Instrumentation and Controls Technician

Veolia Water Technologies; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Parental Leave

401(k) Plan

FSAs/HSA

AD&D Insurance

Disability Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Veolia Water Technologies is seeking an Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls (E&I) Specialist to bridge field maintenance and system engineering, lead capital projects, and develop PLC/SCADA logic while remaining hands-on for critical plant repairs.

You will design and integrate control systems, author documentation, and supervise contractors during outages, with a focus on safety, regulatory compliance, and 24/7 plant reliability.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or diploma in Electronic Engineering/Technology or a related field.
• 8–10 years of experience in process control.
• Preferred certifications (e.g., ISA CCST) or Journeyman Electrician License.

Responsibilities

• System Design & Integration: Author and modify drawings, P&IDs, and electrical schematics for new installations or equipment repositioning.
• Advanced Programming: Design, program, and configure PLCs, DCS, and HMI systems (Allen-Bradley) to optimize plant processes.
• Complex Electrical Work: Perform wiring, power distribution, and layout of metering/signaling devices.
• Project Commissioning: Lead commissioning of new mobile equipment and fixed facilities, ensuring instrumentation meets specs.
• Lifecycle Documentation: Prepare system design diagrams, maintenance reports, and as-built docs.
• Safety & Compliance Leadership: Set OSHA and environmental safety standards, including spill response and arc flash protocols.
• Emergency Technical Support: Provide expert-level response to plant emergencies beyond standard technician scope.

Skills

Systems Thinking

Advanced Problem-Solving

Leadership without Management

High-Stakes Decision Making

Control Theory

Education

Associate Degree or Diploma in Electronic Engineering/Technology

Job description

Veolia Group is a global leader in environmental services, operating across all five continents with nearly 218,000 employees. Specializing in water, energy, and waste management. Veolia Group designs and implements innovative solutions for decarbonization, depollution, and resource regeneration, supporting communities and industries in their ecological transformation.

Within this framework, Veolia’s Water Technology Business brings together a dedicated team of experienced professionals committed to tackling the world’s most complex challenges related to water scarcity, quality, productivity, and energy. Together, we pursue a shared mission to create a more sustainable future.

Job Description

The Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls (E&I) Specialist is a high-level technical role that bridges the gap between field maintenance and system engineering. This individual is a subject matter expert responsible for the design, integration, and advanced troubleshooting of complex electrical and automated control systems within the plant. Unlike a standard technician, the Specialist leads capital projects, authors technical documentation, and develops PLC/SCADA logic while remaining "hands-on" for critical plant repairs and commissioning.

Key Characteristics

• Systems Thinking: Ability to design integrated control loops and understand the "big picture" of plant water treatment functions
• Advanced Problem-Solving: Capability to resolve chronic equipment issues through root-cause analysis and logic modifications
• Leadership without Management: Acts as a technical lead for contractors and junior technicians during plant outages and system upgrades
• High-Stakes Decision Quality: Makes critical decisions regarding system architecture and safety protocols to ensure 24/7 operational efficiency

Duties & Responsibilities

• System Design & Integration: Author and modify technical drawings, P&IDs, and electrical schematics for new plant installations or equipment repositioning
• Advanced Programming: Design, program, and configure PLCs, DCS, and HMI systems (primarily Allen-Bradley) to optimize plant processes
• Complex Electrical Work: Execute high-level electrical tasks including wiring, power distribution, and the layout of new metering and signaling devices
• Project Commissioning: Lead the commissioning of new mobile equipment and fixed plant facilities, ensuring all instrumentation meets business and regulatory specifications
• Lifecycle Documentation: Prepare comprehensive system design diagrams, maintenance reports, and "as-built" documentation for the facility
• Safety & Compliance Leadership: Set the standard for OSHA and environmental safety compliance, including the development of spill response and arc flash protocols)
• Emergency Technical Support: Provide expert-level response to plant emergency repairs that exceed the scope of standard technician capabilities

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Preferred:

• Expertise in Control Theory: Deep knowledge of analog/digital integrated circuits and modern electronics technology
• Industrial Networking: Proficiency in configuring communication protocols between field devices, PLCs, and SCADA systems
• Regulatory Mastery: Advanced knowledge of water industry regulations, OSHA standards, and National Electrical Code (NEC)
• Physical Dexterity: Ability to perform physical duties including lifting 50lbs, climbing, and working in various weather conditions at industrial sites

Qualifications

• Associate Degree or Diploma in Electronic Engineering/Technology or a related field
• Minimum of 8–10 years of experience in process control (exceeding the standard 5-year requirement)

Preferred:

• Proven Project Leadership experience and relevant professional certifications (e.g., ISA CCST or Journeyman Electrician License)
• Relevant certifications
• Experience in the water industry
• Proven project leadership experience in this domain
• Ability and willingness to work in various weather conditions (indoor / outdoor)
• Ability and willingness to perform physical duties such as lifting up to 50 pounds, climbing, working at elevated heights, and manual dexterity
• Ability and willingness to work in industrial facilities, manufacturing facilities, and power industry facilities
• Ability and willingness to travel (10%) for install and repair if needed
• Ability and willingness to work holidays and weekends based on business demand

Additional Information

Why Veolia?

• Join a company that values Responsibility, Solidarity, Innovation, Customer Focus, and Respect.

• You’ll receive comprehensive technical and commercial training, direct mentorship from experienced Account Managers, and a clear pathway to Account Manager promotion with direct account responsibilities.

Career Development Path:

• This position is designed as a stepping stone to Account Manager, where you'll assume direct customer responsibility and independent account management upon demonstrating commercial excellence.

Ready to transition your technical expertise into a rewarding customer-facing career while
making a difference in water treatment and sustainability? Apply today!

We realize diverse teams make smarter decisions, deliver better results, and build stronger communities. We’re an organization that champions diversity and inclusion at every rung of the ladder and are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance Starting Day 1!

• Life Insurance

• Paid Time Off

• Paid Holidays

• Parental Leave

• 401(k) Plan - 3% default contribution plus matching!

• Flexible Spending & Health Saving Accounts

• AD&D Insurance

• Disability Insurance

• Tuition Reimbursement

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

****Applicants are required to be eligible to lawfully work in the U.S. immediately; employer will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work authorization (e.g. H-1B visa) for this opportunity****

Veolia does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiting firms. All vendors must have a current and fully executed MSA on file before submitting candidates. Any unsolicited resumes and candidate profiles will be deemed the property of the company and no fee will be due.

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.

Compensation: $38.00-$40.50 per hour