Environmental Engineer
Other Titles
Air Pollution Control Engineer; Pesticides and Toxic Substances Branch, Manager; Environmental Analyst; Global Director Air and Climate Change; Hazardous Substances Engineer; Marine Engineer; Regulatory Environmental Compliance Manager; Sanitary Engineer
Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
Obtain, update, or maintain plans, permits, or standard operating procedures.
Serve as liaison with federal, state, or local agencies or officials on issues pertaining to solid or hazardous waste program requirements.
Provide technical support for environmental remediation or litigation projects, including remediation system design or determination of regulatory applicability.
Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports.
Develop site-specific health and safety protocols, such as spill contingency plans or methods for loading or transporting waste.
Inspect industrial or municipal/town facilities or programs to evaluate operational effectiveness or ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
Provide assistance with planning, quality assurance, safety inspection protocols, or sampling as part of a team conducting multimedia inspections at complex facilities.
Prepare or present public briefings on the status of environmental engineering projects.
Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.
Coordinate or manage environmental protection programs or projects, assigning or evaluating work.
Advise industries or government agencies about environmental policies and standards.
Direct installation or operation of environmental monitoring devices or supervise related data collection programs.
Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.
Prepare hazardous waste manifests or land disposal restriction notifications.
Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
Prepare, maintain, or revise quality assurance documentation or procedures.
Assist in budget implementation, forecasts, or administration.
Provide environmental engineering assistance in network analysis, regulatory analysis, or planning or reviewing database development.
Inform company employees or other interested parties of environmental issues.
Develop or present environmental compliance training or orientation sessions.
Provide administrative support for projects by collecting data, providing project documentation, training staff, or performing other general administrative duties.
Assess, sort, characterize, or pack known or unknown materials.
Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing→ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Mathematics→ Using mathematics to solve problems.
Instructing→ Teaching others how to do something.
Persuasion→ Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Science→ Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Social Perceptiveness→ Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Negotiation→ Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Systems Evaluation→ Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Learning Strategies→ Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Service Orientation→ Actively looking for ways to help people.
Systems Analysis→ Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Management of Personnel Resources→ Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Analyzing Data or Information→ Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization→ Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information→ Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others→ Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others→ Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Thinking Creatively→ Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Developing and Building Teams→ Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates→ Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Scheduling Work and Activities→ Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Coaching and Developing Others→ Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Developing Objectives and Strategies→ Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment→ Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
Monitoring and Controlling Resources→ Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others→ Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Training and Teaching Others→ Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public→ Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Performing Administrative Activities→ Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
Design environmental control systems.
Advise others regarding green practices or environmental concerns.
Confer with other personnel to resolve design or operational problems.
Maintain operational records or records systems.
Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
Prepare technical or operational reports.
Develop technical methods or processes.
Inspect facilities or sites to determine if they meet specifications or standards.
Explain project details to the general public.
Determine operational criteria or specifications.
Prepare operational reports.
Direct environmental development activities.
Monitor activities affecting environmental quality.
Investigate the environmental impact of projects.
Prepare procedural documents.
Package materials for transport.
Test characteristics of materials or structures.
Prepare project budgets.
Assist engineers or scientists with research.
Teach safety standards or environmental compliance methods.
Train personnel on proper operational procedures.
Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources.
Prepare detailed work plans.
Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Fluency of Ideas→ The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Mathematical Reasoning→ The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Number Facility→ The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Originality→ The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Flexibility of Closure→ The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Visualization→ The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Far Vision→ The ability to see details at a distance.
Memorization→ The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
Perceptual Speed→ The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speed of Closure→ The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Engineering and Technology→ Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Chemistry→ Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Mathematics→ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Law and Government→ Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Design→ Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Physics→ Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
