SCADA & Instrumentation Technician or Senior SCADA & Instrumentation Technician

Carlsbad - The Community: The City of Carlsbad is ideally situated in north San Diego County where a great climate, beautiful beaches and lagoons, and abundant natural open space combine with world-class resorts, family attractions, well planned neighborhoods, excellent schools, and a charming village atmosphere to create the ideal California experience. Covering nearly 40 square miles, the City of Carlsbad is currently home to about 115,000 residents. The city sets the standard for high-quality local government services and is home to corporate headquarters in technology, life sciences and action sports, supported by a thriving tourism market and nearly 40 percent preserved open space. Thanks to an award-winning growth management plan, the city's infrastructure and services keep pace with development and promote an excellent quality of life.

Salary:
SCADA & Instrumentation Technician: $51.40 - $62.55 hourly

Senior SCADA & Instrumentation Technician: $54.03 - $65.73 hourly

The Department: The Utilities Department is part of Public Works and is responsible for the maintenance and operation of water & recycled water distribution systems and a wastewater collection & conveyance system. It includes Engineering, Asset Management and Water and Wastewater O&M. The City of Carlsbad provides wastewater collection service to approximately 74% of the city through 6 interceptor pipelines, approximately 273 miles of gravity mains and 11 lift stations. The Carlsbad Municipal Water District provides potable and recycled water to approximately 82% of the city. The potable distribution system includes approximately 457 miles of pipeline, 8 storage tanks, the Maerkle Reservoir, and 17 pressure zones that are supplied by gravity from 71 pressure regulating stations. The recycled water system includes over 96 miles of pipelines, 6 pressure zones, 3 storage facilities, 3 pressure regulating stations, three booster pumping stations and two supply sources with pump stations.

Basic Function: Under general supervision incumbents will develop, integrate, install, operate, and maintain the city's supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and electrical systems. This includes Operational Technology (OT) hardware and software, human machine interfaces (HMIs), programmable logic controllers (PLCs), remote telemetry units (RTUs), communication systems, computer systems, electrical distribution systems, motor controls, variable frequency drives (VFDs) and other instrumentation. May also perform system analysis and development, cybersecurity tasks and repairs of electrical and control systems. Participate in the continuous improvement of SCADA and OT technologies. Collaborate with the city's IT Department for SCADA-related servers, networking, cybersecurity, and communications. Plan, coordinate, and perform technical duties in compliance with the city's administrative orders and technology policies and standards. Ensure that the SCADA system is available 24/7. Perform related duties as assigned.

The SCADA & Instrumentation Technician is the journey-level class in the SCADA & Instrumentation Technician series. Incumbents provide input on design and perform maintenance, programming, and repair of the city's electrical systems, instrumentation and SCADA systems, including wiring, motor control circuits, and troubleshooting faults in industrial control panels Assignments are either general or can be project focused, requiring the incumbent to exercise independent judgment and initiative while coordinating the tasks with other work units. This position reports directly to the SCADA Supervisor and may also receive work direction from the Senior SCADA & Instrumentation Technician.

The Senior SCADA & Instrumentation Technician is designated as a lead level professional and is experienced in SCADA and electrical work. Incumbents will work under limited supervision on more complex projects to maintain, enhance, or support the city's and CMWD electrical, instrumentation, and SCADA systems. Incumbents must possess project management experience and a strong electrical and instrumentation understanding, have a diverse electrical and SCADA background, and a thorough comprehension of electrical control systems. The Senior SCADA & Instrumentation Technician may provide work direction to the SCADA & Instrumentation Technician. This position reports directly to the SCADA Supervisor.

You belong in Carlsbad: The City of Carlsbad embraces and recognizes the vital relationship of an inclusive, engaged work environment and innovative excellence. An equitable and inclusive work climate comprises personal experiences, values, and views shaped from differences of culture and circumstance. Our organization appreciates belonging, creativity, recognition and retention of its employees and is committed to hiring and developing motivated, productive and talented employees who provide services and enhance our quality of life. We work to embrace open and equitable access to opportunities for learning and development as our responsibility and goal.

(These are representative duties and the emphasis on certain duties will vary depending on the job assignment.)

SCADA & Instrumentation Technician

Read and interpret electrical drawings, specifications, schematics, P&ID's, power distribution drawings, control panel wiring diagrams, and installation manuals for electrical and instrumentation systems. Provide markup of working drawings.

Install, maintain, and diagnose defects in and repair variable frequency drives, motor controls, and automated process control equipment.

Fabricate, install, and maintain electrical panels, conduit systems, raceways, and other electrical components in compliance with National Electrical Code standards.

Calibrate, diagnose defects in and repair electronic sensors, monitoring equipment and data acquisition systems and create records of maintenance.

Perform electrical inspections, start-up, and testing.

Perform electrical PMs in accordance with NFPA 70B.

