Sr Environmental Engineer

What we do-

Aspen is a technology leader in sustainability and electrification solutions. The Company's aerogel technology enables its customers and partners to achieve their own objectives around the global megatrends of resource efficiency, e-mobility, and clean energy. Aspen's PyroThin products enable solutions to thermal runaway challenges within the electric vehicle ("EV") market. The Company's Cryogel and Pyrogel products are valued by the world's largest energy infrastructure companies. Aspen's strategy is to partner with world-class industry leaders to leverage its Aerogel Technology Platform into additional high-value markets. Aspen is headquartered in Northborough, Mass.

What we value-

At Aspen, our values reflect who we are and how we work both with each other and our customers, suppliers, and communities. They shape our interactions, guide our decisions, and inspire us to bring our best. Whether collaborating internally or externally, our values drive us to make a meaningful impact within Aspen and in all our relationships.

Aspen's CORE Values

We Do the Right Thing

We are Problem Solvers

We are Allies

We Drive Forward

What you will do-

The Senior Environmental Engineer is responsible for environmental compliance at the company's East Providence, RI location, a solvent-based manufacturing facility regulated under OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) requirements and operating under Rhode Island DEM air approvals, RIPDES stormwater coverage, hazardous waste generator requirements, and an ISO 14001 certified environmental management system.

This position serves as the site's technical lead and single point of accountability for all environmental media - air, water, waste, and chemical release prevention. The role owns the site's environmental permits, plans, and regulatory reporting; leads permitting for new and modified operations so that approvals are secured in advance of equipment and process changes; maintains the ISO 14001 environmental management system; and drives environmental action items from all sources through to verified completion. The position is an individual contributor with site-wide functional responsibility and serves as the primary interface with environmental regulatory agencies.

How will you do it-

Air Quality and Permitting

• Serve as site owner for all Rhode Island DEM Office of Air Resources approvals, including permit conditions governing thermal oxidizer operating temperature, emission limits, monitoring, and recordkeeping.
• Prepare and manage minor source preconstruction permit applications under 250-RICR-120-05-9 for new and modified equipment, including emission calculations, control technology evaluation, and agency follow-through to issuance.
• Maintain facility potential-to-emit and hazardous air pollutant inventories and re-evaluate Title V applicability following any site change.
• Prepare the annual Air Pollution Inventory / emission statement and air toxics registration, and manage any applicable Title V compliance certifications, semiannual monitoring reports, and emissions fees.
• Determine applicability of and comply with federal air rules including NSPS Subpart Dc, NESHAP Subparts ZZZZ, DDDDD, and JJJJJJ, the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule, asbestos NESHAP notifications, and refrigerant management requirements.
• Plan and oversee stack testing and continuous emissions monitoring, including RACT-driven periodic testing, test protocols, notifications of intent to test, contractor oversight, and report review.

Water - Stormwater, Wastewater, and Groundwater

• Own site coverage under the RIPDES Multi-Sector General Permit, including the Stormwater Management Plan, quarterly routine inspections, quarterly visual assessments, benchmark and impaired-waters monitoring, corrective actions, Discharge Monitoring Reports, and the annual report.
• Manage the industrial wastewater discharge (sewer use) permit with the applicable control authority, including self-monitoring, periodic compliance reporting, and categorical pretreatment requirements where applicable.
• Maintain compliance with Rhode Island groundwater discharge and underground injection control rules.
• Oversee stormwater best management practice operation and maintenance and obtain RIPDES construction general permit coverage for site projects.

Hazardous Waste and Materials

• Serve as site hazardous waste program owner, including generator status determination, waste characterization and profiling, accumulation area management, container and tank inspections, and manifest administration.
• Prepare the biennial hazardous waste report and maintain RCRA site identification notification. Rhode Island administers its own generator regulations in lieu of 40 CFR Part 262 and has not adopted the federal Generator Improvements Rule.
• Manage universal waste and used oil programs, waste vendor and treatment/storage/disposal facility selection and auditing, and the site waste minimization program.
• Own aboveground storage tank compliance under Rhode Island Oil Pollution Control rules and maintain the SPCC plan and its five-year review and certification.

Chemical Release Prevention and Emergency Preparedness

• Maintain EPCRA compliance including the Tier II chemical inventory, Section 302 emergency planning notifications, Section 311 safety data sheet reporting, the Toxics Release Inventory, and Rhode Island Right-to-Know registration.
• Support the Process Safety Management program on environmental interfaces, and own Clean Air Act Section 112(r) obligations - Risk Management Program applicability, submission, and updates where triggered, and General Duty Clause obligations where it is not.
• Maintain the site contingency plan and emergency response arrangements with local responders and serve as an environmental responder during drills and actual events.
• Lead environmental incident investigation and root cause analysis, and own resulting corrective actions to closure.

Permitting for Future Site Activities

• Integrate environmental review into the capital project and management of change processes so that permitting applicability is screened before procurement and construction commitments are made.
• Maintain a forward-looking permitting roadmap aligned to site production and capital plans, identifying required approvals, agency lead times, and remaining emission and discharge headroom under current permits.
• Prepare permit modifications, amendments, and renewal applications across all media and negotiate workable conditions with agency staff.
• Quantify and communicate environmental constraints on production growth, including proximity to regulatory thresholds and the requirements associated with a higher tier of regulation.

