Local recruitment: Engineer I

• Employer: State of North Carolina
• Salary: $55,823.00 – $61,404.00 Annually
• Location: Iredell County, NC
• Job Type: Permanent Full-Time
• Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
• Job Number: 25-05553 EML65026568
• Department: Dept of Environmental Quality
• Division: Energy, Mineral & Land Resources
• Opening Date: 04/25/2025
• Closing Date: 5/5/2025 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
• Job Class Title: Engineer I
• Position Number: 65026568
• Section: Energy, Mineral & Land Resources
• Salary Grade: NC16

Description of Work

Future Graduates – Are you graduating soon and looking for a full-time job in Environmental Engineering?    

Apply now to be considered for an opportunity to work with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality when you graduate.

At every level, DEQ employees are part of the efforts to rebuild infrastructure and restore the environment after Helene’s impacts. Want to help? Join the DEQ team supporting Western North Carolina communities as they recover and prepare for future storms.  Your work will have a meaningful impact on the lives of North Carolinians.

This position currently qualifies for a hybrid telework option with routine office and remote workdays. The NC Department of Environmental Quality trusts our employees to be self-motivated and successful in hybrid/remote roles. Telework options are subject to change at the discretion of management.

This Engineer I assists in the management of the statewide implementation of The Dam Safety Law of 1967 and the North Carolina Administrative Code 15A NCAC 2K “Dam Safety” Rules to protect life and property from unsafe dams.  The program responsibility is carried out through four major task efforts: (1) emergency response related to dam incidences as needed (2) enforcement proceedings for dams in disrepair which threaten public welfare, (3) periodic inspection of all jurisdictional dams, and (4) permit review of all plans to construct, repair, modify, or breach a jurisdictional dam.  This position will be responsible for the review of hydrologic and hydraulic models for coal ash related dams; review and approval of engineering plans and specifications to construct, repair, or modify coal ash dams; providing technical consultation to coal ash dam owners, engineers, consultants, internal and external staff; providing training to regional staff in dam safety inspections and assisting in the inspection of dams; assisting coal ash dam owners in drafting emergency action plans; and responding to dam safety emergencies.  

This position requires the ability to walk through rough and uneven terrain and work in inclement weather, noise, dust, and insects.   Position does require travel to and from various project sites and dams.

This position has a high volume of work with changing priorities.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Performing review of plans, design reports, and specifications to construct, repair, modify, breach, or remove coal ash dams. The review consists of hydrologic, hydraulic, geotechnical, and structural engineering evaluation of the submittals to ensure that sound dam safety engineering principles and the design requirements of the Dam Safety Law and regulations have been met.
• Meeting with applicants and their consultants as it pertains to the status of projects under review.
• Assisting in the inspection of coal ash dams throughout the State at the direction of the State Dam Safety Engineer and at the request of the regional offices.
• Assisting coal ash pond dam owners in drafting emergency action plans (EAPs) for intermediate or high hazard category coal ash pond dams, including performing hydraulic dam break analysis.
• Responding to dam safety emergencies. The Assistant State Dam Safety Engineer works with the State Dam Safety Engineer to coordinate emergency actions in the event of pending dam failure related to coal ash ponds and to take actions required in the event of pending dam failure.
• Assist in the management and administration of federal grants including monitoring project execution to ensure compliance with all laws, regulation, and policies

The Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources:

The Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources (DEMLR) is comprised of two Sections:  Land Quality and Geological Survey.  For more information:  https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/energy-mineral-and-land-resources

The Land Quality Section is responsible for the administration of four regulatory programs: Dam Safety Program as authorized by the Dam Safety of 1967, Mining Program as authorized by the Mining Act of 1971, Sediment Program as authorized by the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973 and Stormwater Program as authorized by state statutes and the federal Clean Water Act. DEMLR collects permit fees and issues permits for mines, dams, sedimentation control for construction sites, and stormwater permits for various activities and refers enforcement cases to the Attorney General’s Office.

DEMLR is responsible for scheduling, organizing and transcribing minutes of the North Carolina Mining Commission and the Sedimentation Control Commission as well as reporting to the Environmental Management Commission regarding dam safety and stormwater matters.

The N.C. Geological Survey (NCGS) Section’s mission is to provide unbiased and technically accurate applied earth science scientific information to address societal needs.  This includes geologic maps, mineral resource and geochemical information, topographic maps and digital products, and earth science education initiatives. The NCGS “…examines, surveys, and maps the geology, mineral resources, and topography of the state” and

encourages the wise conservation and use of geologic resources by industry, commerce, agriculture and government agencies for the general welfare of the citizens of North Carolina. The results of the NCGS research are documented in Bulletins, Open File Reports, Information Circulars, Special Publications, and Geologic Map Series. The NCGS along with DEMLR provide staff to the Oil and Gas Commission.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality:

The primary mission of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is to provide science-based environmental stewardship for the health and prosperity of all North Carolinians. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead stewardship agency for the protection of North Carolina’s environmental resources. The organization, which has offices from the mountains to the coast, administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public’s health, and works to advance in all-of-the-above energy strategy that fits North Carolina’s needs. DEQ also offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public and encourages responsible behavior with respect to the environment through education programs provided at DEQ facilities and through the state’s school system. DEQ touches the lives of all North Carolinians in many ways to enhance and ensure our quality of life. Please visit our website at theDepartment of Environmental Qualityfor more information. 

 If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visitwww.studentaid.govto learn more.

 
Location:  Mooresville Regional Office, 610 E Center Ave, Mooresville, NC 28115

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

The Knowledge, Skills and Abilities listed below, along with the Minimum Education and Experience requirements, are REQUIRED to qualify for this position.   We will not review resumes in lieu of Experience and Education listed on the application.  Click these links for additional information: Introduction to the Job Application and Addressing Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.  (Note:These links refer to Dept. of Public Safety process; this process is the same for Dept. of Environmental Quality.)

To qualify for this position, applicants must document on the application that they possess ALL of the following: 

• Ability to apply the basic engineering concepts, practices, and theories involved in the design, development, review, permitting, and/or operations of projects/sites and their potential environmental and safety impacts.
• Ability to review engineering/technical plans and/or data for completeness, compatibility, compliance with engineering principles, standards, codes or design needs and/or ability to make recommendations to higher level engineers or managers on project concerns/issues.
• Ability to communicate, both verbally and in written form, with people such as the general public, environmental contacts, public officials, and other similar personnel.  

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. Seeoshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.

Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field of engineering from an appropriately accredited institution; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
May require registration as a professional engineer by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors. 

*Graduating Senior students with applicable degrees listed above with an anticipated graduation date will be considered.  Job offers will be contingent upon completion of their degree.

Supplemental and Contact Information

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws and Executive Orders.  

DEQ uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act.  Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position. 

• Applicants seeking Veteran’s Preference must attach a DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to their applications.
• If applicants earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, they must attach an official transcript to each application to receive credit for this education.
• If applicants earned a foreign degree, foreign degrees require an official evaluation for U.S. equivalency, and must be submitted to Human Resources for verification. There are several organizations that perform this specialized service, feel free to use any service of your choosing. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) has several options on their website that can provide credential verification:https://www.naces.org/members 

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account and click “Application Status.”  If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by management.  If you are no longer under consideration, you will receive an email notification.  If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact Ben Brooks at (919)707-9232 or ben.brooks@deq.nc.gov.

For technical issues with your application, please call the GovernmentJobs.com Applicant Support Help Line at 855-524-5627.  

Employer: State of North Carolina

Website: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/guest