Instrumentation & Control Technician II (Austin Water)

City of Austin; United States; On-site; USD 45,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Austin seeks an Instrumentation & Control Technician II to maintain, install, calibrate, and troubleshoot I&C systems at water/wastewater facilities and remote sites.

Responsibilities include diagnostics, calibrations, and programming of PLCs; training others in safety and process control; and reading schematics to reflect current systems. Shift includes on-call duties as needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with 4 years instrumentation & control experience; two years in water/wastewater preferred.
• Experience calibrating, maintaining, and troubleshooting instrumentation & control systems.

Responsibilities

• Diagnostics and maintenance of instrumentation and control systems and PLCs using meters, simulators, and software.
• Install, calibrate, diagnose, repair, and replace instrumentation and control equipment in facilities.
• Read and update blueprints, schematics, ladder logic and diagrams for troubleshooting.
• Train staff on safe work practices and proper equipment handling.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Multitasking

Computer skills

Planning & organizing

Blueprint reading

Ladder safety

Education

High school diploma or equivalent; 4 years instrumentation & control experience

Tools

PLC experience

CAD/schematics

Job description

About This Position

For over 100 years, Austin Water has been committed to providing safe, reliable, high-quality, and affordable water services to our customers. Today, we serve over 1,000,000 people in the Austin metropolitan area, across more than 548 square miles. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, we’re not just keeping up—we’re leading the way with sustainable infrastructure, advanced treatment technology, and environmental innovation. Austin Water consistently ranks among the best in the country when it comes to water quality. We also treat, return, and recycle wastewater in ways that protect environmental resources. Austin Water exceeds federal and state requirements for clean water and environmental compliance at our water and wastewater treatment plants.

Job Description

Instrumentation & Control Technician II Purpose: Under general supervision, this position performs tasks related to maintaining, installing, calibrating, and troubleshooting moderately complex journeyman level tasks related to instrumentation and controls systems located at water and wastewater facilities and remote locations.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Performs moderately difficult diagnostics to analyze problems associated with instrumentation and control systems and programmable logic controllers using test equipment such as electronic meters, simulators, and software applications related to configuration and communications protocols for plant control, networking, DCS, and SCADA systems.
• Performs moderately difficult installations, calibrations, diagnostics, repairs, and replacements of instrumentation and control systems equipment and components for water and wastewater facilities, such as treatment plants, pump stations, and lift stations.
• Performs moderate to difficult installations, calibrations, maintenance, modification and programming of flow meters, transmitters, controllers, and analytical equipment.
• Services hydraulic, electric, pneumatic, and mechanical instruments used for controlling, analyzing, measuring, and recording.
• Communicates with customers to explain purpose of activities that impact services.
• Trains others in safe work practices, equipment installation and calibrations, and facility process control.
• Monitors compliance and communicates safety issues to personnel.
• Reads, interprets, modifies, and updates blueprints, schematics, ladder logic, and diagrams in order to troubleshoot, repair, or modify equipment and to accurately reflect current operating systems.
• Monitors and makes visual inspections of control and instrumentation equipment to determine operating condition and perform preventative maintenance.
• Maintains accurate inventory and maintenance logs.
• Assists in project planning workshops, development meetings, progress meetings, and retrospective review meetings.
• Identifies and makes recommendations concerning technical issues pertaining to electronic instrumentation and controls.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised: May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws.
• Knowledge of City practices, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of water and wastewater treatment facilities.
• Knowledge of the methods, procedures, tools, and equipment used in testing instrumentation and control systems and devices.
• Knowledge of the installation, operation, and maintenance of instrumentation and control systems and related equipment.
• Knowledge of the laws, theories, rules, and standards pertaining to instrumentation and control systems installation, construction, and maintenance.
• Knowledge of safety rules and procedures when working with energized systems and equipment involving voltage.

• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in using computers and related software.
• Skill in planning and organizing.

• Ability to select and operate proper air ventilation equipment based on readings from atmospheric monitors in compliance with Utility Confined Space Entry Policy/Procedures.
• Ability to work in environments that may have hazardous atmospheres.
• Ability to climb ladders supporting up to 300 pounds and work at heights of up to 200 feet.
• Ability to work in confined spaces where there is limited or restricted means for entry and exit or where the activities may be hindered or have energized equipment and electrical voltage.
• Ability to safely wear Anti-fall (SRL) body harness for confined space entry that supports up to 300 pounds.
• Ability to use special tools and equipment used to perform diagnostics, maintenance, repairs, and installations of instrumentation/control systems.
• Ability to read, interpret, modify, and update blueprints, schematics, ladder logic, and diagrams.
• Ability to draw schematics of instrument and control circuits.
• Ability to disassemble and repair instruments and controls in the field using hand tools.
• Ability to implement effective safety and training programs.
• Ability to respond quickly and perform strenuous work in emergency situations and all weather conditions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City employees and the general public.
• Ability to meet and maintain driver eligibility standards detailed in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program while driving personal and City of Austin vehicles on official business.
• Ability to participate in an on-call program and work both scheduled/unscheduled overtime.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus four (4) years of experience in the repair, installation, maintenance, and calibration of instrumentation and control system equipment, or a related field, including two (2) years of instrumentation & control experience in a water and wastewater treatment facility or a similar industrial process control facility; OR Graduation with an Associate of Arts or Science Technology degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to instrumentation or control systems, plus two (2) years of instrumentation & control experience in a water and wastewater treatment facility or a closely related process facility.

