Environmental Engineer

Position Title

Environmental Engineer

Alternate Titles

Ecological engineer and water resource engineer.

Brief Job Description

Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, oceanography, marine biology, and chemistry to develop solutions that mitigate or prevent environmental problems related to the marine energy industry. Environmental engineers design or improve systems that minimize marine energy industry impacts on marine life, ecosystems, water quality, pollution, and onshore communities.

Education and Training Level Description

Environmental engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering or a related field, such as civil, chemical, or general engineering. Employers also value experience, so internships or cooperative-education engineering programs while at a university are a plus. To be hired into formal engineering roles, environmental engineers generally need to acquire a Fundamentals of Engineering license by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam to design health and safety systems.

With a Fundamentals of Engineering license and 4 or more years of work experience under a more experienced engineer, environmental engineers can take a test to acquire a professional engineer license. Environmental engineers with a professional engineer license can be a technical specialist within the environmental engineering discipline, oversee other engineers and technicians, develop designs and specifications, and oversee construction activities to minimize impacts on the environment. An advanced degree, additional work experience, and a professional engineer license can lead to more job and career advancement opportunities in the research and development sector, training and education fields, and managerial roles.

Job Profile

Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, physical oceanography, marine biology, and chemistry to develop solutions that mitigate or prevent environmental problems related to the marine energy industry. Environmental engineers design or improve systems that minimize marine energy industry impacts on marine life, ecosystems, water quality, pollution, and onshore communities.

Environmental engineers typically:

• Research the environmental impact of proposed marine energy facility construction projects
• Prepare, review, and update environmental investigation reports on marine energy facilities or component manufacturing plants
• Design projects that reduce the environmental impacts of marine facilities, such as designing support structures that minimize impact on or possibly support marine life
• Obtain, update, and maintain plans, permits, and standard operating procedures that minimize operational impacts on the environment
• Provide technical support for environmental remediation projects and for legal actions
• Analyze scientific data and perform quality control checks to quantify an activity’s potential impact on the environment
• Monitor the progress of environmental improvement programs
• Inspect marine facility and component manufacturing facilities in order to ensure compliance with environmental regulations
• Collaborate with other scientists, engineers, technicians, urban and regional planners, and specialists across sectors to address environmental problems and environmental sustainability.

Job Skills

Environmental engineers typically need:

• Imagination. Environmental engineers sometimes have to design systems that will be part of larger ones. They must foresee how the proposed designs will interact with components of the larger system, including the workers, machinery, and equipment, as well as with the environment.
• Interpersonal skills. Environmental engineers must work with others toward a common goal. They usually work with engineers and scientists who design other systems and with the technicians and mechanics who put the designs into practice.
• Problem-solving skills. When designing facilities and processes, environmental engineers strive to solve several issues at once, from workers’ safety to environmental protection. They must identify and anticipate problems in order to prevent losses for their employers, safeguard workers’ health, and mitigate environmental damage.
• Reading skills. Environmental engineers often work with businesspeople, lawyers, and other professionals outside their field. They frequently are required to read and understand documents that deal with topics outside their scope of training.
• Writing skills. Environmental engineers must write clearly so that others without their specific training can understand their documents, including plans, proposals, specifications, and findings.

More Information, Job Opportunities, etc.

For more information on environmental engineering jobs see: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Environmental Engineers

Resources

• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying: Professional Engineer Environmental Exam
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Environmental Engineers