Acoustic Engineer

About this role

Prince William County, Department of Public Works, is seeking a qualified engineer with a strong background in acoustics to support the enforcement and development of the Prince William County Noise Ordinance. This position plays a key role in promoting public health, safety, and quality of life by managing environmental noise impacts across industrial, commercial, and residential areas.

In this role you will lead and manage the enforcement efforts of the noise ordinance, gather evidence, issue notice of violations, offer noise mitigation strategies, engage with the public and community partners, develop policy and procedures, and prepare documentation for legal proceedings, all while adhering to the County’s commitment to equity and ethical community engagement.

• You will be instrumental in developing policies and procedures for the enforcement of the County noise ordinance.

• You will be responding to complaints of potential noise ordinance violations.

• You will be in the field gathering sound measurements, downloading, and analyzing the data.

• You will analyze acoustic data and prepare detailed technical reports, findings, and recommendations for enforcement and/or mitigation.

• You will be issuing violation notices and testifying in court proceedings.

• You will be coordinating enforcement efforts with other agencies, departments, community partners, and other stakeholders.

• You will assist in reviewing development and construction plans for compliance with noise ordinance and noise mitigation requirements.

• You will review and process requests for variances, building and development plans regarding noise mitigation, rezoning applications, proffer agreements, or special use permits.

• You will maintain and calibrate sound measurement equipment in accordance with professional and regulatory standards.

• You will contribute to the Department's commitment to safety, team building, training, and professional development.

Work is performed under the immediate supervision of the Deputy Director of Public Works.

Bachelor’s degree in engineering and 3 years of related work experience in the field of acoustics.

• Must have strong technical writing and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable reports.

• Must possess knowledge of sound measurement principles, noise propagation, and acoustic analysis tools.

• Must have excellent time management skills while maintaining high-performance standards without compromising the quality of work.

• Must have a working knowledge of various computer products, such as MS Teams, MS Word, and MS Outlook, is also essential.

• BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or other engineering related field, preferably with coursework in acoustics.

• A demonstrated understanding of sound pressure levels, octave bands, frequency spectrums.

• Experience with sound level mitigation and control in a range of industrial, commercial, residential environments.

• Experience in leading and managing noise control projects, individually and with a team.

• Certification in noise measurement or environmental noise assessment (e.g., Institute of Noise Control Engineering – INCE Board Certification).

• Experience using sound level meters, analyzing sound level data, and acoustic modeling software (e.g., Sound
  
  PLAN, Cadna
  
  A, or equivalent).

• Experience working in or with government regulatory agencies.

• Valid driver’s license and pass a motor vehicle record check.

• Full-time, exempt position.

• Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

• Occasional evening or weekend work required for sound level measurements and community engagements.

• This role requires flexibility to work outside standard business hours, including early mornings and/or late evenings, based on operational needs.

C45 (37.5 schedule) $91,162.50 – $

This position is eligible for a hiring bonus of $3,000.

The position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change. The above position description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the department's business needs.

To view the class description in its entirety, .

Prince William County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Prince William County Government full-time positions qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

PSLF information available.

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