Licenses and Certifications Required

Valid Texas Class C Driver License.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstration of strong technical knowledge and experience in the maintenance and calibration of instrumentation and control systems equipment such as pressure transmitters/transducers, level sensors, flow meters, PLC's and pump/motor control circuitry. Experience working in a water/wastewater facility or related process facility performing instrumentation & control maintenance.

Notes to Candidate

Position Overview: This position completes the calibration, installation, repairs and modification of instrumentation starter controls and complex rotating/moving equipment for the Instrument & Control Maintenance Division of the Operations -Treatment Program Area of Austin Water.

Pay Range: $33.02 – $41.28 hourly.

Retention Incentive Bonus: This position may be eligible for an Incentive Bonus of up to $3,000! $500 after 90 days $500 after 180 days $1,000 after 1 year $1,000 after 2 years.

Work Location

The incumbent in this position may be asked to report to one or more of the following locations:

• Lift Stations Various locations
• Hornsby Bend Biosolids Plant 2210 S. FM 973, Austin, TX 78725
• South Austin Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant 1017 Fallwell Lane, Austin TX, 78717
• Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant 7113 FM 969, Austin, TX 78724
• Davis Water Treatment Plant 3500 W. 35th Street, Austin, Texas 78703
• Water Treatment Plant 4 6800 North F. M. 620, Austin, Texas 78732
• Ullrich Water Treatment Plant 1000 Forest View Dr., Austin, Texas 787 46
• Pump Stations & Reservoirs - South Service Support Center 3616 S. First St., Austin, Texas 78704

Work location and shift assignment for candidates selected will be determined based on business need and is subject to change at management's discretion.

Days & Hours

Monday-Friday, 6:30 AM – 3:00 AM. This position will be required to work on-call shifts on a rotating basis, including nights, weekends and holidays. Overtime and call-back time will vary and are required for this position.

Benefits

Benefits: Working with Austin Water provides a number of health and welfare benefits, such as medical, paid leave time, a great retirement plan, training opportunities and more –

Physical Requirements

Physical Requirements: This position will require that you be able to perform the following essential job functions with confidence and with or without reasonable accommodations: Occasional carrying or lifting up to 50 lbs., occasional pushing or pulling up to 50 lbs., frequent standing and walking, occasional sitting and lying, frequent climbing of stairs and ladders, occasional reaching overhead, crawling, and twisting, frequent kneeling, stooping/bending, and repetitive hand/foot movement, far and near vision with color differentiation, hearing and communicating, frequent finger dexterity, grasping or squeezing, traveling to work sites, ability to wear personal protective equipment, exposure to extreme weather conditions, atmospheric and hazardous conditions and very loud noise. Selected candidate will be required to complete and pass a pre-employment physical exam to be considered for this position, which includes a Functional (FC) strength/agility test.

Confined Space Entry and Climbing Requirements

Confined Space Entry and Climbing Requirements: Candidates must be able to work in environments which may have hazardous atmospheres or in confined spaces where there is limited or restricted means for entry and exit, or where the activities of an employee are hindered. Candidates must be able to perform duties with confidence at sites where climbing heights of up to 200 feet is required on ladders that support up to 300 lbs.

Secondary Employment

Secondary Employment: All Austin Water employees are prohibited from accepting or engaging in any secondary employment that might conflict or interfere with an employee’s duty and responsibility to the Department. Austin Water will review all secondary employment. Employees are required to submit a Secondary Employment Application for review and approval upon being hired with Austin Water, as well as current Austin Water employees considering secondary employment.

90-day Provision

90-day Provision: This posting may be used to fill additional vacancies that occur within the department.

Important Note to Applicants

Important Note to Applicants: All Austin Water worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any AW worksite – including construction sites, parking lots, garages or in any personal vehicle located on the premises. Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time. We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer—we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles – Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity – that anchor our delivery of services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee. What Makes the City of Austin Special? Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Value and Innovation: Work in an environment where employees are valued, and innovation thrives. Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits. Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System. Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure. Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support. Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities. Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration. By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

EEO Statement for City of Austin

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk. City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call [phone] or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.