Instrument Technician I

City of Sacramento; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Sacramento seeks an Instrument Technician I to calibrate and install instrumentation across Water and Wastewater divisions. The role involves servicing level/pressure transmitters, analyzers, and data-logging systems, with emphasis on safety and accuracy.

Ideal candidates have electronics-related training and experience with industrial instrumentation, including chemical analyzers and telemetry in an industrial setting. Occasional hazardous-area work is possible.

Qualifications

• One year of experience as Instrument Technician Trainee or three years in operation, maintenance, and repair of industrial instrumentation.
• One year of college-level coursework in instrumentation, physical science, and electronics, or equivalent training.
• Possession of a valid California Class III Driver License.
• Residency within 35 air miles of the specified Sacramento location.
• Twelve months of probationary period required.
• Ability to lift heavy objects and work in potentially hazardous areas.

Responsibilities

• Perform preventive maintenance, calibration, and testing of instrument systems.
• Repair, adjust, and fine-tune equipment to meet performance standards.
• Review work orders, blueprints, and maintenance schedules with supervision.
• Plan tool and work sequences for maintenance activities and coordinate with team.
• Assist design and construction of new equipment or modification of existing electronic systems.
• Maintain inventory of tools, parts, and maintenance records.
• Provide instruction to operations and maintenance staff to improve understanding of equipment.
• Work may occur in hazardous areas such as sewage sumps and high voltage zones.
• Perform related duties as required.

Skills

Instrumentation expertise

Electrical theory

Troubleshooting

Data logging systems

Safety awareness

Education

Instrumentation coursework

Tools

Industrial instrumentation systems

Electrical wiring diagrams

Job description

THIS POSITION IS FOR INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN I

The Instrument Technician I performs calibrations on a range of instruments including level transmitters, pressure transmitters, turbidimeters, particle counters, pressure switches, chlorine analyzers, pH analyzers, and fluoride analyzers. This position is also involved in researching new instruments and their installation into our system. This position calibrates and installs instrumentation on both the Water and Wastewater areas.

IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT

The ideal candidate will have formal training related to electronics, electrical theory, or process instrumentation. They will have experience installing, servicing, and repairing electronic and pneumatic instruments, and instrument systems such as chemical analyzers, pressure sensors, telemetry, computer-based process control instruments, data logging devices, and remote telemetry-controlled equipment in an industrial application, preferably in water treatment and conveyance.

To perform technical duties in the installation, servicing, and repair of electronic and pneumatic instruments and instrument systems such as chemical analyzers, pressure sensors, telemeters, and computer-based process control and data logging and remote control equipment.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Instrument Technician I

This is the journey level. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are filled by advancement from the Junior level, or when filled from the outside, require prior experience installing, servicing, and repairing electronic and pneumatic instruments and instrument systems. Appointment to I level requires that the employee is performing the full range of difficult and skilled work. Incumbents are not, however, expected to perform as knowledgeably as and at the skill level of Instrument Technicians II.

Instrument Technician II

This is the advanced journey level. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the lower class of Instrument Technician I, or if filled from the outside, employees would be required to have extensive experience installing, servicing, and repairing electronic and pneumatic instruments and instrument systems, and to have completed all appropriate training courses.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

An Electrician Supervisor provides general direction to II-level Technicians, and direction to I-level Technicians. Technical supervision may be provided by II-level Technicians to other Technician staff. Depending upon assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conduct preventive maintenance, calibration and testing program to carry out a continuous program of instrument inspection and maintenance in an effort to preclude equipment failure and related process control problems.
• Repair, correct, and adjust equipment which does not meet predetermined standards of operating efficiency.
• Review work orders, blueprints, shop drawings, and maintenance schedules with supervisory personnel as necessary as related to specific maintenance and repair projects.
• Plan tool and work sequences necessary for maintenance activities and coordinate plans with assigned personnel to assure mutual understanding about goals and methods.
• Assist in design and construction of new equipment or modification of existing electronic systems.
• Maintain inventory of tools, records, parts, and other material necessary for preventive maintenance of equipment.
• Provide instruction to operations and maintenance personnel to assure better understanding of equipment.
• Work may occasionally be performed in hazardous areas, including but not limited to, sewage sumps, elevated tanks, and high voltage equipment.
• Perform related work as required.

Knowledge of:

• The practices, methods, tools, materials, and equipment used in the maintenance and repair of electronic equipment.
• Electrical circuits and wiring systems including the advanced principles of electrical and electronic theory.
• The theory, principles, and applications of solid state circuitry as used in computers and programmable controllers.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety precautions necessary in the work.

Ability to:

• Occasionally lift heavy objects as required.
• Analyze problems, and initiate corrective procedures.
• Plan, organize, and coordinate the work of others.
• Keep records and prepare necessary reports as required.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the general public.
• Work with independence to make decisions relative to work methods and tools.
• Understand and interpret written and oral instructions, including blueprints and wiring diagrams.

Experience and Education

Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience

One year of experience comparable to that of an Instrument Technician Trainee in the City of Sacramento, or three years of experience in the operation, maintenance, and repair of industrial instrumentation, control, and communication system components involving the application of physical, chemical, and electronics principles.

Education

One year of full-time college-level coursework in instrumentation, physical science, and electronics, or equivalent training in a recognized trade or technical school may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Driver License

Possession of a valid California Class III Driver License at the time of appointment. Loss of the Class III License is cause for discipline. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to physical disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Residency Requirement

Employees in these classifications must reside within thirty-five (35) air miles from the freeway interchange at W-X Streets, 29th-30th Streets within one year following appointment.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

Employees must complete twelve (12) months of probation at a satisfactory performance level prior to gaining permanent status.