Instrumentation Technician I

THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

About Oceanside’s Water Utilities Department & Our SCADA System

The City of Oceanside is accepting applications for the position of Instrumentation Technician I in the Water Utilities Department’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Division (SCADA).

Oceanside’s Water Utility is an innovative and forward-looking organization whose goal it is to ensure ongoing access to safe, affordable drinking water and sanitary wastewater management by maintaining top talent, resource resiliency, dependability, and system efficiency.

The Utility’s SCADA Division is responsible for maintaining a digital network that collects real-time data and enables plant operators and decision makers to access operational treatment data.

About Our System

The Oceanside Water Utilities Department owns and operates:

• two wastewater treatment plants – the La Salina Plant is scheduled for decommission
• one water treatment plant
• one recycled water treatment plant
• one advanced water purification facility – Pure Water Oceanside!
• one groundwater purification facility

• dozens of booster pump stations and lift stations
• hundreds of miles of water and wastewater pipelines
• 12 reservoirs

About the position

The Water Utilities SCADA Division is seeking a motivated problem-solver who has a baseline understanding of PLCs and I/O modules and who is looking to further develop their experience in water and wastewater SCADA systems.

You should be excited about this opportunity because you will…

• Empower our plant operators to make appropriate and timely operational decisions
• Design & maintain a SCADA system that is in optimal working order
• Safeguard our reliability to the thousands of homes & businesses who rely on us by providing a critical utility function

If this sounds like you, keep reading!

Examples of Duties

The Instrumentation Technician I designs, assembles, installs and repairs instrumentation and SCADA systems, equipment, and components in the field and in the shop; installs and repairs PLC and IO modules, control panels, transmitters, limit switches, and electronic pressure level sensors; diagnoses, troubleshoots, updates, and repairs malfunctioning systems and equipment, calibration problems and other measuring, recording, and transmitting device failures; ensures safe and reliable power to all process instruments; cleans, lubricates, and changes component parts; performs preventive maintenance on pump control panels; maintains calibration logs and writes reports; interprets and designs applicable computer software; modifies and implements computer software programs for data logging and control; maintains preventive operations records; blueprints, schematics and diagrams for a variety of water and wastewater systems; assists engineers on new projects; orders supplies and materials; interprets and analyzes trends and reports produced from historical data; and performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Operating principles and maintenance requirements of electrical equipment and instrumentation associated with water and wastewater facilities.
• Programs for preventive maintenance and record keeping on electronic equipment and instrumentation.
• Electronic and telemetering principles and practices.
• General principles and methods of water and wastewater facility monitoring and control.
• Principles and practices of instrumentation and calibration of process monitoring and control equipment.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
• Modern office procedures, methods and equipment including computers and applicable software applications.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.

Ability to:

• Install, modify and repair equipment related to electronics, instrumentation control, telemetry and telecommunications.
• Calibrate and test a variety of systems designed to monitor and control treatment plant processes.
• Monitor and maintain the accuracy of calibration standards and equipment.
• Read, interpret and understand plans, schematics, technical manuals, diagrams, blueprints and drawings associated with water and wastewater systems.
• Assemble and install field and plant SCADA equipment.
• Plan and execute repair, maintenance, and installation of process monitoring and control equipment.
• Maintain detailed records and prepare clear and concise reports.
• Work independently and efficiently to carry out assignments.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Experience and Training

Experience: A minimum of three years of increasingly responsible experience in the maintenance, repair and installation of instrumentation systems.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by college level course work in electronics or a related field.

License or Certificate:

• Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.
• Possession of California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Electrical/Instrumentation Technologist II certificate within 24 months of hire date is required.

As a condition of employment, candidates must obtain a California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Electrical/Instrumentation Technologist II certificate within 24 months of hire date.

Internal candidates: Failing to obtain the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Electrical/Instrumentation Technologist II certificate within 24 months of hire date will be reverted to their previous classification without right of appeal.

External candidates: Failing to obtain the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Electrical/Instrumentation Technologist II certificate within 24 months of hire date will be terminated without right of appeal.

Working Conditions and Selection Process

Environmental Conditions: Office and field environment; travel from site to site; exposure to noise, dust, grease, smoke, fumes, gases, electrical energy, toxic materials, and inclement weather conditions; work in or with water.

Physical Conditions: Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for standing, walking, sitting, kneeling or bending for prolonged periods of time; heavy, moderate or light lifting.

Selection Process: All properly completed applications will be reviewed and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. Failure to provide all required application materials will result in disqualification from the selection process. The process may include any combination of a written exam, oral exam, and/or skills assessment to further evaluate job-related qualifications. Candidates who successfully complete the selection process will be placed on the Eligibility List for a minimum of six months.

Note: Prospective employees will undergo, and must successfully pass, a background reference check (including fingerprinting), and a medical examination. Drug screening may be required.

RÉSUMÉS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IN LIEU OF COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS, BUT MAY BE ATTACHED.

CANDIDATES WHO REQUIRE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IN THE SELECTION PROCESS SHOULD STATE THEIR NEEDS IN WRITING WHEN SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION.

THE PROVISIONS IN THIS BULLETIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE.