Associate Safety Engineer - Refinery South

Job Description and Duties

***Please ensure your application is complete with detailed job description/tasks performed and employment beginning- and ending-date information for each job listed.  Please cover job related activities regarding safety and health as well as Process Safety Management on each listed job. Please refrain from using “refer to” and “see previous . . .” some other reference source.

Working at Cal/OSHA means much more than showing up for a job. You will be able to work on programs that are vital to the health and safety of our community, work force, and the state. We recognize the strength in teamwork. We know that by encouraging collaboration and diversity, educating employers in best practices, and protecting the health and safety of employees through enforcement of the California Labor Code and regulations will benefit our economy as a whole. Be part of a team that prides itself in making a difference for Californians.

What will be the difference that you make for California?

Under the general direction of the District Manager of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), Division of Occupational and Safety Health (DOSH), Process Safety Management (PSM) Unit, the Associate Safety Engineer (ASE) is responsible for independently performing the full range of professional journey-level safety engineering work related to the CAL/OSHA program and process safety management standards at refineries. The Associate Safety Engineer (ASE) conducts Program Quality Verification (PQV) safety inspections, accident investigations, consultations, and journey-level assignments, including the most difficult ones, related to petroleum refineries. Associate Safety Engineers are to perform all work in accordance with DIR-DOSH policies, the DOSH Compliance Policy and Procedure Manual, and DIR-DOSH Directives, and Memorandums.

***There are multiple locations and positions available for the PSM Refinery and Non-Refinery offices in both Concord and Santa Ana. Please see other postings and duty statements under different job controls in CalCareers for information on the other locations and positions. If you are interested in more than one location and/or position, please submit an application to each specific job control you’re interested in.***

This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in accordance with 2 CCR §249.3

To be considered for this job opportunity, applicants must be either reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility or have reinstatement eligibility. To take the exam and gain employment list eligibility, please click here to access the exam bulletin:

Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month. For more details, please click  e  to visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

This job is located at:
Division of Occupational Safety and Health 
Process Safety Management – Chemical – South (Santa Ana) 
2 MacArthur Place, 8th FL Suite 810, Santa Ana, CA 92707

***If you are interested in more than one location and/or position, please submit an application for each specific job control.***

The work will primarily be in an office environment. Some work may be at refineries and other field sites. Field work is necessary to identify hazards and the onsite PSM controls of those hazards. Other types of field work may be asked of Associate Safety Engineers in State emergencies.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

A commitment to safe workplaces and to public service.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, Adobe Acrobat, and Power Point.

• Knowledge of principles and practices of safety engineering and industrial hygiene, particularly with respect to process safety management; CCR Title 8, Section 5189 (), State safety and health laws, the Safety and Health Rules and Orders of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health and applicable provisions of the Labor Code and Health and Safety Codes; basic legislation concerning the Division  of Occupational Safety and Health; purpose and function of the various components of the Cal/OSHA program; methods and techniques used in health and safety inspections, accident investigation/inspections, accident prevention, training, and technical report writing; methods and practices used in eliminating hazards or abating safety and health hazards; presenting evidence in administrative and formal legal hearings; organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs; principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment review and evaluation, discipline, and the training of staff in work procedures; principles and practices of leadership and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly; flexibility and managing uncertainty: adjusting thinking and behavior in order to adapt to changes in the job and work environment.

• Diagnostic Information Gathering: Identifying information needed to clarify a situation, seeking that information from appropriate sources.

• Analytical Skills: Approaching problems using a logical, systematic, and sequential approach; weighing priorities and recognizing underlying issues.

• Communication Skills: Expressing oneself clearly in oral and written communication; giving feedback and being receptive to feedback; knowing that listening is essential; keeping others in the Division and other functional units informed as appropriate.

• Observational skills: Keenness of observation, tact, maturity and diplomacy when analyzing situations, making recommendations and decisions.

• Organizational Skills: Effective time-management and organizational skills; prioritizing and completing work assignments in a timely manner.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

• Health, Dental & Vision Benefits
• Paid Sick, Vacation and Holidays
• 401(k), 457, and ROTH IRA plans
• Retirement (CalPERS)
• Military Leave
• Reimbursement Accounts
• Public Transit Subsidy And many more!
• Visit for a full list of available benefits!

Additional Information

Preference will be given to persons with State Restriction of Appointments (SROA) or Surplus status. Applicants must attach a copy of their most recently dated letter that specifies their designation as either SROA or surplus candidate as proof.

Qualified candidates must have eligibility in State employment, be in a reachable rank on an employment list for this classification, be currently in this classification, or have transfer eligibility to this classification

If you do not hear from us in 4-6 weeks, you may assume the position has been filled by another applicant. Please note that all additional vacancies that become available may be added to this advertisement.

Please note that the Exam and Certification Online System (ECOS) does not allow you to resubmit your application once you withdraw it. If you have any updates to your online application, please contact the Personnel, Recruitment, & Hiring Unit at Show phone number.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey: DIR Applicant Survey

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.