Instrument Technician - Water Bureau

City of Portland; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 107,000 - 112,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Portland is seeking an Instrument Technician to maintain and repair instrument systems across water facilities, ensuring accurate metering, monitoring, and control.

Responsibilities include developing PLCs, calibrating equipment, and supporting SCADA networking. Candidates should be prepared for field work, safety requirements, and ongoing collaboration with a skilled team.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of precision instruments, process control equipment and electronics.
• Skill in repairing, troubleshooting, maintaining and installing precision instruments and control equipment.
• Skill in PLC logic editing/creation, NEC and ISA standards, and safe work practices.
• Ability to perform layout and sketch designs for process control installations and repairs.

Responsibilities

• Install, maintain, repair and document instrument systems in water facilities.
• Calibrate instruments and troubleshoot malfunctions; ensure accurate monitoring and control.
• Develop PLC systems and troubleshoot networked communications and SCADA systems.
• Collaborate with team to improve instrumentation programs and procedures.

Skills

Precision instrumentation

Troubleshooting

Electrical knowledge

PLC programming concepts

Networking

SCADA systems

Tools

SCADA systems

Electrical tools

Job description

About the position

Job Appointment: Full time

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 6AM - 2:30 PM Training Schedule; then 10-hour shifts 4 days a week

Work Location: Water Interstate Facility, 664 N. Interstate Avenue, Portland, OR 97227

Benefit: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position

Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.

Union Representation: District Council Trade Union (DCTU); To view this labor agreement, please click here.

Applicants start at the entry salary rate of $52.09 hourly.

Position Summary

The City of Portland is seeking an Instrument Technician to join our dynamic team of highly qualified and innovative technicians that work on complex and varied instruments and control systems.

Instrument Technicians install, maintain, repair and document electrical, electronic instrument systems. These systems are used to meter, record, analyze, control and monitor water treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs, and metering sites. Instrument Technicians inspect and test instruments and systems, determine the cause of malfunctions, service and repair the instruments and then calibrate the system. Work responsibilities can include developing Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) systems and maintaining and improving existing systems; and maintaining, developing and troubleshooting networked communications and SCADA systems.

As a person, you are:

• Highly collaborative: You take direction well, offer thoughtful guidance, and work toward shared goals. You enjoy partnering with colleagues from diverse personal and professional backgrounds and adapt your approach to support effective teamwork.
• Detail-oriented: You bring strong attention to detail and follow best practices to ensure accuracy, consistency, and high-quality work.
• Equity-focused: You understand how equity connects to the work we do and consider its impact in your decisions, interactions, and problem-solving.
• A problem-solver: You apply your technical understanding to real-world situations, developing practical solutions and improvements that strengthen the Bureau’s instrumentation and controls program.
• Adaptable: You evaluate real-world situations using your understanding of instrumentation and controls to established processes with a critical eye and identify opportunities for improvement, whether through training, technology, or workflow changes.
• An effective communicator: You communicate clearly, build productive working relationships, and contribute successfully both independently and as part of a team.

About the Water Bureau:

The Portland Water Bureau (PWB) serves almost a million people in the Portland area, about a quarter of Oregon's population. PWB employs over 600 people providing responsive service to build and maintain a water system that enhances public health and safety and contributes to the economic vitality and livability of the Portland metropolitan region. To learn more about working at Water visit our website: https://www.portland.gov/water/about-us/work-water

Applicants must describe in their résumé how their education, training, work experience and/or lived experience meets each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Knowledge of tools, materials, processes and techniques of precision instruments, process control equipment and electronics including troubleshooting techniques.
2. Skill in repairing, troubleshooting, maintaining, modifying and installing precision instruments and process control equipment; maintaining, developing and troubleshooting networking as well as other electronic equipment, electronics and communications devices.
3. Skill in mechanical and process control troubleshooting techniques; methods and techniques editing and creating PLC program logic; database principles and concepts; office suite software; application of the National Electrical Code (NEC), and Instrument Society of America (ISA) standards; safe work practices.
4. Ability to perform layout and sketch designs for process control installations, modifications and repairs.

Applicants must also:

• Possess a State of Oregon limited Energy Class A or B Electrical license (A higher level/broader electrical license may be substituted for the limited Energy Class A or B license).
• Possess a valid state driver’s license and acceptable driving record
• Possess ability to pass background check
• Ability to pass the a Prehire Evaluation that may require a medical exam, screenings and physical capacities test (PCT), after an offer of employment has been made and accepted.
• Lift up to 50 pounds
• Wear protective gear
• Work with hand and power tools
• Be prepared for exposure to electric currents
• Climb to heights of 150 feet and work in confined spaces (underground vaults)

Although not required, you may have one or more of the following:

• Experience with SCADA systems