Principal Consultant, Environmental Air Quality Engineer or Scientist

Overview

Are you a senior leader air quality expert ready to lead transformative projects and shape the future of environmental consulting? At ERM
, we’re not just solving compliance challenges—we’re driving innovation for some of the world’s most dynamic industries. If you’re looking for a senior-level role where your expertise and leadership will make a global impact, this is your opportunity.

Why This Role Matters

ERM’s Air Quality Service Area is one of the largest and fastest-growing in the industry, generating over $50M annually and delivering cutting-edge solutions for climate change, permitting, and compliance. As a Principal Consultant, Environmental Air Quality Engineer or Scientist in Irvine, CA or Denver, CO
, you’ll play a pivotal role in advancing ERM’s strategy, leading high-profile projects, and expanding our presence in key sectors like manufacturing, technology, oil & gas, and/or chemicals. Our leaders proactively work together to build strategies and campaigns around key business drivers for our clients, with the primary focus of finding and delivering high-profile rewarding projects and building our business, whether it be for permitting compliance strategy and emission inventories, greenhouse gas reporting regulations, new air dispersion modeling challenges, new State and Federal rule standards, energy management and transition, or climate change adaptation.

What Your Impact Is

• Drive strategic growth of ERM’s Air Quality Service Area across North America.

• Lead complex air permitting and compliance programs for major industrial clients.

• An established reputation in the local marketplace and recognized technical expertise in one of ERM’s existing service offerings, which include, but are not limited to air quality; environmental, health, and safety; compliance assurance; process safety; climate change and sustainability; and environmental permitting.

• Build and nurture client relationships that result in repeat business and long-term partnerships.

• Serve as a Senior expert for strategic air permits and compliance programs for a variety of industrial clients with complex technical/regulatory issues.

• Mentor and develop the next generation of air quality professionals.

• Collaborate with other ERM global practitioners to execute air quality projects, including participating with teams comprised of air quality professionals from multiple offices around the global organization.

What You’ll Bring

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (chemical, environmental, civil, or mechanical engineering), environmental science, or related discipline.

• 6+ years of relevant experience.

• Proven expertise in air permitting and climate change strategies.

• Strong track record as a “seller/doer,” winning and delivering large, strategic projects.

• Experience and deep understanding of local, state, and federal air regulations.

• In-depth understanding of the manufacturing, energy transition (oil & gas), technology, chemical, and mining industries in California and Southwestern states, and the companies operating in this sector, including existing relationships that can be leveraged into new business.

• Established relationships within manufacturing, technology, oil & gas, or chemical sectors.

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and mentoring skills.

• Excellent communication (written/verbal), strategic thinking, negotiation, presentation, and people skills.

• Driver's License
  
  Required:
  
  This position requires a valid driver's license and/or the ability to operate a company vehicle due to the nature of job duties, which include travel to various client locations across a large geographical area.

• This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

Preferred:

• Advanced expertise in other environmental compliance-related areas that may include stormwater, Spill Preventions, Control, and Countermeasure Plans, wastewater, waste, water resources, Risk Management Planning, California Environmental Quality Act permitting, multi-media auditing, etc.

• Solid air quality consulting experience, with a high degree of technical competence in Title V, PSD, NSR, BACT, and MACT.

• Certification in field: P.E., CSP, CHMM, or similar registration.

• Familiar…