Principal or Senior Chemical/Environmental Engineer

We are looking for talented individuals who are passionate about making an impact in the company and the community. Apply now and become part of the dynamic energy industry!

Position Description

Seeking a seasoned environmental professional with significant experience in water quality and water resource compliance and permitting, groundwater characterization and remediation, and water policy advocacy, preferably related to electric utility industry. Based on Company need, the Senior or Principal Environmental Engineer will provide technical expertise in water quality and water resource regulatory programs to support power generation planning, the Company’s business/operational units and to implement the Company’s Environmental Compliance Program including Environmental Policies and Procedures. This position will also support environmental policy advocacy efforts on behalf of the Company and will support the Company’s expansion of renewable, energy storage, and repowering of fossil fuel resources from an environmental compliance/permitting perspective. This is a technical role.  Although this position does not currently have direct reports, the leadership opportunities are available (e.g. mentoring, internal coordination and cross-department collaboration). 

The ideal candidate will have subject matter expertise with the following regulatory programs: Arizona Aquifer Protection Program (APP), Arizona Surface Water Protection Program (SWPP), Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES), Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment and Local Limits, Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC), Safe Drinking Water Act, Arizona Groundwater Management Code and Active Management Areas (AMAs), Underground Injection Control (UIC), Arizona Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP), Arizona Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (WQARF), and Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) Groundwater Monitoring Programs.

Position-Related Responsibilities

This position may include, but not be limited to, the following responsibilities:

Senior Engineer

• Assists and/or leads in the preparation and/or review of water quality and water use compliance submittals to EPA, ADEQ, ADWR, PDEQ, and local POTWs.  Provides support to the UNS Energy Corporation family of Business Units for ensuring compliance with various water regulatory programs (e.g., AZPDES, APP, SPCC, etc.).
• Supports or performs projects such as spill evaluation, spill response, remediation, and/or reporting,
• Provides technical and regulatory support to water quality compliance management, permitting, and reporting program. May also support air quality, waste management, and/or chemical management programs, as needed.
• Provides technical support to UNS Energy Corporation facilities (including TEP and UniSource Energy Services (UES) power generation assets, transmission and distribution assets and ancillary support assets) to assure compliance and provide proper interpretation of regulatory requirements and guidance.
• Inspects field operations, when necessary, to ensure that construction and operation procedures and practices are performed consistent with Company and regulatory environmental requirements.
• Implements and updates the Company Environmental Compliance Program and related Corporate Environmental Policies and Procedures under the direction of Environmental Compliance leadership.
• Evaluates environmental impacts of Company Business Units’ proposed projects and helps development of recommendations for appropriate actions and/or studies required to achieve business objectives consistent with environmental requirements.
• Assesses proposed new legislation/regulatory actions for potential impact to UNS Energy Corporation facilities or operations.
• Supports Company interaction with governmental agencies regarding permit actions/new rulemaking activities to assure proper future environmental planning and compliance.
• Participates in industry association meetings and workshops as they pertain to environmental compliance to stay abreast of developments and opportunities.
• Assists with environmental due diligence work related to the acquisition or disposition of assets (including Phase I and II environmental assessments and site investigations);

Principal Engineer

The responsibilities of the Senior Engineer, as well as the following:

• Extensive knowledge of the major federal environmental statutes and underlying federal regulations and State of Arizona programs related to the electric utility industry;
• Provides subject matter expert support to the development and maintenance of water quality management programs across all business units and consistent with regulatory requirements, Company objectives and the Company’s Environmental Compliance Program and related Corporate Environmental Policies and Procedures;
• Supports policy advocacy efforts related to water quality matters impacting the Company by identifying and tracking relevant policy and regulatory efforts, assessing the financial and operational impact to the Company, participating in related industry trade group discussions and advocacy efforts, drafting written comments and providing verbal comments on proposed regulatory efforts and supporting the transition to final rule implementation;
• Advises leadership of potential non-compliance issues and violations and works to resolve, learn from and prevent future issues in a timely manner;
• Evaluates and makes recommendations on environmental-related projects that would reduce the cost of compliance and/or increase profitability of Company’s business units or other Company subsidiaries.
• Assesses the financial and operational impact of proposed legislation on Company facilities by working with Company business areas and other relevant departments;
• Interact with governmental agencies regarding permitting, compliance and rulemaking activities;

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

(Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.)

Chemical/Environmental Engineer, Senior

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in an engineering discipline or equivalent education and experience.
• Six or more years of professional work experience.
• Experience with environmental compliance.
• Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal.
• Demonstrated analytical skills.
• Demonstrated skill in use of relevant software applications.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills such as collaborative, problem identification and conflict resolution skills.
• This role will serve as the subject matter expert, working collaboratively with the team and under only broad management oversight.  This role will act as a technical mentor to the rest of the team. This role will mentor and help train lower-level Engineers.  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the electric or gas utility industry.
• A thorough understanding of environmental rules and regulations applicable to vertically integrated electric utility business.
• Preferred successful completion/passing of Fundamentals of Engineering, F.E. exam (Engineer-In-Training) or registration as a Professional Engineer (P.E.)

Chemical/Environmental Engineer, Principal

Minimum Qualifications:

• Degree in an engineering discipline or related environmental science field.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in environmental compliance related to the energy sector or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must have a thorough understanding of environmental rules and regulations applicable to vertically integrated electric utility business.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Demonstrated analytical skills.
• Demonstrated skill in use of relevant software applications.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills such as collaborative, problem identification and conflict resolution skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Supervisory experience preferred
• Professional Engineer license or ability to obtain one in the state of Arizona within three years.
• Experience designing and managing environmental-related audits preferred.
• Experience with renewable energy projects (solar, wind and battery) and an understanding of the applicable environmental and land- related rules and regulations.