*2 Positions* Climate Program Engineer (Environmental Engineer 3 / Environmental Engineer 2 - Underfill)

Initial Posting Date:

01/07/2026

Application Deadline:

01/28/2026

Agency:

Department of Environmental Quality

Salary Range:

$7,064 - $10,860

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

*2 Positions* Climate Program Engineer (Environmental Engineer 3 / Environmental Engineer 2 - Underfill)

Job Description:

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We strive to be a workplace where we share our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals, and while collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. We celebrate and appreciate diversity, champion equity, and treat each other with respect and dignity.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, age, or physical or mental disability in the administration of our programs and activities. Visit DEQ’s Civil Rights and Environmental Justice page.

Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for two Climate Program Engineers (Environmental Engineer 3 / Environmental Engineer 2 - Underfill). These positions will be located in Portland, Oregon.

Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality.

About DEQ!

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is the primary regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. State of Oregon responsible for protecting and enhancing the state's natural resources.  

These positions will be joining an innovative and multi-faceted team in DEQ’s Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs. The Office is responsible for leading the agency’s efforts to develop and implement statewide climate programs to reduce Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions. This includes programs that collect data on Oregon’s greenhouse emissions and reduces the greenhouse gas intensity of Oregon’s transportation fuels. The Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs also analyzes various climate policies as they are proposed by policymakers.

The Climate Protection Program is another part of the Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs, which places a mandatory cap or limit on greenhouse gas emissions in multiple sectors across Oregon. The program is designed and implemented by a team of staff handling all facets of the program, including the declining emission cap on fossil fuel suppliers and certain trade exposed manufacturing facilities. This position is a part of the Climate Protection Program team.

For a visual representation of DEQ’s offices and their locations, view our DEQ Offices and Vehicle Inspection Testing Stations map.

What you will do!

You will serve as a project manager for the regulation of manufacturing facilities that operate in emissions-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) industrial sectors. These sectors include paper and pulp mills, semiconductor manufacturers, iron and steel mills, chemical manufacturers, and concrete manufacturers. You will work with other technical staff within the Climate Protection section, other teams in the Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs, and relevant staff in DEQ’s regional offices to develop and implement regulations for these manufacturing facilities. You will collect and review detailed information on these facilities to assess emission reduction equipment, processes, strategies, and technologies. You will review facility process flow diagrams, production practices, control devices, pollution reduction activities, and associated engineering documents. You will research and analyze emission reduction options within similar industrial sectors to identify and evaluate potential options to reduce these emissions in Oregon. You will track and evaluate program implementation and develop guidance and communication materials for regulated facilities and interested parties.

What’s in it for you!

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today!
 

This is a full-time, AFSCME represented position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications for Environmental Engineer 3:

• 7 years of engineering experience, OR 4 years of engineering experience and a Bachelor’s degree in an engineering field, such as environmental, chemical, civil, or mechanical.
• 2 years of experience in an environmental protection/control program.
• A current PE.

Minimum Qualifications for Environmental Engineer 2 - Underfill:

• 5 years of engineering experience, OR 2 years of engineering experience and a Bachelor's degree in an engineering field, such as environmental, chemical, civil, or mechanical.
• 1 year of experience in an environmental protection/control program.

The underfill option is available to you if you do not meet the minimum qualifications for the Environmental Engineer 3 upon hire. In order to retain this appointment, you must be able to meet the minimum qualifications for the Environmental Engineer 3 by obtaining your Oregon registration for Professional Engineer within 3 years of employment.

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following desired attributes:

• Experience analyzing or researching greenhouse gas emissions at manufacturing facilities or experience designing or implementing programs, processes, or procedures to reduce to greenhouse gas emissions at manufacturing facilities. 
• Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to provide clear, concise, and compelling communication of policy and technical information tailored to the needs of diverse audiences.
• Experience and expert knowledge of air pollution and/or greenhouse gas emissions sources and pollution control devices and equipment at manufacturing facilities.
• Project management experience in an air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, or natural resource setting including development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Advanced environmental, science, or engineering education.
• Experience conducting site visits, investigations and/or inspections at manufacturing facilities to review program operations and/or compliance status.
• Experience managing complex projects with many interested parties and multiple deliverables.
• Experience conducting data analysis or complex research; experience evaluating results of analysis and research and using those results to inform development of program or operational concepts or improvements.  
• Knowledge of federal and/or state climate change initiatives designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Working Conditions:

DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness.

These positions will be based out of DEQ’s Headquarters office in Portland; however, the successful candidate will be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.

There will be occasional travel on official State business for meetings, trainings, conferences, seminars, public hearings, and site visits, some of which may include evening work, weekend work, and/or overnight stays. During site visits, there may be exposure to inclement weather, pollutants, pathogens or hazardous materials, chemicals, contaminated soil and water, fumes, airborne contaminants, and challenging field conditions (fall or tripping hazards, stairs, and uneven terrain).

How to Apply: (complete the application in full)

• External Applicants Click on the “Apply” button and submit your application. For resources and support related to applying, view our External Candidate job aid and Workday Recruitment for External Job Applicants video.
• Internal Applicants (current State of Oregon employees): Apply through your employee Workday account. For step-by-step resources on how to apply, review the Jobs, search & apply knowledge article.

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Help Your Application Rise to the Top!

Your application materials are the perfect opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and showcase your amazing skills and experience. In addition to your related work experience and education, DEQ will use the desired attributes and minimum qualifications above, under the “What are we looking for?” section to determine whom to interview. Please make sure your attributes and minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application materials.

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Veterans Information:

DEQ provides candidate preference points to all eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former). For more information on candidate preference, please visit Veterans Resources. For privacy reasons, please do not attach candidate preference documents when initially applying. Instead, you will be asked to submit those at a later time as part of a future task in Workday.

Equal Pay Analysis:

As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with HB 2005, the Pay Equity Bill. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class in the payment of wages, and we do not screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. All finalists have an equal pay analysis completed to determine their placement on the salary scale. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.

Work Authorization:

DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.

Questions/Need Help?

If you have questions about the recruitment or need assistance to participate in the application process, including an accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact DEQ’s Recruitment Team at jobs@deq.oregon.gov or 503-229-5107. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.