Transportation Engineer III/IV, Air Quality & Climate Change

Job Description

Performs professional-level transportation planning activities in the surface transportation sector, focused on both air quality and climate change planning. This is a technical position requiring strong quantitative skills and an ability to analyze and interpret technical data. Should be familiar with transportation and air quality planning principles, and travel demand forecasting. Work is performed under the general supervision of a higher-level transportation engineer/program manager, but the candidate should exhibit a certain degree of independence and self-direction.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

• Providing support for activities related to the federal air quality conformity process.

• Assisting with other air quality planning activities, including state implementation plans (SIPs) for addressing federal air quality standards.

• Participating in climate change planning activities for the on-road transportation sector, including tasks related to vehicle electrification.

• Keeping up to date with federal regulations and guidance pertaining to air quality and climate change planning.

• Providing support for scenario planning activities.

• Conducting reasonableness reviews of various technical data related to air quality and climate planning, and writing technical memoranda and reports.

• Collaboration with staff from other Department of Transportation Planning (DTP) teams and other departments, such as by COG’s Department of Environmental Programs (DEP), to develop project schedules and scopes of work for the air quality conformity analysis of the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), SIPs, and other air quality planning projects.

• Collaboration with staff from other DTP teams and other departments to provide transportation data and conduct review of reports and memoranda related to climate change planning, such as the periodic greenhouse gas inventories prepared by DEP staff (e.g., attend meetings, provide meeting summaries, respond to information and data requests).

• Collaboration with staff from other DTP teams and other departments to provide support for activities related to vehicle electrification (e.g., attend meetings, provide meeting summaries, respond to information and data requests).

• Drafting comment letters to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other similar agencies, in response to proposed changes in emissions standards.

• Assist with analysis and reasonableness checking of inputs and outputs from the regional travel demand model and the EPA’s MOVES mobile emissions model in support of the air quality conformity analysis, LRTP performance assessment, greenhouse gas (GHG) analyses, and scenario/project planning.

• Writing technical memoranda and reports, including documenting the air quality conformity analysis of the LRTP.

• Analysis of transportation emission reduction measures (TERMs).

• Making presentations to the TPB Technical Committee, Travel Forecasting Subcommittee (TFS) and other related committees.

• Supporting data requests from outside parties related to air quality conformity and mobile emissions planning.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This job generally has no supervisory responsibilities, though this person may train and/or supervise temporary staff.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Good knowledge of principles and practices of transportation engineering or planning, or related field; including quantitative methods and techniques applied to transportation planning; good knowledge of air quality and climate change planning; ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, officials, and the public; good judgment.

Education and Experience

Minimum qualifications (Transportation Engineer 3):

• Master’s degree in transportation engineering, civil engineering, transportation planning, urban planning, computer science, or a related field and two years of applicable work experience. OR • Bachelor's degree in a related or non-related field and three years of applicable work experience. OR • Any combination of education, experience, and training that is equivalent to one of the two above qualifications, as demonstrated by college-level courses in areas such as Mathematics, Operations Research, Quantitative Analysis, Statistics, and Computer Modeling.

Minimum qualifications (Transportation Engineer 4):

• Master’s degree in transportation engineering, civil engineering, transportation planning, urban planning, computer science, or a related field and three years of applicable work experience. OR • Bachelor's degree in a related or non-related field and four years of applicable work experience. OR • Any combination of education, experience, and training that is equivalent to one of the two above qualifications, as demonstrated by college-level courses in areas such as Mathematics, Operations Research, Quantitative Analysis, Statistics, and Computer Modeling.

Computer Knowledge and Skills Strong analytical and computer skills; software skills in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Microsoft Access, or other database software.

Communication Skills Ability to read, analyze, and interpret governmental regulations, general business periodicals, professional journals, and/or technical procedures. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to communicate in writing and speak about complex technical topics to non-technical audiences.

Mathematical Skills Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute percentages, rates, and ratios and to draw and interpret numeric charts and graphs.

Reasoning Ability Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form and deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization may exist.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations No requirements

Ideal candidate (one or more of these):

• Passionate about learning, improving technical skills, public service, and making significant contributions that will improve the agency and the region.

• Experience with interpreting federal regulations pertaining to air quality conformity, SIPs, and greenhouse gases.

• Experience with project/task management.

• Experience with climate change planning in the surface transportation sector.

• Experience with scenario planning and greenhouse gas estimation tools.

• Ability to communicate in writing and speaking about complex technical topics to non-technical audiences;

• Experience with geographic information system (GIS) software, such as ArcGIS or QGIS.

• Familiarity with travel demand forecasting models.

• Familiarity with EPA’s MOVES model.

• Familiarity with database management systems (DBMSs).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Salary, Depends on Qualifications

Transportation III -Grade 8: $84,037.53 to $113,000

Transportation IV - Grade 9: $91,659.91 to $119,000