Environmental Engineering Trainee

THE POSITION

The Department of Environmental Protection is actively looking to hire an Environmental Engineering Specialist. This role involves conducting sanitary engineering tasks under the guidance of a licensed professional engineer. The specialist will be tasked with reviewing and analyzing both technical and non-technical engineering data related to the enforcement of Safe Drinking Water regulations, particularly concerning the construction, modification, and operation of Public Water Systems (PWS).

Should the position be filled by an Environmental Engineering Trainee, the selected candidate will engage in a comprehensive one-year training program that combines formal education with practical, on-the-job experience to develop the necessary skills for the Environmental Engineering Specialist role. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply now!

Duties are carried out within the Technical Services Section of the Safe Drinking Water Program, which oversees an 11-county region in Northeast Pennsylvania. This role involves conducting preoperational inspections of public water systems, where detailed technical reports are generated to outline the construction aspects of these systems, ultimately leading to recommendations for the issuance or denial of operational permits.

Additionally, field surveys, investigations, and inspections are performed to assess public water system permit applications, focusing on various components such as treatment processes, treatment objectives, new water sources, distribution systems, storage facilities, and pump stations. The review process extends to both public water system permit applications and Non-Community Public Water System Applications, ensuring compliance with design standards across a range of treatment methods, including but not limited to pretreatment, sedimentation, softening, filtration, disinfection, and the removal of contaminants like iron, manganese, and volatile synthetic organic chemicals.

In the event of emergencies related to potential contamination, tampering, waterborne disease outbreaks, flooding, or droughts, the individual responds promptly, coordinating with management staff to address imminent threats at public water system facilities.

Furthermore, participation in PENNVEST pre-application conferences with applicants and consultants is a key responsibility, alongside consulting with regional program hydro geologists regarding applications for the construction and development of groundwater sources, ensuring adherence to public water system design standards and Surface Water Identification Protocol (SWIP) determinations as needed.

Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday–Friday, with a 30‑minute lunch.
• Telework:
  You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part‑time, up to 3 days a week. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high‑speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Wilkes‑Barre. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time.
  
  Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary:
  In some cases, the starting salary may be non‑negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

• A bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, or in any engineering field that includes or is supplemented by 9 credits in environmental engineering; or
• One year of experience in environmental engineering, and possession of a valid Engineer‑in‑Training certificate issued by or acceptable to the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a…