Control Systems Engineer (SCADA)

City of Westminster, CO; Colorado; On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Multilingual stipend program

Job summary

City of Westminster is seeking a Control Systems Engineer (SCADA) to maintain and enhance water and wastewater SCADA and process control systems. You will independently manage technical operations, interfacing with Plant Superintendents and Public Works staff, and be on-call for after-hours emergencies.

The role requires hands-on PLC/SCADA programming knowledge and strong collaboration across divisions. This full-time position supports critical city utility infrastructure and offers variety in

Qualifications

• Requires degree or equivalent in electronics, instrumentation, control systems, computer science, or related field.
• Minimum two years in automated instrumentation and control systems, or maintenance of process control instrumentation.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and safe driving record.
• At least one year of experience with water or wastewater SCADA systems.

Responsibilities

• Modify and support SCADA process control software and interfaces (PLC, HMI, data comms).
• Develop and maintain SCADA programming and wiring documentation.
• Maintain water/wastewater SCADA systems and related instrumentation.
• Troubleshoot control systems, electrical power issues, and sensor networks.
• Prepare reports for regulatory compliance and system optimization.
• Coordinate with Utility staff and SCADA team on priority work.

Skills

SCADA experience

PLC programming basics

Education

Bachelor's or Associate in Electronics/Instrumentation/Control Systems/related

Tools

Microsoft Office

Maintenance management software

Database programs

Job description

Control Systems Engineer (SCADA – Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)

The Control Systems Engineer (SCADA – Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is a professional, technical position in the Department of Public Works and Utilities, Utilities Operations Division. Work involves maintaining water and wastewater treatment process control and computer systems. This includes technical operations and maintenance of water, wastewater, and reclaimed water transmission and collection control systems. Work is performed independently under the direction of the Plant Superintendent. Work is reviewed through reports and accomplishment of desired results. The Control Systems Engineer works collectively with the Plant Superintendents, staff from the water and wastewater treatment facilities, and other Public Works and Utilities staff. Working hours may include evenings, nights, and weekends as needed, and will require being on-call after hours, weekends, and holidays for emergency work.

The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster has a Multilingual Stipend Program to encourage, and reward benefited employees who are conversationally fluent in languages other than English. Benefited employees have the opportunity to test their language proficiency skills and qualify for a bi-weekly stipend that will vary based on the employee’s level of proficiency and usage.

The City's work culture encourages passionate, positive and enthusiastic employees who, along with our City Council and City Manager, are strong supporters of our mission: The City of Westminster provides high-quality core services and fosters resilience in order to promote a safe and thriving community. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging. Our core values are embodied in our SPIRIT (Service – People – Integrity – Respect – Innovation – Teamwork).

This position supports the goals of the Public Works and Utilities Department, which maintains and enhances the safety and well-being of the community by providing exceptional water and wastewater services, and maintaining the City’s extensive network of street infrastructure. The department continuously strives to meet the needs of the community by constantly focusing on customer service, efficient and effective utilization of resources, safety, innovation, and teamwork.

Every employee is accountable to:

• Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority
• Communicate with customers to ensure that where possible, they are satisfied and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback
• Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision
• Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner
• Demonstrate integrity and builds trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior
• Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner
• Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate
• Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization
• Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered
• Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives
• Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences

GENERAL COMPETENCIES

Citywide

• Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments
• Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses and target areas for personal self-development
• Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks
• Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions
• Achieve goals, and handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently
• Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications
• Demonstrate accountability for work and take ownership in job performance
• Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product

Job Specific

• Demonstrate general knowledge of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) programming and the ability to work within a variety of vendor-specific packages
• Demonstrate working knowledge of software packages including but not limited to: Concept, ProWORX 32, RSLogix 500, RSLogix 5000, Advantys, Vijeo Designer, Control Expert (formerly known as Unity Pro), Isonas Pure Access, Avigilon VCC, AutoCAD, Visual Studio, and EasyBuilder 5000
• Troubleshoot and repair basic electrical systems
• Demonstrate knowledge of wiring protocols and instrumentation utilized in control systems environments
• Demonstrate knowledge of troubleshooting of electronic process control equipment and motor control centers
• Demonstrate knowledge of radio telemetry systems, their interface to other communication systems, and utilization in a SCADA environment
• Prioritize work requests according to critical needs based on the direction from the Utility staff and SCADA team collaboration
• Facilitate good communication and establish effective working relationships with supervisors, coworkers, and consultants including providing and receiving feedback and encouraging participation of others in conversations
• Demonstrate working knowledge of Wonderware ArchestrA System Platform software components and supporting historical data system software packages including:InTouch HMI, Historian, IDE, Alarm Manager
• Demonstrate working knowledge of Microsoft Active Directory, Microsoft Office Suite, including macro development, database programs such as Microsoft SQL Server, and any other Active Factory enhancements for Microsoft Office applications
• Effectively communicate verbally and in writing
• Demonstrate organizational and problem-solving skills
• Maintain and update system specifications standards to be used as guidelines for all SCADA programming
• General understanding of copper and fiber networks including: vlan segmentation, port mapping, subnet sizing, DHCP, and DNS
• General understanding of server virtualization, and virtual machines

