The Senior Environmental Engineer will lead air quality regulatory compliance and permitting activities for a major petrochemical and polymer manufacturing complex in La Porte, Texas. The facility produces polyethylene and polypropylene and operates under extensive federal and state environmental regulations. This position serves as the site's technical authority for air compliance, overseeing New Source Review (NSR), Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD), Permits by Rule (PBR), Standard Permits, and Title V operating permits. The Senior Environmental Engineer will serve as the primary liaison with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other regulatory agencies. Reporting to the Environmental Manager, this individual will work closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Laboratory, Safety, and Site Leadership to ensure regulatory compliance, minimize environmental risk, and drive continuous improvement.
Lead sitewide air compliance programs, including environmental permitting, emissions monitoring, regulatory reporting, auditing, and recordkeeping.
Ensure compliance with federal and Texas air quality regulations, permit conditions, and applicable reporting requirements.
Provide technical expertise for Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS), Predictive Emissions Monitoring Systems (PEMS), Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds (HRVOC), Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR), Miscellaneous Organic NESHAP (MON), RICE MACT, Maintenance, Startup and Shutdown (MSS), and Mass Emissions Cap and Trade (MECT) programs.
Maintain compliance with applicable Texas Administrative Code (30 TAC) requirements, including Chapters 101, 111, 115, 116, and 117.
Prepare, review, and submit regulatory reports, including semiannual deviation reports, annual emissions inventories, and other required environmental submissions.
Manage air emissions calculations, compliance spreadsheets, environmental databases, and ENVision reporting systems.
Lead the evaluation, documentation, and reporting of emissions events, including Reportable Quantity (RQ) exceedances and notifications to TCEQ and the National Response Center (NRC).
Maintain records of non-reportable emissions events and coordinate corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Manage regulatory agreed orders, track compliance obligations, and coordinate implementation of required corrective actions.
Support air permitting applications, permit modifications, regulatory interpretations, and emissions calculations associated with plant projects and operational changes.
Monitor proposed and emerging environmental regulations, evaluate their impact on plant operations, and develop compliance strategies.
Serve as the primary technical contact during environmental inspections, regulatory investigations, audits, and agency negotiations.
Establish environmental performance indicators, monitor compliance trends, and communicate results to plant and corporate leadership.
Develop and implement environmental improvement initiatives that strengthen regulatory compliance, operational performance, and risk management.
Support the development and continuous improvement of the site's Safety, Health, and Environmental (SHE) Management System.
Partner with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and other functional groups to integrate environmental requirements into daily manufacturing activities.
Provide technical guidance, coaching, and environmental awareness training to employees and contractors.
Support departmental budget management, cost improvement initiatives, and environmental planning activities.
Assist with environmental sustainability and ESG reporting requirements as needed.
Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related engineering or technical discipline.
Minimum of 10 years of experience in environmental regulatory compliance and permitting within an industrial manufacturing environment.
At least 5–7 years of direct responsibility managing air compliance programs within a petrochemical, chemical manufacturing, polymer, or petroleum refining facility.
Extensive knowledge of federal and Texas air quality regulations, particularly TCEQ requirements and EPA regulatory programs.
Demonstrated experience managing Title V permits, NSR, PSD, PBR, and other air permitting requirements.
Strong technical background in air emissions calculations, emissions inventories, environmental monitoring, regulatory reporting, and compliance documentation.
Working knowledge of CEMS, PEMS, HRVOC, LDAR, MON, RICE MACT, MSS, MECT, and applicable 30 TAC regulations.
Experience working directly with regulatory agencies, including TCEQ and EPA, during inspections, audits, permitting activities, and compliance investigations.
Understanding of chemical manufacturing processes, including chemical reactions, polymerization, distillation, and associated air emissions sources.
Experience evaluating routine, startup, shutdown, maintenance, and upset emissions for regulatory compliance and permitting purposes.
Broad environmental regulatory knowledge across multiple media, with particular expertise in air quality compliance.
Proven ability to interpret complex environmental regulations and translate requirements into practical plant operating procedures.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical communication skills.
Proficiency with environmental compliance databases, emissions tracking systems, spreadsheets, and regulatory reporting tools.
Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams, establish priorities, and drive compliance improvements in a complex manufacturing environment.
Ability to work independently, exercise sound technical judgment, and communicate effectively with plant leadership and regulatory authorities.
Relocation Assistance
6% Match + 3% contribution
20% Bonus Target
Collaborative Workplace Culture
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