Job Details

Engineer

This position is located in the Water Quality Division in the Municipal Discharge and Stormwater Permits Section in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. All applicants must be able to pass a background check and must be able to legally work within the United States. DEQ does not allow sponsorships for those on an H-1B visa.

The primary purpose of the job is to implement state and federal regulations under the Oklahoma Pollutant Discharge Eliminations System (OPDES) program through municipal wastewater, water reuse, and stormwater permits. Job functions and duties include:

• Review applications for municipal individual wastewater permits and general permit authorizations for administrative completeness. Perform site visits as needed for permit drafting. Provide technical assistance and issue Notices of Deficiency (NODs) consistent with Section policy and timelines.
• Draft major municipal wastewater permits and associated documents for facilities as assigned, including water reuse requirements as applicable. Maintain information related to assigned permits in NMS database.
• Draft minor municipal discharge permits (incorporating water reuse requirements as applicable) and standalone water reuse permits for facilities as assigned. Draft general permit authorizations as assigned. Maintain information related to assigned permits in NMS database. Provide technical assistance and issue Notices of Deficiency (NODs) consistent with Section policy and timelines.
• Complete administrative review of Notices of Intent applications for authorization under the Construction (OKR10), Multi-Sector Industrial (OKR05), and MS4 (OKR04) General Permits for stormwater discharges as assigned.
• Work on special projects as assigned, including, but not limited to, general permit renewals, NMS database projects, permit tracking/statistics, assisting in responding to legislature, governor, and media inquiries, and developing training materials and videos or permitting guidance documents.
• Provide technical support to the Section/Group Manager by researching technical issues and compiling data and then helping to write memos, technical reports, and other correspondence involving the Municipal Permits Section as assigned. Make presentations as requested by the Section Manager.

Employee will be required to travel within the state of Oklahoma on a regular basis and out of state travel on an occasional (as needed) basis. This position may require occasional overnight travel to fulfill job duties.

Level III - bachelor's degree in engineering from a college or university recognized by the Oklahoma State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, in accordance with the standards of the Accreditation Board of Engineering Technology.

Level IV - registration as an Engineer Intern.

Level V - those identified in level IV plus one year experience in the practice of engineering; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting the completion of a master's degree in engineering for the required one year of experience in the practice of engineering.

Level VI - those identified in level IV plus two years of experience in the practice of engineering; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting a master's degree in engineering for one year of experience in the practice of engineering.

To be considered for this position applicants must be within 60 days of obtaining their degree.

Persons with out of state registration as an Engineer Intern must transfer their registration with the State of Oklahoma through the Oklahoma State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors no later than six months from the date of appointment. Persons will not be granted permanent status without a valid Oklahoma registration as an Engineer Intern.

The tenure and seniority of present and previous State employees will be considered as a factor in the selection process when merit, ability, and capacity are determined to be equal among applicants through the completion of the various phases of the interview process.

Greater consideration will be given to candidates who have a grade point average of 3.0 or greater or have transcripts demonstrating coursework relevant to this position.

Greater consideration will be given to candidates who have the relevant coursework or experience, including an Engineering Intern license, necessary to qualify for a position as an Engineer Intern IV-VI.

Employee will be required to inspect municipal wastewater treatment facilities that will require flexing, bending, etc., and may occasionally be required to lift objects of 50 pounds or more.

• Employee must be capable of proficiently using DEQ standard software (MS Office, MS Word, Outlook, Excel, Access, MS Teams), and the Internet, as well as ability to learn data entry used in other database programs.
• Employee must be capable of effectively and diplomatically communicating both orally and in writing with the regulated facilities, consultants, DEQ and other agency personnel, and with the public.
• Employee must be capable or organizing and tracking their workload to complete multiple, simultaneous work assignments with differing deadlines.
• Employee must exhibit positive responsiveness with assigned tasks and with newly identified projects that the Agency/Division deem necessary to meet program assignments, commitments, and directives. The employee must be self-motivated and capable of working individually or as a team member to meet and advance the overall Agency or Division goals.
• Employee must demonstrate the ability to research, analyze situations, and determine sound courses of action; problem solving.
• Employee must demonstrate the ability to perform basic engineering calculations; technical knowledge.
• Employee must demonstrate customer service orientation.
• Employee must demonstrate the ability to follow standard operating procedures.

• Generous leave including 15 days of vacation, 15 days of sick leave and 11 paid holidays annually.
• A comprehensive benefit package with a generous benefit allowance to offset the cost of insurance premiums for employees and their eligible dependents.

Not all applicants will receive an interview. If you are selected to be interviewed, you will be notified by email.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.