Bay Area Air District
  • Senior Air Quality Engineer (Source Test)

  • Bay Area Air District
  • Richmond, California United States View Map



Join an agency committed to creating a healthy breathing environment for every Bay Area resident while protecting and improving public health, air quality, and the global climate!

The Air District is currently accepting applications for the position of Senior Air Quality Engineer (Source Test) in the Source Test Section. This is an open recruitment for one (1) full-time, represented position.

About the Position
This Senior Air Quality Engineer role will be tasked with leading one, or more, source testing programs, providing senior level leadership and expertise to the section’s lower-level air quality engineering staff and performing highly complex and specialized source test program assignments. In addition, the incumbent will coordinate or perform field, shop, and office source test program duties, including, but not limited to, equipment purchase specification; instrument operation; methodology application assessment; pollutant emission regulatory and scientific research; air pollution abatement and process system engineering evaluation; data gathering, reduction and analysis; workgroup participation; report preparation; and source test contractor report and protocol review.


About the Division/Office
The Source Test Section performs source emission tests at regulated facilities for compliance determination, emission factor development, and information gathering. Facilities that are commonly tested include petroleum refineries, power plants, manufacturing facilities, wastewater treatment plants, landfills, and gasoline dispensing facilities. The section also provides regulatory oversight for facility continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) operation, facility contracted source testing, and special testing or measurement projects. 

Hybrid Work Schedule - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve maybe available depending on the assignment. This position is a field and office position.


EXAMPLES OF DUTIES (Illustrative Only)
Upon request, provides input into selection decisions and performances. Coordinates technical data gathering and compilation, including coordination with other District sections and divisions.

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

Conducts environmental audits, compliance inspections and source tests; evaluates results and recommends appropriate actions, including violation notices.

Performs the more difficult and complex air quality engineering work such as, but not limited to, permit processing for petroleum refineries, power plants and semiconductor manufacturing facilities, air pollution dispersion modeling, providing detailed source inventories and providing project leadership.

Upon assignment, provides lead direction training and work review to Air Quality Engineers on routine, continuing or well-defined tasks, priorities and follows up on work to ensure timely completion. Coordinates and reviews the work of engineering and support staff involved in complex, sensitive and controversial engineering projects, studies and audits.

Reviews permit and enforcement files to prepare materials and responses for variance requests, violation notices and case summaries and hearing board referrals; recommends appropriate actions; may testify of behalf of the District.

Responds to industry, public and District inquiries regarding regulation interpretation, permit preparation, various compliance measures and emission calculation methods in person, by telephone and in writing.

Reviews and evaluates new developments in motor vehicle technology, fuels, and test procedures, as they affect air pollutant emissions.

Develops and recommends revisions to District procedures and regulations.

Uses a computer terminal and a variety of software and programs to make engineering calculations, enter and retrieve data and to monitor and correct data entry; writes and revises computer programs; investigates and corrects errors in the data bank.

Acquires, evaluates, and applies computer models to simulate motor vehicle use and calculate vehicle emissions.

Coordinates toxic risk screening and risk assessment analysis; calculates toxic emissions, determines and applies appropriate air dispersion models, calculates maximum concentrations and calculates risk; recommends approval or denial of permit applications.

Performs, reviews, and directs the preparation of air quality impact analyses for permits, risk assessments and environmental impact documents.

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

May manage contracts with vendors and consultants.

Develops procedures to calculate and forecast pollutant emissions from natural and man-made sources of air pollution.

Participate in calculating, reviewing, correcting and documenting the emissions inventory; evaluates accuracy of source emission calculations and methodologies.

Provide engineering expertise in preparing and updating the emission inventory and other aspects of State and Federal air quality plans, including developing required programs, structuring data and preparing long-range emission forecasts for major industrial classifications.

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

Prepare new regulations and evaluated revisions to existing District procedures and regulations based upon changes in State and Federal programs.

Represent the District as technical expert in meetings with outside agencies, environmental groups and industry personnel regarding air quality control regulations, and source inventory procedures and results; act as an expert witness before the Hearing Board.

Education and Experience:
A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills is:

Equivalent to graduation from a four year college or university with major coursework in environmental, chemical, mechanical or petroleum engineering or a closely related field and two years of air quality environmental engineering experience at a level equivalent to the District's class of Air Quality Engineer II. A directly related graduate degree may be desirable for some assignments and may be substituted for one year of the experience.

Other Requirements
Must possess a valid California driver's license.

Physical, Lift & Climb Test: Must pass a physical exam and be able to meet the requirements of a lift test for occasional physical duties.

Interested individuals must submit a completed Air District application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire by 5:00 p.m. on  Monday, July 20, 2026. Resumes are encouraged, but not mandatory, and will not be accepted in lieu of the required application materials. Applications must be submitted online; please visit our website at www.baaqmd.gov/jobs to apply. Postmarked, faxed, and e-mailed applications will not be accepted.

Bay Area Air District

Bay Area Air District

The Bay Area Air District (Air District) is a regional government agency. The Air District’s jurisdiction encompasses all of seven counties – Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara, and portions of two other counties – southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma. The Air District’s mission is to protect and improve public health, air quality, and the global climate.

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