Control Systems Engineer - Regional Wastewater Reclamation

Pima County; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 87,000 - 122,000; Full time

Job summary

Pima County's Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department seeks a Control Systems Engineer to lead high-level system design, automation strategy, and CIP project oversight from initial engineering to full operational integration.

You will safeguard SCADA architecture and PLC control logic, ensure regulatory compliance, maintain instrumentation networks, and mentor operators and maintenance teams while advancing cybersecurity and network resilience across critical public works facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in engineering or related field and two years of control systems experience.
• Substitution possible with more extensive relevant experience.
• Candidates must document education and work experience in the application.

Responsibilities

• Maintains and troubleshoots SCADA platforms within the WW Department.
• Develops/constructs HMI/OIT systems and PLC control logic.
• Supports plant operators and maintenance teams to ensure safe operation.

Skills

SCADA

HMI/OIT

C#

C++

VB.NET

Python

PLC programming

Cybersecurity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Control/related field

Tools

PLC programming

SCADA software

HMI development tools

Job description

Job Description Summary Department - Regional Wastewater Reclamation

Job Description OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Job Type: Classified Job Classification: 1171 - Control Systems Engineer Salary Grade: 17 Pay Range Hiring Range: $87,110 - $104,561 Annually Pay Range: $87,110 - $121,992 Annually Range Explanation: Hiring Range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity. Pay Range is the entire compensation range for the position. The first review of applications will be on 08/28/2026.

The Control Systems Engineer, serving as a senior technical leader within Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department, drives high level system design, automation strategy, and continuous process optimization across municipal infrastructure. This position plays a pivotal role in leading Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects guiding new capital builds from initial engineering design and contractor oversight through to full operational integration. By safeguarding network cybersecurity, advanced SCADA architecture, and PLC control logic, the role ensures long-term operational resilience and regulatory compliance across critical public works systems. This classification is in the unclassified service and is exempt from the Pima County Merit System Rules.

Essential Functions:

• Maintains and troubleshoots Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) platforms within the WW Department
• Plans, prepares, and develops/constructs Human Machine Interface (HMI) and Operator Interface Terminal (OIT) systems
• Understands object-orientated programming (OOP) and scripts in computer languages such as C#, C++, VB.NET, Python
• Prepares detailed control narratives, designs, and programs and updates ladder logic, function block diagrams, and structured text within Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) to provide control of various wastewater unit operations (pumps, motors, blowers, valves, chemical dosing and analyzing systems, etc.)
• Routinely maintains flow meters, pressure sensors, pH/conductivity probes, level sensors, and telemetry, including calibration and performance verification
• Configures and secures industrial communication systems—Ethernet/IP, Modbus, Profibus, fiber networks, radios, and cellular telemetry—linking remote sites to central control rooms
• Formally reviews engineering plans and specifications, selects control hardware/software, and coordinates with contractors to ensure new facilities integrate correctly with existing systems
• Analyzes operational data, streamlines automation logic, tunes control loops, and recommends equipment upgrades
• Assists water/wastewater plant operators, maintenance teams, and facilities staff to ensure they understand system behavior, can resolve issues, and operate equipment safely
• Redlines engineered drawings and updates control schematics, network diagrams, O&M manuals, asset lists, and change logs

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in electrical engineering, control systems engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering or a related field as determined by the department head at the time of recruitment AND two years of experience performing control systems duties within wastewater/water treatment or related public works facilities. (Relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university may be substituted) OR: Four years with Pima County in an Instrumentation Process Control Coordinator II position OR two years with Pima County in an Instrumentation Process Control Supervisor position. Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum five (5) years experience as a Control Systems Engineer or in a related field, such as electrical engineering.
• Minimum five (5) years experience in PLC programming and control logic for system design.
• Minimum five (5) years experience in SCADA platform and HMI/OIT system design.
• Minimum five (5) years experience in industrial communication networks and cybersecurity.
• Minimum five (5) years experience in engineering plan review and capital integration.
• Minimum five (5) years experience in software scripting and object-oriented programming.
• Minimum five (5) years experience in system optimization, documentation, and operations support.
• Minimum five (5) years experience in field instrumentation and sensor maintenance.

Selection Procedure:

Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. All applications will be assessed based on an evaluation of the listed education and experience. Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications may be further evaluated/scored against any advertised Preferred Qualifications. The hiring authority will interview and select the successful candidate from a referral list provided by Human Resources. Additional assessments/testing may be required as part of the selection process.

Supplemental Information: Licenses and Certificates:

Valid driver license is required at time of application. Valid AZ driver license is required at time of appointment. The successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine applicant’s suitability to operate county vehicles in accordance with Pima County administrative procedures. Failure to obtain and maintain the required licenses and certifications shall be grounds for termination. Any offer of employment resulting