Plant Technician III

City of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-call pay

SDCERS enrollment

Job summary

City of San Diego is hiring a Plant Technician III to lead an assigned crew in skilled repair, maintenance, overhaul, and installation of water and wastewater equipment at treatment plants and pump stations. You will supervise tasks, manage work orders, and train others in repair activities.

Responsibilities include procuring supplies, maintaining records, and ensuring safety and compliance with certification requirements. Overtime and on-call availability may apply as indicated in the notes.

Qualifications

• Three years of full-time experience maintaining, overhauling, repairing, and installing mechanical equipment at water/wastewater facilities, major pump stations, or similar industrial sites.
• Experience must include pumps, valves, and piping systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead a crew in repair, maintenance, overhaul, and installation of treatment plant machinery.
• Manage work orders in the computer system and maintain records and reports.
• Procure repair supplies and coordinate with vendors.

Skills

Mechanical maintenance

Pump systems

Piping systems

Hydraulic systems

Safety compliance

Education

CWEA Plant Maintenance Mechanical Technology Grade II or higher

Job description

See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Plant Technicians III positions lead the work of an assigned crew; perform skilled repair, maintenance, overhaul, and installation of water and wastewater treatment plant and pump station machinery and equipment including: Air compressors, high pressure hydraulic systems, pumps and piping systems, chemical feed equipment (including but not limited to sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydroxide, ferrous and ferric chloride), boilers, heat exchangers, and diesel and gasoline powered engines; install and align heavy motors and equipment; provide training and lead group work in repair activities; manage work orders in computer system; maintain records; complete forms and reports; procure water and wastewater system repair supplies, materials or equipment from various vendors; and perform other duties as assigned.
NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by AFSCME Local 127 are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29
• Plant Technician III employees may be required to work on an on-call basis, for which they may receive 5% additional pay.
• Eligible benefited employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Plant Technician III employees must remain clean-shaven and be able to pass a respirator fit-test for entry into confined spaces and chlorine environments.
• Plant Technician III employees will be required to obtain and maintain confined space entry certificationwithin six months from the date of hire.
• Plant Technician III employees may be required to work overtime, including weekends, evenings, and holidays.
• Work involves exposure to noxious chemicals and other hazardous substances.
• Plant Technician III positions may also require work in a sewage or chlorine environment, in high places, tanks or channels, and confined spaces.

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

EXPERIENCE

Three years of full-time experience maintaining, overhauling, repairing, and installing mechanical equipment at a water treatment facility, wastewater facility, major pump station, or industrial processing facility employing similar technology. Qualifying experience MUST include working on pumps, valves, and piping systems.

• Preventive maintenance work alone is NOT qualifying (e.g., changing oil, lubricating, or removing and replacing parts).
• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

LICENSE

A valid California Class C Driver's License is required at the time of hire.

• Some positions may require a valid California Class B Driver's License by the end of the probationary period.
• Plant Technician III employees who operate commercial vehicles are required by California State Law, as a condition of employment, to submit to drug and alcohol testing.
• Before you are hired, a background check will be conducted through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and with former employers to verify drug and alcohol testing results.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE

• Experience in maintaining, overhauling, repairing, and/or installing dewatering centrifuges, compressors, gear drive units/speed reducers, chemical feeders, and small gasoline/diesel engines and blowers.
• Experience and training in Predictive Maintenance Technologies.
• Experience and training with computer programs/software.
• Possession of a valid California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Plant Maintenance Mechanical Technology Grade II or higher certification.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION)

• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) must be provided if used to meet the minimum requirements.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.

Rev. 4 – September 18, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)