.

Successful candidates will have the flexibility to work in-person at RTI’s campus in North Carolina, at one of RTI’s regional offices, or as a full-time or part-time teleworker.

•         Assist in the development of Federal air quality regulations.

•         Develop emissions inventories for criteria pollutants, HAP, and GHG. Compile emissions data files for air dispersion modeling.

•         Assist in the evaluation and management of federal grants targeting air pollution reductions.

•         Assist with the collection, evaluation and analysis of industry emissions and operations data to inform the rulemaking process.

•         Evaluate emissions and operational data from industrial sources to support development of NSPS standards, NESHAP standards, and work practice standards.

•         Identify and evaluate options for reducing criteria pollutants, HAP and GHG emissions from industrial sources.

•         Assess performance and costs of air pollution control equipment and emissions monitoring methods.

•         Write technical memoranda and reports.

•         BS (or higher) in Chemical or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or other technical discipline (related engineering or science degree).

•         3 – 5 years of experience in air quality engineering.

•         Cover letter summarizing your relevant experience to this position and areas of interest within the environmental management field is required. If you have experience with any of the following, please highlight that experience (experience in these fields is highly sought):

• Federal grant programs, specially related to air quality.
• Business development, including strategic capture and proposal development.
• Oil and gas sector, specially related to air quality.
• Landfill sector, specifically related to air quality.
• Advanced and emerging technologies for monitoring and measurement of methane emissions.
• Mobile source emissions and EPAs Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ).

•         Experience with Title V source permitting, air emissions inventories, GHG Reporting Program, NSPS, or NESHAP preferred.

•         Engineer Intern (EI) certification preferred but not required.

•         Demonstrated communication skills (verbal and written) and technical writing capability (required).

•         Demonstrated computer spreadsheet and database skills (particularly Excel and Access).

•         To qualify, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and should not require now, or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status.

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For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is available here.

RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States. RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.

Salary : $71,000 - $86,000