Perform modifications and test factory-provided software, hardware, and configurations for conformity with requirements, specifications.

Program, install, repair, and maintain distribution and plant automation systems, including programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and human-machine interface (HMI) software.

Use network commands and software analysis tools to troubleshoot and diagnose issues, coordinate and participate in maintaining and enhancing process automation and network functionality.

Perform preventive, corrective, predictive, and demand maintenance on all electrical and instrumentation systems and maintain records of such maintenance.

Provide ongoing support for SCADA operations and system upgrades.

Provide system and electrical safety training for field staff.

Collaborate and communicate effectively as required with staff and contractors involved in the design, support, maintenance and use of the SCADA system and related data.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Senior SCADA & Instrumentation Technician

Performs the duties of the SCADA & Instrumentation Technician in addition to:

Programs, installs, and maintains the reliability of the plant automation network on multiple platforms for the city's programmable logic controllers (PLC), human-machine interface (HMI) and related process automation and control systems; supports network communications and associated hardware including process input/output (I/O), local area and wide area networks (LAN/WAN) and the radio/microwave network.

Evaluates process requirements and users need to identify and address system, development and improvement issues. Participates in the review and testing of software, hardware, and system configurations to ensure compatibility and performance. Provides solutions for problems identified.

Assists in programming new and enhanced automation controls, performs software and firmware upgrades, performs configuration changes and modifications to operating systems to optimize performance, adds additional sites and equipment to system, performs testing and system startups.

Routinely monitors physical and virtual security measures within the SCADA environment to assess effectiveness and identify potential risks. Promptly reports any security concerns to management and recommends improvements to enhance system protection and performance.

Monitors working condition of electrical and electronic equipment within city water/wastewater system. Provides primary support for diagnosing defects in, maintaining, and repairing all electrical and electronic equipment used in the operation of the water/wastewater system.

Plans and lays out jobs from drawings, sketches, or verbal instructions, maintains records in the form of plans and specifications, develops and maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation, monitoring reports, logs, and files.

Order and track equipment, parts, materials, and supplies as directed by the SCADA Supervisor.

Provide coordination and oversight of contractors when used for any SCADA and electrical system needs.

Provides project management as assigned by the SCADA Supervisor.

Perform related duties as assigned.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

The SCADA & Instrumentation Technician/Senior SCADA & Instrumentation Technician reports to the SCADA Supervisor.

SCADA & Instrumentation Technician

Knowledge of:

Senior SCADA & Instrumentation Technician

Knowledge required of the SCADA & Instrumentation Technician in addition to:

Ability to:

SCADA & Instrumentation Technician

• Install, maintain, fabricate, and repair equipment related to electronics, instrumentation control, telemetry, and telecommunications.
• Read, interpret, understand, and update plans, schematics, technical manuals, diagrams, blueprints, and drawings.
• Effectively and efficiently diagnose problems and perform necessary repairs including the replacement of defective parts, electrical wiring and panel fabrication or modifications, and troubleshooting.
• Write concise operating instructions detailing, control parameters and their effects under normal and failure conditions.
• Calibrate and test a variety of instrumentation systems designed for monitoring and control.
• Use math and mathematical reasoning.
• Work independently and efficiently to carry out assignments.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Interpret, apply, and explain rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Operate a computer and other office equipment.
• Work safely and maintain a safe work environment.
• Maintain detailed records and prepare clear and concise reports.
• Reach sound decisions in accordance with city policies and procedures.
• Communicate using Interpersonal skills, tact, patience, and courtesy.

Senior SCADA & Instrumentation Technician

Abilities required of the SCADA & Instrumentation Technician in addition to:

• Assist in managing a wide variety of network infrastructure including wireless radios, fiber optics, and cellular modems.
• Apply advanced understanding of theories and concepts of process automation & control, water treatment processes, and distribution systems.
• Troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve complex problems in automated control systems.
• Perform technical functions requiring extensive understanding of automated control systems, network communication systems and their software and hardware components.
• Configure, maintain, and manage the operations of computer platforms and/or networks to achieve optimal process performance and user support.
• Demonstrate initiative and accuracy.
• Learn and apply new information and skills.
• Provide technical training to staff
• Perform highly detailed work, deal with changing deadlines, constant interruptions, and multiple concurrent tasks, and successfully interact with others encountered in the course of work.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is:

SCADA & Instrumentation Technician:

SENIOR SCADA & Instrumentation Technician:

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

SCADA & INSTRUMENTATION TECHNICIAN

SENIOR SCADA & INSTRUMENTATION TECHNICIAN

PHYSICAL STANDARDS:

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, loud or prolonged noise and equipment with heavy vibrations; work around or with potable water, recycled water and wastewater; work on ladders/scaffolding or in high, precarious places; work on uneven or slippery surface; work near moving mechanical parts and equipment, work in confined spaces.