Environmental Engineering Technician
Other Titles
Air Quality Instrument Specialist, Engineer Technician, Environmental Engineering Assistant, Environmental Field Technician, Environmental Specialist, Environmental Technician, Haz Tech (Hazardous Technician), Industrial Waste Inspector, Senior Environmental Technician
Apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems, including waste treatment and site remediation, under the direction of engineering staff or scientist. May assist in the development of environmental remediation devices.
Environmental Engineering Technicians are responsible for operating and testing a wide range of equipment used in preventing or controlling environmental pollution. In doing so, they typically work alongside environmental engineers. In this role, they may work in the field to collect samples and determine environmental quality. They analyse the data from the samples and present it as reports to environmental scientists and engineers. A part of their job is to use specialised equipment in gathering, testing and analysing environmental samples. They also disinfect the equipment after usage.
Maintain project logbook records or computer program files.
Record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries of visual observations.
Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings.
Produce environmental assessment reports, tabulating data and preparing charts, graphs, or sketches.
Collect and analyze pollution samples, such as air or ground water.
Decontaminate or test field equipment used to clean or test pollutants from soil, air, or water.
Prepare and package environmental samples for shipping or testing.
Maintain process parameters and evaluate process anomalies.
Review technical documents to ensure completeness and conformance to requirements.
Receive, set up, test, or decontaminate equipment.
Prepare permit applications or review compliance with environmental permits.
Review work plans to schedule activities.
Assist in the cleanup of hazardous material spills.
Inspect facilities to monitor compliance with regulations governing substances, such as asbestos, lead, or wastewater.
Develop work plans, including writing specifications or establishing material, manpower, or facilities needs.
Perform statistical analysis and correction of air or water pollution data submitted by industry or other agencies.
Arrange for the disposal of lead, asbestos, or other hazardous materials.
Evaluate and select technologies to clean up polluted sites, restore polluted air, water, or soil, or rehabilitate degraded ecosystems.
Assess the ability of environments to naturally remove or reduce conventional or emerging contaminants from air, water, or soil.
Work with customers to assess the environmental impact of proposed construction or to develop pollution prevention programs.
Provide technical engineering support in the planning of projects, such as wastewater treatment plants, to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and policies.
Model biological, chemical, or physical treatment processes to remove or degrade pollutants.
Oversee support staff.
Create models to demonstrate or predict the process by which pollutants move through or impact an environment.
Improve chemical processes to reduce toxic emissions.
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.
Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Science→ Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Quality Control Analysis→ Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Writing→ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Learning Strategies→ Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Management of Personnel Resources→ Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Mathematics→ Using mathematics to solve problems.
Operation Monitoring→ Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Social Perceptiveness→ Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Systems Analysis→ Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Analyzing Data or Information→ Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment→ Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
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.
Dispose of hazardous materials.
Maintain operational records or records systems.
Document design or operational test results.
Analyze test or validation data.
Collect samples of raw materials or finished products.
Prepare technical or operational reports.
Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
Maintain clean work areas.
Package materials for transport.
Monitor processes for compliance with standards.
Investigate system, equipment, or product failures.
Inspect facilities or sites to determine if they meet specifications or standards.
Prepare detailed work plans.
Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.
Analyze operational data to evaluate operations, processes or products.
Assess product or process usefulness.
Investigate the environmental impact of projects.
Advise customers on the use of products or services.
Prepare contracts, disclosures, or applications.
Provide technical guidance to other personnel.
Create models of engineering designs or methods.
Schedule operational activities.
Supervise production or support personnel.
Research engineering aspects of biological or chemical processes.
Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources.
Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
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).
Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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.
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.
Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Arm-Hand Steadiness→ The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Control Precision→ The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Far Vision→ The ability to see details at a distance.
Finger Dexterity→ The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mechanical→ Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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.
