Engineer I

Are you passionate about the environment and want to make a difference?

DEQ has an open opportunity for an Engineer I.

This position currently qualifies for a hybrid telework option with routine office and remote workdays. The NC Department of Environmental Quality trusts our employees to be self-motivated and successful in hybrid/remote roles. Telework options are subject to change at the discretion of management.

The Public Water Supply Section promotes public health by ensuring that safe, potable drinking water is available in adequate quantities to the residents and visitors of North Carolina served by public water systems. The Section ensures that these systems are properly located, constructed, operated, and maintained.

An Engineer I understands, implements, and enforces the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act, North Carolina Drinking Water Act, Rules Governing Public Water Systems, and related regulations. The Engineer I provides environmental engineering and public health expertise to Public Water Supply (PWS) systems, officials, and other interested parties. This position provide technical and regulatory assistance and performs compliance activities for public water systems.

Duties include:

• Conduct PWS field inspections, investigations, assessments, evaluations, and audits, including (but not limited to) 

• facility sanitary surveys

• monitoring, reporting, and maximum contaminant level violations and rules violations 

• comprehensive audits of lead/copper and bacteriological monitoring programs

• potential water sources for new and existing PWS

• construction compliance/violations 

• compliance with emergency management plan and operation/maintenance plan requirements

• public complaints

• Provide technical and regulatory assistance to and consult/confer with a variety of internal and external organizations/individuals on a range of PWS subjects and issues,

• Ensure PWS regulatory compliance; develop enforcement cases and coordinate enforcement actions,

• Prepare, review, and/or respond to correspondence and reports for various audiences,

• Maintain current understanding of PWS concepts, technologies, and all applicable rules/regulations; provide training to internal and external associates,

• Review engineering plans and specifications for comment, consultation, or approval.

Other Requirements:

• Occasional overnight travel.

• Ability to lift 50 pounds unassisted and move wellhead covers and wellhead tops for inspection.

• Ability to walk several miles through rough terrain, over hills or ditches, during field investigations and tolerate exposure to loud noise, extreme weather conditions, insects, small animals, snakes, and chemical substances.

• Proficiency with computers, internet research, word processing software and spreadsheets.

• Driving a state-owned vehicle which requires a valid driver's license.

The Division of Water Resources:

The Division of Water Resources is responsible for protecting North Carolina's drinking, surface and groundwater for all waterbodies including lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands and aquifers. This environmental stewardship is accomplished through actions including permitting issuance, investigations, regulatory compliance and enforcement, monitoring and field assessments, certifications, laboratory analysis and testing, planning, water quality standards management, educational outreach and other efforts. The Division comprises six Sections: Water Quality Regional Operations; Water Sciences; Public Water Supply; Water Quality Permitting; Groundwater Resources, and Water Planning. Learn more by visiting Division of Water Resources.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality:

The primary mission of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is to provide science-based environmental stewardship for the health and prosperity of all North Carolinians. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead stewardship agency for the protection of North Carolina's environmental resources. The organization, which has offices from the mountains to the coast, administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public's health, and works to advance in all-of-the-above energy strategy that fits North Carolina's needs. DEQ also offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public and encourages responsible behavior with respect to the environment through education programs provided at DEQ facilities and through the state's school system. DEQ touches the lives of all North Carolinians in many ways to enhance and ensure our quality of life. Please visit our website at the Department of Environmental Quality for more information.

If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visit www.studentaid.gov to learn more.

Recruitment Range:  $54,197 - $74,520

This position is located at:  610 East Center Avenue, Mooresville NC  28115The Knowledge, Skills and Abilities listed below, along with the Minimum Education and Experience requirements, are REQUIRED to qualify for this position.  We will not review resumes in lieu of Experience and Education listed on the application.  Click these links for additional information: Introduction to the Job Application and Addressing Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

To qualify for this position, applicants must document on the application that they possess ALL of the following:

• Ability to apply the basic engineering concepts, practices, and theories involved in the design, development, review, permitting, and/or operations of projects/sites and their potential environmental and safety impacts.

• Ability to review engineering/technical plans and/or data for completeness, compatibility, compliance with engineering principles, standards, codes or design needs.

• Ability to make recommendations to higher level engineers or managers on project concerns/issues.

• Ability to communicate, both verbally and in written form, with people such as the general public, environmental contacts, public officials, and other similar personnel.

• Ability to write technical reports and use spreadsheets or databases.

• Valid driver's license.

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.

Bachelor's degree in an applicable field of engineering from an appropriately accredited institution; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Engineering students with an anticipated graduation date will be considered. Job offers will be contingent upon completion of their degree.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws and Executive Orders.

DEQ uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act.  Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to their applications.

• If applicants earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, they must attach an official transcript to each application to receive credit for this education.

• If applicants earned a foreign degree, foreign degrees require an official evaluation for U.S. equivalency, and must be submitted to Human Resources for verification. There are several organizations that perform this specialized service, feel free to use any service of your choosing. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) has several options on their website that can provide credential verification: https://www.naces.org/members

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account and click "Application Status."  If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by management.  If you are no longer under consideration, you will receive an email notification.  If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact Deborah Williams at deborah.williams@deq.nc.gov.

For technical issues with your application, please call the GovernmentJobs.com Applicant Support Help Line at 855-524-5627.