Senior Air Quality Engineer

Overview

Location(s): Multi-stateWork Environment: Remote  Compensation: $110,000-$160,000 annually* 

Dudek’s journey began in 1980 with a vision to serve Southern California’s water and wastewater agencies. 

Today, we are a 100% employee-owned firm supporting clients nationwide and delivering projects that improve and protect the built and natural environments of communities throughout the United States. Our work has been recognized by leading industry organizations, and we’ve been honored with multiple national Top Workplace Awards. 

Our employee-owners are unified by a singular commitment to supporting projects that address key societal issues, such as the transition to renewable energy, infrastructure hardening and repair, environmental protection, and community resilience. 

Learn more about our award-winning culture, the benefits and perks of being a Dudekian, and the projects you will have the opportunity to shape.  

Position Overview

Who You Are 

As an employee-owner, you embrace accountability, working safely, and collaboration while thinking resourcefully and independently. 

Like all Dudekians, you are curious and solution-oriented, with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit of innovation.  

How You’ll Make an Impact 

The Air Quality Permitting Professional Engineer (PE) would serve as subject matter expert, advising clients, and leading regulatory compliance, emissions analysis, control technology analysis and permitting activities for fossil fuel–fired power generation facilities. This role requires deep technical expertise in combustion emissions, Clean Air Act regulations, and air permitting programs, along with demonstrated experience collaborating with utilities, independent power producers (IPPs), and other energy-sector stakeholders.Dudek has a strong, invested, and collaborative cultural resources team with members located in surrounding regions. A successful applicant would be proactive, team-oriented and actively collaborate with both the larger cultural group and other Dudek staff supporting clients and strategic initiatives in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities 

Air Quality Permitting & Compliance

• Prepare and manage NSR/PSD, Title V, and state-level permits for new and existing fossil fuel units in utility-owned and IPP-owned facilities.
• Conduct regulatory applicability analyses for NAAQS, NSPS, NESHAP/MACT, and state SIP rules.
• Develop BACT, LAER, and control technology assessments with an understanding of utility fleet configurations and IPP commercial operating models.
• Evaluate emissions controls for combustion turbines, boilers, reciprocating engines, and auxiliary equipment across diverse owners and operators.

Emissions Analysis & Modeling

• Conduct facility-wide emissions inventories and project emission calculations using EPA and state level methodologies, stack testing results, AP-42 emissions factors, and engineering estimates.
• Run or oversee AERMOD/CALPUFF modeling to demonstrate ambient air quality compliance for utility-scale, merchant, and behind-the-meter generation projects.

Engineering & Technical Support

• Provide engineering guidance on combustion performance, heat-rate impacts, emissions controls, and unit modifications.
• Review utility and IPP project plans, outage activities, and capital improvements to identify permitting pathways and regulatory triggers.
• Support air strategy and compliance planning for power plant upgrades, reliability projects, capacity expansions, and energy transition initiatives.

Regulatory Interface & Documentation

• Serve as a technical liaison with state and federal regulators, representing the interests of clients in permitting actions and compliance discussions.
• Prepare detailed technical reports, compliance certifications, and agency submittals.
• Track evolving regulations and communicate impacts to utility environmental teams, IPP project developers, and plant managers.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental, Chemical, Mechanical, or related engineering discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 10+ years of air quality permitting experience in power generation or similar heavy industry.
• Strong understanding of NSR/PSD, Title V, air toxics, and combustion emissions.
• Experience collaborating with utility environmental teams and/or IPP project developers.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by the first day of employment 

Experience Working with Utilities & IPPs

• Proven experience supporting electric utilities, public power agencies, and independent power producers in permitting, compliance, and project development contexts.
• Understanding of utility planning drivers (reliability, rate impacts, fleet optimization) and IPP dynamics (merchant market demands, PPA obligations, financing constraints).
• Ability to adapt permitting strategies to different ownership structures, operational philosophies, and regulatory risk tolerances.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by the first day of employment 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience with diesel and natural gas internal combustion engines, natural gas combined-cycle and simple-cycle turbines in both utility and IPP settings.
• Familiarity with multiple/many state-specific permitting programs.

Compensation: $110,000-$160,000 annually* 

*Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location. Successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check prior to beginning employment. 

Working Conditions  

• This job operates in a remote or office-based environment and this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc. 

• This job requires occasional project site visits, based outdoors which can include excessive noise, uneven walking surfaces, extreme weather, and moving vehicles and equipment. 

Physical Requirements 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This job requires the following:  

• Working on a computer, sitting, or standing for long periods of time in an office or remote office setting. 

• Attending meetings, both in person and virtually, and speaking on the phone with peers, clients, etc.  
• Specific vision abilities, including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

Connect with us! 

💼LinkedIn 

📸Instagram 

▶️YouTube 

🤝Dudek Talent Community 

Dudek is committed to creating a workplace where all employees, regardless of their background, feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities to succeed. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our business success, and we are dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. We are committed to fair and equitable processes, based on merit, free from any discrimination. 

Dudek is genuinely committed to equal employment opportunities within our company and on our project teams. Dudek is also committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Dudek’s operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of Dudek, including supervisors and coworkers. Equal employment opportunities will be extended to all persons (including those with disability and veteran status) in all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination. Any employee who violates this policy and Dudek’s commitment to equal employment opportunities will be subject to disciplinary action. 

Dudek is a U.S.-based employer. All positions are based in the United States and require U.S. work authorization.  

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Compensation: 110000 to 160000 (USD)