Analytical or scientific software -- Air dispersion modeling software; Ecological risk assessment software; Gas dispersion model software; Hydrologic simulation program fortan HSPF software; Laboratory information management system LIMS; Microscopic image capturing software; Neural network modeling software; Simulation software; Simultaneous location and mapping SLAM; Statistical software; Stochastic modeling software; Thermal indoor climate simulation software; Water flow modeling software; Wind flow modeling software
Categorization or classification software -- Geotechnical data management software
Compliance software -- Continuous emission management software; Environmental health and safety documentation software; Greenhouse gas management software; Hazardous materials management HMS software; Material safety data sheet MSDS software; Regulatory compliance management software; Site remediation management software; Waste management software
Computer aided design CAD software -- Computer aided design and drafting CADD software; Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D; Bentley Microstation
Database user interface and query software -- Database software; Structure query language SQL; Microsoft Access;
Desktop publishing software -- e.g., QuarkXpress; Scribus; Microsoft Adobe Systems Adobe PageMaker
Development environment software -- Programming language; Formula translation/translator FORTRAN; National Instruments LabVIEW
Document management software -- e.g., Gel documentation software; Microsoft Office SharePoint Server MOSS
Electronic mail software -- e.g., Mozilla Thunderbird; Gmail; Microsoft Outlook
Graphics or photo imaging software -- Imagery processing software; Photogrammetric software
Industrial control software -- Fugitive emission leak detection software
Internet browser software
Map creation software -- Geographic information system GIS software; Geomechanical design analysis GDA software; Soil mapping software
Object or component oriented development software -- e.g., C++; Python
Office suite software -- e.g., Google Workspace; Microsoft Office
Presentation software -- e.g., Google Slides; Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Google Sheets; Microsoft Excel
Word processing software -- e.g., Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Air pumps→ Aeration pumps
Air samplers or collectors→ Air monitoring equipment; Airborne particulate samplers; Dichotomous particulate matter samplers; Multistage agar impactors
Air velocity and temperature monitors→ Air velocity meters
Analytical balances
Anemometers
Atomic absorption AA spectrometers
Bench refractometers or polarimeters→ Interferometeric refractormeters
Benchtop centrifuges→ High-speed centrifuges
Bi distillation units→ Water distillation units
Binocular light compound microscopes→ Optical compound microscopes
Calorimeters
Chemical absorption gas analyzers→ Surface area analyzers
Chemiluminescence or bioluminescence analyzers→ Microtox toxicity systems
Chemistry analyzers→ Mercury analysis equipment
Chromatographic detectors→ Low pressure liquid chromatographs with fraction collectors
Conductivity meters
Darkfield microscopes→ Phase contrast microscopes
Density gradient fractionators→ Universal fractionators
Desktop computers
Dewatering equipment→ Filter press simulators
Digital cameras
Dissolved carbon dioxide analyzers→ Respirometers
Dissolved oxygen meters
Dropping pipettes→ Micropipettes
Electronic counters→ Particle counters
Electrophoresis system accessories→ Electrophoresis tanks; Fraction collectors; Zeta meters
Extracting equipment for laboratories→ Supercritical fluid extractors
Filtering machinery→ Particulate filters
Flame ionization analyzers→ Flame ionization detectors FID
Flow injection analysis equipment→ Flow injection analyzers
Flowmeters→ Flow meters
Fluorescent microscopes→ Epifluorescence microscopes; Total internal reflection fluorescence TIRF microscopes
Forced air or mechanical convection general purpose incubators→ Incubators
Freeze dryers or lyopholizers→ Freeze dryers
French pressure cells→ French presses
Fume hoods or cupboards→ Chemical fume hoods
Gas chromatographs→ Gas chromatographs GC
Gel documentation systems
Global positioning system GPS receiver→ Global positioning system GPS receivers
Hazardous material protective apparel→ Hazardous material protective clothing
Heated walk in environmental or growth chambers→ Heated environmental chambers
Heating mantles or tapes→ Heating mantles
Heating or drying equipment or accessories→ Dessicator chambers
HEPA filtered enclosures→ Biosafety cabinets
High pressure liquid chromatograph chromatography→ High pressure liquid chromatograph HPLC with ultraviolet/visible UV/Vis absorbance detectors
Hydrocarbons analyzers or detectors→ Total organic halide analyzers
Inductively coupled plasma ICP spectrometers→ Plasma spectrometers
Instrumentation for capillary electrophoresis→ Electrophoresis equipment
Inverted microscopes
Ion chromatographs
Ion selective electrode→ Specific ion probes
Ion selective electrode ISE meters
