Description

We are recruiting for one Air Quality Specialist position in the Meteorology/Air Quality Assessment unit of our Planning, Rule Development, and Implementation (PRDI) division, a major branch of South Coast AQMD.  The most competitive candidate will have  a strong background in air quality science along with expertise in computer programming and software development. An eligible list of candidates established with this recruitment can be used to fill a current and future Air Quality Specialist vacancies in the PRDI division. 

One of the main goals of the Meteorology/Air Quality Assessment unit is to help the public reduce their exposure to poor air quality by disseminating air quality science in an easy-to-understand way to facilitate health-protective decision making. The Meteorology/Air Quality Assessment unit is on the cutting edge of both air quality science and the information technology needed to disseminate air quality data and guidance most effectively. 

Activities within the Meteorology/Air Quality Assessment unit include:

Performing complex analyses of large measured meteorological and air quality data sets from ground- and satellite-based measurement platforms
Air quality forecasting and developing air quality forecast models
Issuing predictive air quality advisories during extreme events such as wildfires and dust storms
Developing and maintaining the South Coast AQMD real-time air quality index map 
Conducting technical analyses to support rule-making
Addressing air quality related inquiries from the public and the media
Conducting media interviews
Analyzing ambient air quality data and regulatory implications
Preparing reports and presentations related to air quality and meteorological analysis
Geographic analysis using GIS software
Disseminating graphical and tabular air quality data to the public
Conducting air quality dispersion modeling
Conducting air quality research that has a direct impact on public health
Developing software to analyze data
Developing interactive websites to display and access data for use by the general public and technical users
The Meteorology/Air Quality Assessment unit is composed of four Air Quality Specialist positions, a Senior Meteorologist, and a Program Supervisor. The group is extremely collaborative as most projects require contributions from multiple group members and often works with other groups within and outside the agency. 

Please note: This job posting will close on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. 

Example of Duties for this position: Technical analysis of historical air pollution events using statistical and geospatial software to analyze surface air quality/meteorological measurements, satellite-measurements, and air quality/meteorological model data.
Conduct applied air quality research projects independently or collaboratively to answer policy-relevant questions and guide policy development.
Develop exceptional event demonstrations for air pollution events that influence attainment of federal air quality standards.
Conduct the daily air quality forecast to provide guidance to over 17 million residents in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. 
Develop, train, test, and implement air quality forecast models.
Analyze and forecast extreme air quality events such as wildfires, dust storms, and prolonged air quality episodes. 
Generate publicly accessible advisories to help residents reduce their exposure to poor air quality.
Develop and implement new publicly accessible mobile apps and websites to show forecasted air quality, real-time air quality index readings, and advisories. 
Design of interactive tools to visualize or analyze air quality data, mostly using MATLAB App Designer, ESRI ArcGIS and R Shiny.   
Analyze air quality trend data including regulatory statistics such as design values, which are used to determine whether an air basin attains federal standards.
Statistical and geospatial analysis of community level data and develop interactive maps to support Community Air Programs.
Analyze regulatory monitoring, low-cost sensor, air toxics, satellite, and meteorological data to evaluate emission source contributions and air quality impacts  
Address science-related air quality questions from the public via email or phone.
Prepare and perform presentations to convey complex air quality concepts to technical and/or general-public audiences.
Contribute to technical and policy reports on various air quality analyses and modeling exercises.
Collaborate with other government agencies, academic institutions, and other professional communities on air quality projects.

 
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
The general Example of Duties for this classification are highlighted below, for full description of duties please refer to this link here.

Works with engineers, planners, other environmental professionals, Information Management staff, and other personnel to develop and implement methods and techniques for the analysis and evaluation of air quality studies and plans.

Applies mathematical, statistical, and engineering modeling and analytical techniques to the analysis of research and survey data; prepares graphs, charts, and statistical summaries from derived data; determines appropriate data collection methods for use in research projects; and may assist in determining methods for more complex studies.

Assists in developing or develops recommendations concerning air quality management programs, plans, and rules and prepares related reports and correspondence.

Assists in preparing technical analyses and recommended positions on proposed and pending legislation relating to air quality management.

Requirements

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to the Minimum Qualifications, which follow in the next section, the most competitively qualified candidates will possess:

An advanced degree in atmospheric science, environmental/chemical/mechanical engineering, meteorology, environmental science, environmental geoscience, public health, computer science, data science, software engineering, mathematics, atmospheric chemistry or a related technical field. 
A proven record of successful collaborations with internal or external colleagues 
Strong computer programming skills in MATLAB, Python, R, or another modern computer language
Extensive experience visualizing, presenting, and publishing statistical/geographic data for technical and/or non-technical audiences
Experience preparing interactive maps, reports, publications, recommendations, technical papers, presentations, talking points, and correspondence for technical and/or general-public audiences
Experience in reviewing complex technical documents, making related recommendations, and communicating key issues, orally and in writing, to superiors, teammates, special interest groups, the public, and other audiences
In addition to the desirable qualifications above, the most competitively qualified candidates will possess skills from the two subsets below:

Air Quality Science Skills Subset

Experience conducting research on atmospheric particulate matter, ozone, and/or meteorology
Knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of air quality and meteorological instrumentation 
Experience building, improving, training, evaluating and deploying air quality models
Advanced Computer Programming and Software Development Skills Subset

Experience building interactive software and websites for the display and analysis of technical data
Experience using large language models to generate code, programming collaboration tools like git, or other tools to assist with program development
Expertise with machine learning techniques.
Fluency with geospatial mapping and analysis software 
Extensive expertise with multiple programming languages
Experience administering databases
Experience using SQL and databases in applications and data analysis
Experience using Linux, such as installing and updating packages and compiling applications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in engineering, environmental science, planning, or the physical, social, or biological sciences, depending upon the functions of the assigned unit.

EXPERIENCE:
Two years of technical air quality or professional analytical experience that would demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities of the position to which assigned

KNOWLEDGE OF:  
One or more professional disciplines, such as chemistry, toxics, statistics, economics, environmental planning, or engineering, with emphasis on its relationship to planning, rule development, or engineering activities; principles, methods, and procedures of environmental review, planning, rule development, or air quality monitoring, including related instrumentation; air quality regulations and review process; air quality modeling; emissions calculations; PC software applications commonly used in the field; research methods and techniques, including statistical and computer applications for data analysis; professional report writing; and State, federal, and local programs, guidelines, and code regulations related to air quality management.

SKILL OR ABILITY TO:  
Compile, analyze, and interpret technical air quality data; learn and apply District air quality regulations to stationary and mobile source monitoring; monitor and evaluate the performance of consultants; oversee stationary and mobile source monitoring projects under minimum supervision; maintain accurate records of air quality planning, research, monitoring, or rule development projects and prepare clear and persuasive reports and recommendations; represent South Coast AQMD interests at public, professional, and internal meetings and communicate with a variety of technical and professional air quality and legal staff; maintain current knowledge of applicable federal, State, and local regulations and technical or scientific developments; provide expert testimony, advice, and counsel in a specialized field; apply appropriate computer-based analytical techniques to complex air pollution control problems; develop new techniques and approaches to the solution of complex air pollution control problems; proficiently use PC and mainframe software applications common to the field and to the general business environment of the South Coast AQMD; read, understand, and follow verbal and written directions; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; and establish and maintain effective relationships with all those contacted in the course of work.