Details for Environmental Engineering Technicians
Description
Apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental pollution, including waste treatment and site remediation. May assist in the development of environmental pollution remediation devices under direction of engineer.
Tasks
- Receive, set up, test, or decontaminate equipment.
- Maintain project logbook records or computer program files.
- Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings.
- Review technical documents to ensure completeness and conformance to requirements.
- Review work plans to schedule activities.
- Obtain product information, identify vendors or suppliers, or order materials or equipment to maintain inventory.
- Arrange for the disposal of lead, asbestos, or other hazardous materials.
- Inspect facilities to monitor compliance with regulations governing substances, such as asbestos, lead, or wastewater.
- Provide technical engineering support in the planning of projects, such as wastewater treatment plants, to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and policies.
- Improve chemical processes to reduce toxic emissions.
- Oversee support staff.
- Assist in the cleanup of hazardous material spills.
- Produce environmental assessment reports, tabulating data and preparing charts, graphs, or sketches.
- Maintain process parameters and evaluate process anomalies.
- Work with customers to assess the environmental impact of proposed construction or to develop pollution prevention programs.
- Perform statistical analysis and correction of air or water pollution data submitted by industry or other agencies.
- Develop work plans, including writing specifications or establishing material, manpower, or facilities needs.
- Assess the ability of environments to naturally remove or reduce conventional or emerging contaminants from air, water, or soil.
- Create models to demonstrate or predict the process by which pollutants move through or impact an environment.
- Decontaminate or test field equipment used to clean or test pollutants from soil, air, or water.
- Evaluate and select technologies to clean up polluted sites, restore polluted air, water, or soil, or rehabilitate degraded ecosystems.
- Model biological, chemical, or physical treatment processes to remove or degrade pollutants.
- Prepare and package environmental samples for shipping or testing.
- Prepare permit applications or review compliance with environmental permits.
- Record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries of visual observations.
- Collect and analyze pollution samples, such as air or ground water.
Interests
- Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Education, training, experience
- Education - Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Training - Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
- Experience - A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Knowledge
- Production and Processing -Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
- Public Safety and Security -Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- Education and Training -Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- English Language -Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Biology -Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Chemistry -Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Mechanical -Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Mathematics -Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- 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.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related careers
None found.