Public Safety and Security→ Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Biology→ Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Customer and Personal Service→ Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Building and Construction→ Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Administration and Management→ Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Mechanical→ Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Education and Training→ Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Geography→ Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Computers and Electronics→ Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Analytical or scientific software -- Air dispersion modeling software; Ecological risk assessment software; Gas dispersion model software; Hydrologic simulation program fortan HSPF software; Image analysis software; Simulation software; Simultaneous location and mapping SLAM; Site remediation management software; Stormwater runoff modeling software; Waste management software; Water flow modeling software; Wind flow modeling software; SAS; The MathWorks MATLAB; WAM software; Sanitary, storm and flood modeling software; XP Software XPSWMM
Compliance software -- Continuous emission management software; Environmental health and safety documentation software; Greenhouse gas management software; Hazardous materials management software; Material safety data sheet software; Regulatory compliance management software
Computer aided design CAD software -- Computer aided design and drafting software CADD; Autodesk AutoCAD; Bentley Microstation; Autodesk AutoCAD Civil D; SofTech CADRA
Database user interface and query software -- e.g., Microsoft Access
Development environment software -- e.g., Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
Graphics or photo imaging software -- e.g., Photogrammetric software
Industrial control software -- Fugitive emission leak detection software
Map creation software — Geomechanical design analysis GDA software; Oil mapping software; ESRI ArcGIS software; ESRI ArcView;
Object or component oriented development software -- e.g., C++ ; Python
Office suite software -- e.g., Corel WordPerfect Office; Microsoft Office
Presentation software -- e.g., Google Slides; Corel Presentations; Microsoft PowerPoint
Project management software -- e.g., Confluence; Sapama Projects; Sciforma PPM solution; Xero Projects; Microsoft Project; Easy Projects; Microsoft SharePoint; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Corel Quattro Pro; Google Sheets; Microsoft Excel
Word processing software -- e.g., Google Docs; Microsoft Word; Corel Wordperfect
Air samplers or collectors→ Sampling trains
Air sampling pumps→ Sampling pumps
Air velocity and temperature monitors→ Air velocity meters; Ambient air measurement devices; Nitrogen oxide burners
Anaerobic chamber→ Anaerobic growth chambers
Atomic absorption AA spectrometers→ Atomic absorption AA spectrophotometers
Atomizers→ Mercury/hybrid atomizers
Augers→ Stem augers
Autosamplers→ Headspace autosamplers
Bacteria transformation kits→ Chemostats
Bench refractometers or polarimeters→ Interferometeric refractormeters
Benchtop centrifuges→ Centrifuges
Chemical absorption gas analyzers→ Surface area analyzers
Chemiluminescence or bioluminescence analyzers→ Fluorescence detectors; Microbics toxicity analyzers
Chromatographic detectors→ Liquid chromatography detectors; Ultraviolet UV light detectors
Colorimeters
Conductivity meters→ Soil electrical conductivity measurement devices
Core drills→ Core drill rigs; Limnological coring drills
Density gradient fractionators→ Universal fractionators
Desktop computers
Dissolution or disintegration testers→ Soil modulus failure testing devices; Soil-erodability testing devices
Dissolved carbon dioxide analyzers→ Respirometers
Dissolved oxygen meters
Electrometers→ Electron capture detectors ECD
Electronic counters→ Particle counters
Electronic measuring probes→ Environmental probe systems; Individual burner air measurement IBAM probes
Extracting equipment for laboratories→ Supercritical fluid extractors
Filtering machinery→ Particulate filters
Flame ionization analyzers→ Flame emission detectors; Flame ionization detectors FID
Flowmeters→ Flow meters; Pitot tubes
Fluorescent microscopes→ Epifluorescence microscopes
Forced air or mechanical convection general purpose incubators→ Air incubators; Incubators
Freeze dryers or lyopholizers→ Freeze dryers
Fume hoods or cupboards→ Fume hoods
Gas chromatographs→ Gas chromatographs GC
Gas detector tubes→ Multi gas detector tubes; Sorbent tubes
Gas detectors→ Combustible gas meters
Gas gauges→ Gas meters
Global positioning system GPS receiver→ Global positioning system GPS receivers
Instrumentation for capillary electrophoresis→ Capillary electrophoresis systems
Ion chromatographs
Ionmeters→ Argon ionization detectors
Isolation glove boxes→ Glove box systems
Laboratory balances→ Balances
Laboratory mechanical convection ovens→ Laboratory ovens
Laboratory microwave ovens→ Microwave digestion instruments
Liquid scintillation counters
Mass spectrometers→ Plasma-mass spectrometers; Trace metal analyzers
Mud pumps→ Electric pumps
Nitrogen or nitrate or nitrite analyzer→ Soil carbon-nitrogen CN analyzers
Notebook computers
Open stream current meters→ Hydrological current meters
Open stream water level recorders→ Water level recorders; Wave gauges
Orbital shakers→ Shakers
Organic carbon analyzers→ Total organic carbon TOC analyzers
Ozone analyzers→ Ozonators
Penetrometers→ California bearing ratio CBR testing devices
Permeability testing apparatus→ Consolidometers
pH meters
Photo attachments for microscopes→ Charge-coupled device CCD cameras
Photometers→ Laser photometers; Luminometers
Potentiometers→ Scanning potentiostats
Programmable tube furnaces→ Graphite furnaces
Rotary drills→ Mud rotary drills
Sample holders→ Whole air canisters
Sample oxidizer→ Biological oxidizers; Thermal/catalytic oxidizers TCO
Seismic recorders or seismographs→ Seismographs
Shear strength testers→ Direct shear testing devices; Solid shear failure testing devices
Soil core sampling apparatus→ Geoprobes; Limnological core loggers
Spectrophotometers→ Fluorescence spectrophotometers
Steam autoclaves or sterilizers→ Autoclaves
Thermal conductivity analyzers→ Thermal conductivity detectors
Thermocouples
Titration equipment→ Automatic titrators
Ultra violet water purification units→ Ultraviolet water purification systems
Vacuum or centrifugal concentrators→ Sample concentrators
Vacuum pumps→ Liquid ring pumps
Water analyzers→ Multiparameter water quality instruments; Nutrient analyzers
Water samplers→ Stormwater samplers
Investigative→ Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional→ Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.
Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Achievement→ Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.