Leadership

• Foster a participatory organizational climate that is open, positive, reinforcing, and supportive
• Encourage employees to be accountable for their work and take ownership in what they do
• Demonstrate leadership and courage by making or supporting decisions that reflect the organizational mission and goals even when the decision may be unpopular to some
• Demonstrate collaboration and conflict resolution skills with other departments and employees

1. Technical Systems Development & Programming

• Modifies SCADA process control computer operating software
  • Programming logic controllers and data communications systems and interfacing equipment (radio, Ethernet, fiber-optic)
  • Providing interface support to process control and operations computer users (plant operators, electro-mechanics, maintenance staff)
  • Assisting with equipment/PLC programming and wiring
  • Assisting in development of web-based applications to monitor SCADA data remotely
• Using hyperconverged Proxmox clusters to manage server infrastructure
  • Using VEEAM for backup and restore

2. System Maintenance, Operations & Troubleshooting

• Maintenance of SCADA systems at water/wastewater treatment facilities, pump stations, reservoirs, and distribution systems
  • Assisting with building/maintaining HMI screens and reports
  • Maintaining electronic O&M database systems and assisting with installation of networking components for remote operations
  • Troubleshooting control system and electrical power failures in plants/pump stations
  • Interfacing, expanding, and maintaining Utilities Operations Division pump stations with treatment facility SCADA systems

3. Reporting, Safety & Administrative Duties

• Preparing informational reports for regulatory compliance, process evaluation, and planning
• Performing work safely
  • Instructing operations personnel in proper use of controllers
  • Operating City vehicle
  • Carrying smartphone, being on-call, responding to emergencies, and remotely accessing SCADA system when needed

4. Maintaining regular and punctual attendance

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job, and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion

Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications

Required

• Bachelor of Science or Associate's degree in Electronics, Instrumentation, Control Systems Technician, Computer Science, or related field
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in automated instrumentation and control systems and/or maintenance and repair of industrial process control instrumentation
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, provide proof of a safe driving record, and maintain a safe driving record for continued employment
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience with water or wastewater treatment SCADA

Preferred

• Certified Control Systems Technician
• Knowledge of troubleshooting electronic process control equipment
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and materials involved in the water and wastewater treatment industries
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office software, maintenance management software principles, and related database programs
• Operator certification in water and/or wastewater treatment

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.

Physical Requirements

• Usually sits to perform office tasks; frequently stands and walks through a large municipal water/wastewater treatment facility
• Frequently squat, bend, kneel, and climb ladders up to 40 feet; frequently reach overhead, below shoulder, and twist to perform daily job functions and maintenance; occasionally crawl and balance in confined spaces where hazards may exist
• Constant light/firm grasp, fine manipulation, and handling to safely use tools and material for routine maintenance and office tasks
• Frequently step up/down to climb ladders and stairs, and enter and exit vehicles; constantly uses actuate mechanism to safely operate vehicles and heavy equipment
• Normal near/far acuity and hearing are needed to perform daily tasks and communicate with staff in noisy environment
• Frequently lift from ground to waist up to 25 pounds, occasionally lift up to 50 pounds to carry equipment and supplies

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is constantly performed indoors and occasionally outdoors with occasional exposure to extreme temperatures. Work is performed year-round with exposure to AC line voltage in moisture areas. Exposure to confined spaces, chemicals, fumes, methane gas with limited ventilation, and human and medical waste products also exist. On-call and after-hours duties are required for emergency situations.

Required Materials and Equipment

Will be required to use standard office equipment including, but not limited to, personal computers, keyboards, printers, telephones, digital multimeters, CAT5 cable testers, HART device communicators, current loop calibrators, cellular phones, and two-way radios.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Background check including employment references, criminal history, and driving record review
• Drug screen
• Physical
• Must be legally entitled to work in the United States