Any environmental engineers present?

[Superfly]

Just curious. I start my master's in Env Engineering next month and am just wondering what I have to look forward to when I complete the degree. I have an undergrad in geology, spent 6 years as an Army officer, and am now a defense contractor. How hard will it be for me to break into the environmental field, because I am INCREDIBLY sick of working for the government.

What kinds of salaries can I expect? I want to focus on groundwater resource development.

Thanks!
Brian

[Superfly]

1. Anybody?

:kick:

[Robb]

2. Most ski areas have active environmental depts

...preserving wetlands, etc. Something to think about. :shrug:

[Superfly]

3. THAT would be cool.

I would love find a job like that.

[Robb]

4. Yeah...

My answer to everything these days seems to be "go work for a ski area!", but I really like the environmental VP at our local ski area.

[Superfly]

5. And where would that be...

if you don't mind me asking?

[Robb]

7. Not at all

Telluride, Colorado. "Local" being a broad term out here in the sticks, meaning "I can get there on a single tank of gas" (hyperbole, but you get the picture). :)

[Superfly]

9. I just did a cursory search of positions open around that area

like Aspen, Snowmass, etc. About the best job they have available right now is restaraunt dishwasher....then again, it's in the middle of the season.

I am going to have to keep this conversation in mind. Thanks!

[Robb]

10. Some tips

...Just 'cause Mrs. Robb is a bigwig over there.

Anything over "manager" level is rarely advertised, unless it's just to fulfill a legal requirement. Pick a few and call the HR department and offer yourself. Explain your background and say you'd like to talk to the Environmental folks about what they do. HR people love that.

Most ski areas do appear have a hiring blitz for the holidays, but it's mostly line-level employees, and they usually were "hired" at the beginning of the winter, but don't actually start working until the holiday rush begins (Christmas week until January 4th for most areas). Also, unless you actually do just want seasonal work, pick a ski area that also manages a golf course.

Good luck out there!

[Superfly]

11. Good points. Thanks!

nt

[Bozola]

6. LUST, that's what you have to look forward to.

Leaking Underground Storage Tanks.

[Superfly]

8. So, what you're saying is...

I can probably find a job out at Yucca Mountain. Do I have to bring my own Hazmat suit?

[Bozola]

15. Nope.

The majority of Environmental engineering firms I've dealt with mainly do remediation, monitoring, land transfer evaluations, or point source control.

Most of the remediation work isn't huge scale projects like Hanford or Yucca mountain, but mainly filling stations, landfills, and old industrial sites; especially metal plating companies.

[comradebillyboy]

12. i did a lot in environmental engineering before

i became a school teacher.

most jobs are with private companies who need to understand their legal obligation and limit liability, with federal state or local governments, to devise and enforce environmental policy or with private contractors, who actually do remedial action work. pay is competitive with civil and mechanical engineers.

working for consulting/contracting companies pays the most and is the least secure. state and local govts pay the least, but more secure and humane environment. big corporations are in the middle with pay and security, but you are always swimming against the corporate culture that puts profits first.

i worked for consultants/contractors and for an electric utility. i did very well until i jouned the ranks of management ( for which i am tempermentally unsuited). now i teach math in a public high school and am much happier.

[curse10]

13. I'm not, but I play one on tv

:evilgrin:

[RebelOne]

14. I worked for an environmental company a few years back.

ERM (Envirommental Resources Management) --They are throughout the Southeast. If I remember correctly, their main office is in Brentwood, Tennessee. I worked out of the Kennesaw, GA office. They did not seem to have a big turnover of geologists, so I guess the pay must have been pretty good. My pay wasn't though, 'cause I was just a lowly office worker. You could try contacting them.