Environmental Engineer

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

An environmental engineer could...

Overview Listen to this section

Environmental engineers plan projects around their city or state—like municipal water systems, landfills, recycling centers, or sanitation facilities—that are essential to the health of the people who live there. Environmental engineers also work to minimize the impact of human developments, like new roads or dams, on environments and habitats, and they strive to improve the quality of our air, land, and water.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Environmental Engineer?

1. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
2. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
3. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
4. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
5. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

6. Monitoring: ? Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
7. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.
8. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
9. Active Learning: ? Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
10. Coordination: ? Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks an Environmental Engineer might do:

• Provide technical support for environmental remediation or litigation projects, including remediation system design or determination of regulatory applicability.
• Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
• Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
• Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
• Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
• Inspect industrial or municipal facilities or programs to evaluate operational effectiveness or ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
• Direct installation or operation of environmental monitoring devices or supervise related data collection programs.
• Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports.
• Develop site-specific health and safety protocols, such as spill contingency plans or methods for loading or transporting waste.
• Obtain, update, or maintain plans, permits, or standard operating procedures.
• Prepare or present public briefings on the status of environmental engineering projects.
• Provide administrative support for projects by collecting data, providing project documentation, training staff, or performing other general administrative duties.
• Coordinate or manage environmental protection programs or projects, assigning or evaluating work.
• Request bids from suppliers or consultants.
• Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.
• Serve as liaison with federal, state, or local agencies or officials on issues pertaining to solid or hazardous waste program requirements.
• Provide assistance with planning, quality assurance, safety inspection protocols, or sampling as part of a team conducting multimedia inspections at complex facilities.
• Develop, implement, or manage plans or programs related to conservation or management of natural resources.
• Inform company employees or other interested parties of environmental issues.
• Advise industries or government agencies about environmental policies and standards.
• Provide environmental engineering assistance in network analysis, regulatory analysis, or planning or reviewing database development.
• Assist in budget implementation, forecasts, or administration.
• Prepare, maintain, or revise quality assurance documentation or procedures.
• Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.
• Prepare hazardous waste manifests or land disposal restriction notifications.
• Develop or present environmental compliance training or orientation sessions.