Action Item Management and Closure

• Develop and own a site environmental action item register, capturing findings from internal and external audits, agency inspections and notices, incident corrective actions, management review outputs, and permit commitments, each with an assigned owner and due date.
• Drive items to completion, escalate when items stall, and verify effectiveness of completed actions rather than accepting administrative closure.
• Maintain the site environmental compliance calendar as a working tool, updating it as regulations change and establishing reminders with adequate lead time for data collection and review.
• Monitor regulatory developments affecting the site and translate them into action in advance of compliance dates.

ISO 14001 Environmental Management System

• Serve as site ISO 14001 program lead and maintain certification through annual surveillance audits and recertification cycles.
• Own the compliance obligations and the evaluation of compliance, ensuring both are complete, current, and evidenced.
• Maintain the environmental aspects and impacts assessment, environmental objectives and targets, operational controls, and documented information and records management.
• Plan and conduct internal environmental audits, manage nonconformances and corrective actions, and prepare and present environmental content for management review.

Agency Relations, Reporting, and Site Support

• Serve as primary site contact for RIDEM, EPA Region 1, the sewer control authority, and other local environmental authorities. Host inspections, respond to information requests, and manage notices of violation and associated negotiations.
• Maintain regulatory inspection readiness, with permits, plans, logs, training records, and the retention-period record set organized and retrievable.
• Develop and deliver environmental training to operations, maintenance, and management personnel, including hazardous waste, stormwater, emergency response, and DOT hazardous materials training.
• Provide accurate site-level environmental data in support of corporate sustainability and regulatory reporting.
• Manage environmental consultants, laboratories, and contractors, including scope definition, budget, and deliverable quality.
• Utilize the corporate EHS management platform for maintaining environmental metrics and program information.
• Adopt and follow Aspen's core values of Safety, Quality, Integrity, Teamwork, Customer and Innovation on both a personal and professional level.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This job has no direct supervisory responsibilities. The position carries site-wide functional responsibility for environmental compliance and directs the work of consultants and contractors.

Performance Measures:

• Regulatory reports and permit submittals completed accurately and on or before due date.
• No notices of violation or agency enforcement arising from missed obligations or lapsed permits.
• Environmental action items closed within committed due dates, with effectiveness verified.
• Permits and approvals secured in advance of associated equipment installation or process change.
• ISO 14001 certification maintained with no major nonconformances and no repeat findings.
• Applicability determinations documented and current for all major programs.

Why you are right for the job-

• Bachelor's degree in environmental engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressive environmental compliance experience, including at least five (5) years at a manufacturing or industrial facility. Chemical, specialty materials, coatings, or solvent-based process experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ownership of multiple environmental media at a single site - air, water, and waste.
• Direct experience preparing air permit applications and managing them to issuance with a state regulatory agency.
• Working knowledge of the Clean Air Act (minor source and Title V permitting, NSPS, NESHAP), RCRA, the Clean Water Act (NPDES industrial stormwater and pretreatment), EPCRA, SPCC, and TSCA.
• Experience with electronic regulatory reporting through EPA Central Data Exchange program services, including NetDMR, CEDRI, TRI-MEweb, RCRAInfo, and e-GGRT.
• Certificates, licenses and registrations: RCRA and DOT hazardous materials training required or to be obtained upon hire. Professional Engineer license, Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, or ISO 14001 auditor certification preferred.
• Rhode Island regulatory experience, including RIDEM Office of Air Resources permitting, the RIPDES program, and Rhode Island hazardous waste rules, preferred.
• Experience supporting OSHA Process Safety Management and EPA Risk Management Program requirements for flammable liquid processes preferred.
• Experience permitting a facility through a significant capacity expansion, process change, or restart preferred.
• Proficient PC skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications.
• Ability to work independently with attention to detail, and to manage competing priorities across multiple regulatory programs.
• Analytical problem solving with strong written and verbal communication, including the ability to write for a regulatory audience and communicate clearly with production personnel.
• Ability to be on call or work off hours as needed for environmental incidents or emergencies.

What to expect-

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Frequently required to stand, walk, and sit.
• Regular presence in an active manufacturing environment; personal protective equipment required in production areas.
• Required to climb ladders and stairs and access elevated platforms and restricted areas to conduct inspections.
• Exposure to industrial noise, temperature variation, solvents, and chemical processes, with appropriate engineering controls and protective equipment in place. Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Participation in respirator fit testing and medical surveillance as required by site programs.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PERKS OF JOINING OUR TEAM!

Aspen is committed to offering a comprehensive benefits package, a positive and productive work environment, encouraged work/life and family balance, and opportunities for growth and development, in a culture that is focused on inclusion, sustainability, and working together to solve the world's toughest challenges.

Aspen is proud to offer a competitive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Tuition Reimbursement, Paid Holidays, Sick Time, and PTO. In addition, we also offer 401k Employer Match, Life and Disability Insurance, and other benefits.

Expected Compensation: Between $130,000 and $145,000 USD/year based on experience.

Aspen Aerogels, Inc. is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to abuttitta@aerogel.com or call and leave a voice message at (508) 466-3111 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information and we will return your message.

For Our Rhode Island Applicants:
Aspen Aerogels, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. The East Providence, RI facility of Aspen Aerogels is subject to Title 28, Chapter 29-6.2 of Rhode Island General Laws, which governs Worker's Compensation.