Job Details

Principal Air Quality Engineer

Position: Principal Air Quality Engineer (Regulatory Development Division — 1 vacancy; Engineering Division — 2 vacancies)

About the Bay Area Air District

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 Bay Area Air District (Air District) is a regional government agency that regulates industrial facilities and implements outreach and incentive programs to encourage clean air choices. The Air District's jurisdiction covers seven counties—Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Napa—and portions of southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma.

We value diversity, equity and inclusion and foster a collaborative and inclusive workplace that encourages open dialogue. Pay equity is a priority, and we strive to create an equitable compensation structure while supporting work‑life balance.

Responsibilities

Regulatory Development Division (1 position)

• Work closely with professional and technical staff to perform and lead complex program assignments for developing regulations to control air pollutants, including those contributing to climate change and localized air quality impacts in overburdened communities.
• Collaborate with the California Air Resources Board, other local air districts, community groups, environmental organizations, regulated industries, and key stakeholders to reduce harmful air pollutants, especially in communities overburdened by air pollution.
• Lead, conduct, and coordinate scientific, economic, and technical research work.
• Review and draft regulatory language; develop and implement cost‑effectiveness and incremental cost‑effectiveness calculations for a variety of sources.
• Analyze emissions inventories to determine baseline emissions and reduction estimates for rules under development.
• Brief Air District executives and present at workshops and board meetings.
• Work closely with the Community Engagement Division staff and other Air District divisions to strengthen partnerships with key community stakeholders.
• Perform related work as assigned.

Engineering Division (2 positions)

• Work on the Air District's Toxic Air Contaminant Control (TAC) Programs, including monitoring and evaluating TAC emissions, implementing the Air Toxics New Source Review (NSR) program, and operating Facility Risk Reduction Programs.
• Engage with community stakeholders and provide transparent access to emissions data and health risk information through annual reports and online tools.
• Conduct dispersion modeling and health risk assessments for toxic emissions; verify emissions inventories; develop new regulations or amend existing ones.
• Perform complex and highly specialized air quality engineering work such as processing permit applications for complex facilities, analyzing air emissions, evaluating program effectiveness, and providing project leadership.
• Lead or contribute to sensitive, high‑profile projects and deliver technical presentations to the Board of Directors, public, industry, and partner agencies. Represent the Air District in multi‑agency working groups.
• Participate in and review staff's permit application reviews, recommend permit issuance or denial, and supervise staff as appropriate.
• Conduct technical seminars for industry and other agencies; perform compliance audits, source testing, sampling, and analysis.

Qualifications

• Equivalent to a four‑year college degree in environmental, chemical, mechanical, or petroleum engineering or a closely related field.
• Minimum of four years of air‑quality environmental engineering experience.
• Valid California driver's license.
• Valid California Professional Engineering license; or at minimum, a Master's degree in a related field with four years of air‑quality engineering experience.
• Strong analytical, written, and oral communication skills.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit a completed Air District application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 3, 2025.

Resumes are encouraged but not mandatory, and will not be accepted in lieu of the required application materials. Applications are accepted online only; the website is Postmarks, faxes, and e‑mailed applications will not be accepted.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Air District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations should contact Human Resources at (415) 749‑4980.