Air Quality Professional Engineer Permit Writer (Environmental Engineer 5)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The salary listed above includes the scheduled 2% general salary increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2026

The Department of Ecology is hiring an Air Quality Professional Engineer Permit Writer (Environmental Engineer 5) within the Air Quality Program (AQP).

Location: 

• Central Region Office in Union Gap, WA.

• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule: 

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.

• A minimum of one day per week is required in the office.

• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by July 12, 2026.

• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

Duties

You will serve as the program’s professional engineering expert, providing comprehensive engineering review, technical support, mentoring, training, and consulting on Air Operating Permits and related regulations, procedures, guidance, and policy. You will review, evaluate, and issue permits for Title IV and Title V air pollution sources, as well as applications for General Orders and minor New Source Review. You will determine regulatory applicability, application completeness, best available control technology, and ambient air impact analyses to develop permit conditions consistent with regulatory requirements. You will participate in site visits and inspections of industrial facilities with agency or federal compliance inspectors, and you will prepare for and represent the program during EPA audits of State Operating Permit Programs.

What you will do: 

• Serve as the program’s professional engineering expert, providing comprehensive engineering review, technical support, mentoring, training, and consulting on Air Operating Permits and related regulations, procedures, guidance, and policy. 
• Review, evaluate, and issue permits for Title IV and Title V air pollution sources, as well as applications for General Orders and minor New Source Review. 
• Determine regulatory applicability, application completeness, best available control technology, and ambient air impact analyses to develop permit conditions consistent with regulatory requirements.
• Participate in site visits and inspections of industrial facilities with agency or federal compliance inspectors.
• Prepare for, and represent the program, during audits of State Operating Permit Programs by EPA.

 Learn more about what it is like to be an Engineer at the Department of Ecology

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington.

And

Five (5) years of engineering experience and/or education as described below:

Experience and/or education must also include:

• Technical Engineering Experience – Ability to apply advanced engineering principles to evaluate complex systems or processes to support accurate technical decisions.
• Engineering Analysis – Ability to perform detailed calculations and assessments to determine potential impacts, risks, or compliance outcomes.
• Modeling and Analytical Tools – Ability to use specialized computer models and analytical tools to predict outcomes and support sound decision-making.
• Regulation and Policy Interpretation – Ability to interpret and apply laws, rules, and policies to determine requirements and ensure compliant actions or decisions.
• Permit and Document Development – Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and complete technical documents to support decisions that are consistent, enforceable, and aligned with requirements.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Washington

NOTE: Individuals who are licensed as professional engineers in another U.S. jurisdiction or foreign country and wish to apply for this position must qualify for licensure in Washington State by comity. Applicants are responsible for reviewing and ensuring they meet Washington's comity requirements before submitting application materials. 

Licensing requirements can be found on the Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors website: How To Get Your Professional Engineer License When Licensed in Another Jurisdiction.

Desired Qualifications:

• Air Quality Principles Knowledge – Ability to understand and apply the principles and practices of air quality control to support accurate technical and regulatory decisions.
• Regulatory Understanding – Ability to interpret federal and state air quality regulations to determine requirements and ensure consistent compliance.
• Communication Skills – Ability to communicate clearly in writing and speaking to share information, explain decisions, and support understanding among diverse audiences.
• Technical Document Review – Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex technical documents to make informed decisions and provide accurate guidance.
• Records and Data Management – Ability to maintain complete, accurate, and timely administrative and inspection records to support transparency, accountability, and program requirements.
• Multitasking and Adaptability – Ability to manage multiple assignments in a fast-paced and changing environment to meet deadlines and maintain work quality.

Supplemental Information

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visitwww.uscis.gov.

Application Process

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position 

• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete. 

For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov 

• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Will Strand at Will.Strand@ecy.wa.gov 

• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov

Air Quality Program Mission: To equitably protect and improve air quality for all of Washington.

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology's work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. 

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentive, Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.   

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.

Ecology Job Opportunities | Careers at Ecology