PLANT OPERATOR - WATER

City of Stockton; Stockton (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Stockton is seeking a Plant Operator for the Water Division to support the Delta Water Treatment Plant. The role involves sampling, monitoring water quality, checking chemical feed equipment, and learning plant control software.

Initial duties include operating pumps, logging operations, and performing routine maintenance. This full-time position offers opportunities for certification progression and a pathway within Municipal Utilities Department.

Qualifications

• Possession of a high school diploma or GED.
• Ability to learn plant control software and operate 12-hour shifts.
• Comfort with field sampling, testing, and report keeping.

Responsibilities

• Operate, monitor, and control plant equipment to ensure continuous water treatment.
• Take water samples and perform standard tests at scheduled times.
• Monitor SCADA and adjust chemical feed within safety guidelines.
• Perform routine maintenance and housekeeping of plant facilities.
• Maintain logs and prepare reports as required.

Skills

Water treatment operations

Sample collection

SCADA monitoring

Equipment inspection

Record keeping

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

SCADA systems

Chemical feed equipment

Forklift operation

Job description

OPEN/PROMOTIONAL RECRUITMENT

Tentative Examination Date: Week of September 14, 2026. (Test is in-person)

Now Hiring: Plant Operator – Water Division

City of Stockton | Municipal Utilities Department

Schedule:

The incumbents will work a 12-hour shift schedule that rotates periodically between days and nights.

This is an excellent opportunity for a person who is seeking a career in water treatment at a grade T5 facility. The Delta Water Treatment Plant is a conventional treatment plant with microfiltration filters. The facility treats water from both the Mokelumne River and water from the San Joaquin River Delta.

About the Role:

As a Plant Operator, you will be grabbing samples, checking water quality parameters, checking chemical feed equipment, verifying online instrumentation, visual inspections of equipment and plant processes, completing daily logs, and will be expected to learn the plant control software. You will become part of a team that provides safe drinking water to the residents of Stockton.

If you’re looking to grow your career while making a real difference in your community,

These recruitment is being conducted as an Open/Promotional recruitment. Current full-time City of Stockton employees may apply for this position as a promotional opportunity and successful candidates will be placed on a promotional list. All other candidates may apply for this position as an open competitive opportunity and successful candidates will be placed on an open list. The appointing authority will have the option of requesting names from the promotional list, the open list or a combination of both. These lists may be used to fill future vacancies.

Incumbents in this position are included in the Civil Service system, in a "for-cause" employment status, and are represented by Operating Engineers Local No. 3 Operations and Maintenance Unit.

Veteran's Preference:

This position is eligible to receive Veteran's Preference Points for entrance into the Civil Service. Veteran's Preference will not be granted on the promotional list. If you believe you may qualify for Veteran's Preference, a DD-214 Member 4 copy indicating at least 181 consecutive days of service must be received in the Human Resources office (see supplemental questionnaire for details in submitting DD-214) by the final filing date.

Operates, monitors, inspects, and performs routine maintenance on a variety of plant equipment in connection with the continuous operation of a water or wastewater treatment plant; as experience is gained, incumbents plan, organize, direct, and personally perform operational duties involved in the operation and routine maintenance of a water or wastewater treatment plant and related facilities during an assigned shift; performs related work as assigned.

Entry level

Initially, under direct supervision, incumbents learn and perform a variety of duties in the routine cleaning, preventive maintenance, operation and monitoring of water or wastewater treatment plant equipment. Incumbents may advance to the Journey level after obtaining the required certifications and demonstrating proficiency at the Entry level.

All levels

• Operates and monitors pumps, valves, and other equipment by hand or mechanical means to regulate the flow of water or wastewater through various treatment processes; maintains an even flow to assure maximum efficiency of plant equipment.
• Take samples of water or wastewater at various stages of the treatment process and other materials at established times; makes standardized control tests.
• Operates, monitors, and adjusts chemical feed.
• Operates, monitors and adjusts co-generation equipment (wastewater) to ensure compliance with established standards of operations.
• Performs record keeping functions such as logging plant operations, test results, maintenance work performed, and unusual operating conditions encountered; prepares special reports as required.
• Inspects plant equipment and reports any failures or operating difficulties; initiates work orders and requests for equipment repairs; stop, start, lock out, and tags equipment as required for repairs.
• Cleans, lubricates, and performs routine maintenance of plant equipment and facilities; assists and directs routine maintenance painting of plant machinery, equipment, piping and structures; assists and directs the care of grounds adjacent to the work location.
• Picks up or receives supplies delivered and ensures that they are properly stored.
• Reads meters, gauges, charts, and instruments, and monitors continuous operation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA).
• Uses common hand and power tools; drives motor vehicle in the performance of the work; operates a forklift incidentally in the performance of the work.

• Deals courteously and effectively with other plant personnel, including engineers and operations and maintenance employees, and with representatives of other agencies, private organizations, and the public.
• Performs all operation duties required to operate the water or wastewater treatment system/plant.
• Monitors developments in the field of water or wastewater treatment.
• Performs preventive maintenance, operations painting, and facility and grounds maintenance.

Education:

All levels:

Possession of a high school diploma or GED.

Experience/Certifications:

Entry level

If assigned to Water: Valid California T-1 Water Treatment Plant Operator Certificate.

The Examination:

Applicants who qualify in terms of relevant work experience and education, that best fit the needs of the City, will be invited to participate in the examination process. The examination process may include a written examination weighted 100%. However, the City reserves the right to utilize alternative testing methods if deemed necessary. Candidates must receive a minimum passing score of 70%, as determined by the relative performance of all candidates in all portions of the examination. In the event of identical ratings, candidates' names will be arranged in order of application date/time, and, if the same, then arranged alphabetically.

ALL APPLICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS MUST BE COMPLETED FULLY AND SUBMITTED ON AN OFFICIAL CITY OF STOCKTON APPLICATION FORM. (DO NOT STATE "REFER TO RESUME" ON YOUR APPLICATION OR SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE.) INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTALS WILL BE REJECTED AND CANNOT BE REVISED AFTER SUBMITTAL ON OR BEFORE THE FINAL FILING DATE. POSTMARKS, FACSIMILES, AND PHOTOCOPIES OF THE CITY'S EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. RESUMES ARE WELCOMED BUT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ONLY.

The information in this announcement concerning the terms and conditions of employment does not constitute either an express or implied contract, and these provisions are subject to change.

NOTES:

• After on-line submittal, immediate notification will appear on your screen indicating your application has been received. Please print this notice as proof of filing.
• Notices and correspondence will be sent via email only. No paper notices will be mailed to applicants. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure a correct email address is provided and that correspondence is received.
• NeoGov.com: You will receive correspondence via the e-mail address you placed on your application. Some e‑mail accounts have been known to place these e‑mails in the spam/junk file. Please check your e‑mail folders or accept e‑mails ending with neogov.com.