Isolation glove boxes→ Anaerobic laboratory glove bags
Laboratory adapters or connectors or fittings→ Glassware adapters
Laboratory bailers→ Bailers
Laboratory balances→ Balances; Laboratory scales; Pan balances
Laboratory beakers→ Beakers
Laboratory blenders or emulsifiers→ Blenders
Laboratory box furnaces→ Muffle furnaces
Laboratory centrifugal pumps
Laboratory flasks→ Erlenmeyer flasks
Laboratory funnels→ Filtering funnels; Funnels
Laboratory graduated cylinders→ Graduated cylinders
Laboratory heat exchange condensers→ Glassware condensers
Laboratory mechanical convection ovens→ Laboratory ovens; Mechanical convection ovens
Laboratory mixers→ Mixer mills
Laboratory safety furnaces→ Furnaces
Laboratory vacuum pumps
Laminar flow cabinets or stations→ Laminar flow hoods
Land drilling rigs→ Tractor mounted drill rigs
Laser printers
Lasers→ Argon lasers
Leak testing equipment→ Tracer gas detectors
Light scattering equipment→ Simultaneous static and dynamic light scattering systems
Liquid scintillation counters→ Liquid scintillation equipment; Scintillation counters
Magnetic stirrers
Mainframe computers
Mass spectrometers→ Gas mass spectroscopes; Liquid mass spectroscopes
Microcentrifuges
Microplate readers→ Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA plate readers
Microscope slides
Multipurpose or general test tubes→ Test tubes
Nephelometers→ Benchtop nephelometers
Nitrogen or nitrate or nitrite analyzer→ Soil carbon-nitrogen CN analyzers
Notebook computers
Nuclear magnetic resonance NMR spectrometers→ 13C nuclear magnetic resonance NMR spectrometers; Proton nuclear magnetic resonance NMR spectrometers
Open stream water level recorders→ Water level recorders
Optical diffraction apparatus→ Particle size analyzers
Orbital shakers→ Laboratory shakers
Orbital shaking water baths→ Fecal coliform constant temperature shaker baths
Organic carbon analyzers→ Carbon analyzers; Total organic carbon TOC analyzers
Ozone analyzers→ Ozone concentration percentage meters
Ozone generator→ Ozone bubble contactors; Ozone generators
Particle size measuring apparatus→ Differential mobility analyzers; Soil particle size testers
Penetrometers→ California bearing ratio CBR testing devices
Peristaltic pumps
Permeability testing apparatus→ Soil permeability testers
Personal computers
pH meters
Photo attachments for microscopes→ Camera-equipped microscopes
Photometers
Portable data input terminals→ Dataloggers
Potentiometers→ Potentiostats
Rapid amplification or complementary deoxyribonucleic acid ends RACE technology products→ Polymerase chain reaction PCR equipment
Reactors or fermenters or digesters→ Aerobic laboratory scale reactors; Anaerobic laboratory scale reactors; Digester apparatus; High-pressure/temperature reactors
Reciprocating pumps
Refrigerated benchtop centrifuges→ Benchtop refrigerated centrifuges; Refrigerated centrifuges
Respirators
Reverse osmosis equipment→ Low pressure reverse osmosis water treatment systems
Robotic or automated liquid handling systems→ Liquid handling robots
Sample oxidizer→ Biological oxidizers
Scanners→ Flatbed scanners
Scanning light or spinning disk or laser scanning microscopes→ Scanning microscopes
Scanning probe microscopes→ Atomic force microscopes; Scanning probe microscopes SPM
Shaking incubators→ Incubator shakers
Soil core sampling apparatus→ Soil samplers
Soil testing kits→ Soil expansion testers; Soil vapor sampling equipment
Spectrofluorimeters or fluorimeters→ Fluorimeters; Spectrofluorimeters; Ultraviolet UV spectrometers
Spectrometers→ Single particle spectroscopes; Visible spectrometers
Spectrophotometers
Standard fermentation units→ Fermenters
Steam autoclaves or sterilizers→ Autoclaves
Sterilization cabinets→ Sterilizer chambers
Stirring hotplates→ Hot plate stirrers
Surface tension measuring instruments→ Drop volume tensiometers; Dynamic contact angle apparatus
Thermal conductivity analyzers→ Thermal conductivity detectors
Thermocouples
Titration equipment→ Autotitration systems; Titrators
Transmission electron microscopes→ Transmission electron microscopes TEM
Turbidimeters
Ultra cold or ultralow upright cabinets or freezers→ Freezers
Ultra pure water systems
Ultrafiltration equipment→ Ultrafiltration cells
Ultrasonic cleaning equipment→ Ultrasonic cleaners
Vacuum or rotary evaporators→ Rotavapors
Video attachments for microscopes→ Video microscopes
Vortex mixers→ Two-vortex mixers
Water analyzers→ Streaming current detectors; Titrimeters; Toxicity analyzers; Water quality monitors
Water baths
Water meters→ Meters
Water samplers→ Groundwater pumps; Groundwater sampling equipment; Water sampling pumps
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.
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.
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.
Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.
Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
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.
Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
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.
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.