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Environmental Engineering Technician

Engineering

Apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems, including waste treatment and site remediation, under the direction of engineering staff or scientists. May assist in the development of environmental remediation devices.

ScienceArchitecture & Built Environment

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Assist in the cleanup of hazardous material spills.
  2. 2Maintain project logbook records or computer program files.
  3. 3Record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries of visual observations.
  4. 4Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings.
  5. 5Produce environmental assessment reports, tabulating data and preparing charts, graphs, or sketches.
  6. 6Collect and analyze pollution samples, such as air or ground water.
  7. 7Decontaminate or test field equipment used to clean or test pollutants from soil, air, or water.
  8. 8Prepare and package environmental samples for shipping or testing.
  9. 9Maintain process parameters and evaluate process anomalies.
  10. 10Inspect facilities to monitor compliance with regulations governing substances, such as asbestos, lead, or wastewater.
  11. 11Develop work plans, including writing specifications or establishing material, manpower, or facilities needs.
  12. 12Review technical documents to ensure completeness and conformance to requirements.
  13. 13Receive, set up, test, or decontaminate equipment.
  14. 14Perform statistical analysis and correction of air or water pollution data submitted by industry or other agencies.
  15. 15Evaluate and select technologies to clean up polluted sites, restore polluted air, water, or soil, or rehabilitate degraded ecosystems.
  16. 16Arrange for the disposal of lead, asbestos, or other hazardous materials.
  17. 17Assess the ability of environments to naturally remove or reduce conventional or emerging contaminants from air, water, or soil.
  18. 18Work with customers to assess the environmental impact of proposed construction or to develop pollution prevention programs.
  19. 19Provide technical engineering support in the planning of projects, such as wastewater treatment plants, to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and policies.
  20. 20Prepare permit applications or review compliance with environmental permits.
  21. 21Model biological, chemical, or physical treatment processes to remove or degrade pollutants.
  22. 22Review work plans to schedule activities.
  23. 23Oversee support staff.
  24. 24Create models to demonstrate or predict the process by which pollutants move through or impact an environment.
  25. 25Improve chemical processes to reduce toxic emissions.
  26. 26Obtain product information, identify vendors or suppliers, or order materials or equipment to maintain inventory.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Haz Tech
  • Air Analyst
  • Intake Tech
  • Aquatic Tech
  • Air Technician
  • Emissions Tech
  • Soil Technician
  • Field Technician
  • Quality Technician
  • Engineer Technician

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. Typical entry

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

PhysicsDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional MathematicsDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Design & Technology (RBT)Draws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
InventionDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Engineering and Technology74%

    PhysicsAdditional MathematicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • Mathematics71%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Customer and Personal Service71%
  • English Language68%

    English

  • Chemistry67%

    Chemistry

  • Mechanical65%

    Mechanical Engineering StudiesPhysicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Noisy environmentEvery day
  • Time spent sittingMost of the time
  • Time spent standingA little
  • Time walking or movingA little
  • Hands-on work with tools or objectsA little

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

24%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

0.21%

Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work

Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue