Hot Job: Environmental engineering technician fights contamination in Rochester

Robin L. Flanigan
Ari Cheremeteff

Growing up camping and with a love of nature, Ari Cheremeteff also witnessed urban blight in the City of Rochester, and ultimately decided on a career as an environmental engineering technician focused on revitalization.

She is a senior environmental scientist at Lu Engineers in Rochester.

“I want to see Rochester use a lot of the spaces that are unused because of environmental issues,” she said. “To bring function to the city, but while keeping humans from being exposed to toxins.”

The New York State Department of Labor projects job openings for environmental engineering technicians in the Finger Lakes region to rise 28.6 percent between 2014 and 2024. Increased demand is expected to be tied to state and local governments focusing efforts and resources on efficient water use and wastewater treatment.

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Cheremeteff, who lives in Irondequoit, oversees the environmental aspects of development projects. For example, to remedy a contaminated building site, she coordinates and works with contractors injecting bioremediation material into the soil. The material creates the growth of naturally occurring bacteria that will eat petroleum and other potential toxins in the ground. She maps out the distance between each injection point for maximum results, then sometimes performs the test to make sure the remediation was successful.

“Each site is very different, so finding the right plan or approach takes a lot of research and collaboration with people above me,” said Cheremeteff, who also writes a lot of environmental management plans for brownfield sites and other sites with existing issues. “It’s a fun challenge. That’s part of the allure for me.”

In addition to a bachelor’s degree in environmental management and technology from Rochester Institute of Technology, Cheremeteff has a 40-hour Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response standard certification through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and is certified as an asbestos inspector by New York State Department of Labor.

“I’m seeing a lot more women getting into the field, and that’s great,” she said. “I think more women should do what I do.”

Robin L. Flanigan is a freelance writer in the Rochester area.

Environmental engineering technicians

The job: Environmental engineering technicians carry out the plans that environmental engineers develop. They test, operate and, if necessary, modify equipment used to prevent or clean up environmental pollution. They may collect samples for testing, or they may work to mitigate sources of environmental pollution.

The pay: Median annual earnings of environmental engineering technicians were roughly $49,170 per year in May 2015.

The prospects: Employment of environmental engineering technicians in the Finger Lakes region is expected to grow 28.6 percent between 2014 and 2024.

The preparation: Environmental engineering technicians typically need an associate’s degree in environmental engineering technology or a related field.

Sources: New York State Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Labor