Environmental Engineers

What the job really is

Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.

At a glance

• Sector: Architecture & Engineering
• O*NET-SOC code: 17-2081
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Obtain, update, or maintain plans, permits, or standard operating procedures.
• Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
• Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
• Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
• Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
• Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.
• Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.
• Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports.
• Prepare, maintain, or revise quality assurance documentation or procedures.
• Develop site-specific health and safety protocols, such as spill contingency plans or methods for loading or transporting waste.
• Provide technical support for environmental remediation or litigation projects, including remediation system design or determination of regulatory applicability.
• Prepare or present public briefings on the status of environmental engineering projects.

Tools and technology

Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D, Bentley MicroStation, Business software applications, C++, ESRI ArcGIS software, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Word

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
• Water/Wastewater Engineers
• Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
• Environmental Compliance Inspectors
• Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
• Industrial Ecologists
• Water Resource Specialists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Environmental Engineers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.