Assistant Gas and Water Measurement and Control Technician

BiblioCommons; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Palo Alto seeks an Assistant Gas and Water Measurement and Control Technician to maintain and install utility meters, ensuring operational accuracy. This role involves both fieldwork and supporting the Gas and Water Measurement and Control Technician to address service issues. Ideal candidates will have extensive knowledge of gas and water systems and relevant safety practices, coupled with effective communication skills.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of gas and water meter repair and leak detection.
• Experience in utilities preferred.
• Certified Backflow Prevention Tester needed within 12 months.

Responsibilities

• Installs, tests, and repairs gas and water measurement devices.
• Performs field inspections and equipment maintenance.
• Responds to service inquiries and emergency situations.

Skills

Knowledge of gas meter repair

Knowledge of water meter repair

Knowledge of safe working practices

Written and oral communication skills

Ability to read meter dials

Proven mechanical aptitude

Computer skills

Education

High school graduate or equivalent

Two years experience in gas or water meter shop/field work

Job description

Exciting Opportunity!
Under the direction of the WGW Utilities Supervisor, an Assistant Gas and Water Measurement and Control Technician, maintains gas and water meters used in utility operations to assure accuracy and maintains water meter cross connection control devices. Installs and replaces residential, commercial, and industrial gas meters and regulators and water meters. Investigates and corrects gas and water service problems in the field. Employees hired at the Assistant Gas and Water Measurement and Control Technician will typically go through a three-year training program with the goal of becoming eligible to become a Gas and Water Measurement and Control Technician after passing an examination.
The Assistant Gas and Water Measurement and Control Technician will focus on field installation and exchanging of smaller, less complex meters, primarily residential. A candidate in this position may perform repairs on less complex meters and will assist the Gas and Water Measurement and Control Technician with field testing and repair of larger, more complicated meters, gas receiving station maintenance, and cross connection control devices.

Ideal Qualifications:

• Knowledge of gas meter repair and/or above ground leak detection and repair.
• Knowledge of water meter repair and/or leak detection.
• Knowledge of safe working practices as they relate to the gas and water shop and field work.
• Written and oral communications skills.
• Ability to read gas and water meter dials and record readings correctly.
• Proven mechanical aptitude.
• Sufficient computer skills to complete essential functions of the job.

This role requires regular in-person attendance at our Municipal Service Center.
Shift: 6:30am - 4pm, 9/80 schedule; every other Friday off
More than one position may be filled via this recruitment. Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Inspects, installs, tests, repairs, and adjusts various types of gas and water measurement and control instruments such as gas and water meters, cross control connection devices, regulators, transducers, pressure gauges, Ultrasonic and ECAT instruments to City of Palo Alto standards.
• Assist with performing and maintaining periodic maintenance schedule for large capacity meters for water and gas.
• Utilizes computer aided instruments to test and calibrate various types of meters.
• Performs field investigations of gas and water service inquiries by inspecting gas service lines and meter set assemblies on customer's premises to detect cause of problem. Corrects defects or notifies customer of need for repair.
• Performs regularly established inspections of Gas Receiving Stations.
• Assist with performing regular maintenance of Gas Receiving Stations, including assembling and disassembling of Mooney regulators, pilots and sensing lines. Verifies that all monitoring instruments (PLC and SCADA systems) are calibrated and working correctly.
• Responds to emergencies that pertain to meter leaks, pressure issues, metering, and Gas Receiving Stations.
• Monitor and performs maintenance on Electronic Corrector and Audit Trail (ECAT) instruments at various locations.
• Installs, maintains, and programs digital meters and associated communications instrumentation associated with advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and automated meter reading (AMR) systems.
• Programs electric based measuring instruments such as ultra-sonic and flow oscillating meters as well as microcorrectors.
• Conducts gas odorization and oil drip tests at various test portals in the city.
• Coordinates Tie-Ins schedule with the CIP project coordinators.
• Performs gas and water leak investigations to ensure safety or notifies customer of repair correction Utilizes computers and various types of software to order materials, enter and track data, generate charts and produce reports.
• Complies with all applicable regulations and standards, including Gas Operator Qualification (OQ) requirements.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:

• High school graduate or equivalent preferred. and
• Two years experience in gas or water meter shop/field work preferred, or one year of work experience in utilities.

Special Requirements:

• Possession of a valid California Driver's License.
• Ability to maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include walking or standing for extended periods of time and operating assigned equipment and vehicle.
• Must pass and maintain the DOT Operator Qualification exams to work on gas system within 12 months of appointment.
• Possession of a valid Backflow Prevention Tester Certificate or ability to obtain the Certificate within 12 months of appointment.

The Selection Process:

• Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email (governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates).
• The screening process for this position typically may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.

Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at [phone] between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday

This position is represented by Service Employee International Union (SEIU).

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.