Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Electrician/Instrumentation Technician

The City of Tacoma Environmental Services Department is seeking skilled Electrician/Instrumentation Technicians to join our collaborative team. Electrician/Instrumentation Technicians are responsible for performing skilled journey level electrical and instrumentation maintenance work that involves maintenance and installation of a wide variety of equipment, instrumentation, apparatus, controls, and motors.

An employee in this classification develops and implements a proactive maintenance work program that includes preventative and predictive maintenance, corrective maintenance, and equipment condition monitoring on a variety of instrumentation equipment, communications equipment, meters, control systems, electrical systems, circuits, and motor controls associated with wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, stormwater control facilities and solid waste systems such as compactors. Employees work on a variety of electrical components at our facilities, such as relays, PLC’s, circuit breakers, and electrical distribution. Prior experience at a wastewater, surface water, or solid waste utility is not needed for the position.

Interested in learning more about the Wastewater Treatment Plant? Check this video out! https://youtu.be/jx5DUy3SMaU?si=xGJ82bfks0amK9PS

High School Diploma or equivalent

AND

Two (2) years of journey-level experience as an electrician OR an instrumentation technician in an industrial or manufacturing plant/work environment,

AND

Two (2) years supplemental advanced course work in electric theory and industrial controls.

Additional experience can be substituted for education at the rate of three (3) years of apprentice-level experience or two (2) years of journey-level experience per one (1) year of advanced course work.

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Washington State Driver’s License at time of appointment with maintenance thereafter.
• Valid First Aid Card with C.P.R. at time of appointment and maintenance thereafter.
• There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.
• Individuals may have to pass a background check depending upon assignment.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Control Systems, electrical circuits, and instrumentation for system integration, maintenance, troubleshooting and root cause analysis
• National Electrical Code (NEC), regulations, and procedures
• Electrical, instrumentation and electronic technology including PLC’s (Rockwell) and various programming formats (Ladder, Function block, Structured Text)
• Various types of conduit applications and methods of installation
• Schematics, wiring diagrams and instrument control diagrams
• Electrical codes, regulations and procedures
• Proper methods of storing equipment, materials and supplies
• Health and safety regulations
• Technical aspects of field of specialty
• Proper record keeping techniques
• Basic wastewater treatment plant processes and impact of equipment malfunction
• Safety techniques, testing and procedures to handle dangerous or hazardous chemicals, gases and/or confined spaces, as related to wastewater treatment plants and pump stations
• Experience with 480-volt equipment, instrumentation and controls, HMI, SCADA systems and in conducting maintenance work on motor controls, electrical distribution and generating systems
• Understanding and ability to calculate wire sizes and conduit fill

SKILLS:

• Understand basic troubleshooting and repair of industrial systems, with the ability to visualize how different systems operate together to find the root cause
• Read and interpret electrical drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, engineering plans, P&ID drawings and specifications
• Apply principles of electrical theory to daily tasks, which may include design of electrical systems
• Implement a preventative maintenance work program
• Operate, install, repair, and inspect a variety of electronic testing equipment
• Understand basic computer skills that the technician will need in using a laptop in their daily work, i.e. changing the IP address, using serial ports, and troubleshooting network connectivity
• Operate a variety of tools and equipment used in the electrical and instrumentation trade such as; hydraulic presses, cutters, benders, various types of testing equipment and recording devices
• Lift heavy objects in awkward and confined spaces, using proper lifting and rigging techniques
• Understand and interpret the national electrical code
• Operate motor vehicles and forklifts
• Understand and follow oral and written directions
• Observe appropriate safety procedures in the performance of assigned tasks
• Maintain records and prepare reports as directed
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Work independently with little direction

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