SCADA Administrator

East Valley Water District; Highland (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

East Valley Water District seeks a skilled SCADA specialist to plan, design, implement, and maintain its automated control systems. The role supports water production, treatment, storage, distribution, and reclamation; involves coordinating contractors and training staff to ensure reliable operations.

The position requires five years of SCADA experience, a valid California driver’s license, and CWEA certification within 12 months of appointment.

Qualifications

• Five years of progressively responsible SCADA experience in water/utility operations.
• Class C California driver’s license required.
• Possession of CWEA Electrical and Instrumentation Technologist I certification within 12 months."

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, program, operate, maintain, troubleshoot, repair, test, calibrate, and upgrade SCADA and related automation systems.
• Diagnose complex issues in SCADA, telemetry, and control systems and implement effective solutions.
• Coordinate and inspect work of contractors, consultants, and service providers on automation projects.
• Provide technical training and guidance to district staff on safe and effective use of automation systems.

Skills

SCADA systems

PLC programming

Instrumentation

Network troubleshooting

Project coordination

Staff training

Education

HS diploma or equivalent

CWEA I certification

Tools

SCADA software

Automation hardware

Job description

DEFINITION

Under direction, performs specialized technical work related to the planning, design, development, implementation, programming, administration, operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and enhancement of the District's Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), distributed control, telemetry, instrumentation, communications, and automated control systems; supports the reliable operation of water production, treatment, storage, distribution, wastewater collection, water reclamation, renewable energy, and treatment facilities; coordinates and inspects the work of specialized contractors and service providers; provides technical training and support to District staff; and performs related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direction from the Director of Engineering and Operations or assigned supervisory or management personnel. Exercises no direct supervision over staff. Coordinates, schedules, directs, and inspects the work of contracted automation, controls, programming, instrumentation, systems integration, and related service providers; provides technical training and knowledge transfer to District operations, reclamation, maintenance, and information technology staff regarding the safe and effective use of SCADA and distributed control systems.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is an advanced journey-level classification responsible for performing highly specialized work related to the planning, design, development, programming, implementation, operation and maintenance of the District’s SCADA system. Incumbents regularly work on tasks which are varied and complex, requiring considerable discretion and independent judgment. Positions in the classification rely on experience and judgment to evaluate system performance, diagnose operational issues, establish solutions, and implement system improvements. Assignments are given with general guidelines and incumbents are responsible for establishing objectives, timelines, and methods to ensure the reliable and efficient operation of critical District infrastructure. Work is typically reviewed upon completion for soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements.

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Installs, programs, configures, upgrades, maintains, repairs, calibrates, and tests Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), distributed control, telemetry, instrumentation, communications, and automated control systems to support District operations.
• Monitors system performance and operations; identifies, diagnoses, troubleshoots, and resolves SCADA, telemetry, communications, instrumentation, electrical, electronic, hardware, software, network, and control-system issues.
• Installs, configures, maintains, and troubleshoots SCADA and automated control system hardware, software, laptops, workstations, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), variable frequency drives (VFDs), flow meters, instrumentation devices, backup power systems, and related control equipment; ensures system functionality, reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Performs troubleshooting, maintenance, repair, and testing of systemwide servers, communications equipment, and control-system infrastructure supporting District facilities and operations.
• Evaluates operational and system performance data; recommends and implements system modifications and improvements to enhance reliability, functionality, and operational effectiveness.
• Plans, schedules, coordinates, directs, and inspects the work of contractors, consultants, system integrators, programmers, technicians, and other service providers involved in automation, controls, instrumentation, and SCADA projects; assists in defining scopes of work and reviews completed work for adherence to District requirements and industry standards.
• Provides technical training, guidance, and support to operations, reclamation, maintenance, and information technology staff regarding the safe and effective use of SCADA, distributed control, telemetry, and related automation systems.
• Participates in the planning, implementation, testing, commissioning, and upgrading of new SCADA, telemetry, instrumentation, automation, and control-system equipment and technologies.
• Reviews, develops, updates, and maintains electrical drawings, technical schematics, system documentation, control narratives, operational records, and related technical materials.
• Maintains and prepares reports, activity logs, work orders, work requests, maintenance records, statistical reports, and other operational and technical documentation.
• Requisitions parts, tools, equipment, materials, and supplies required for assigned work; maintains inventories of equipment, tools, parts, and related resources.
• Responds to operational issues and emergency conditions involving SCADA, telemetry, communications, and automated control systems and may remotely access systems to assist in troubleshooting and restoring service.
• Monitors changes in regulations and technology that may affect operations; recommends and implements policy and procedural changes after approval.
• Observes and complies with all District and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, methods, and techniques related to the design, programming, implementation, operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, testing, and administration of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), distributed control, telemetry, instrumentation, communications, and automated control systems.
• Principles and practices of industrial automation, process control systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), variable frequency drives (VFDs), instrumentation equipment, telemetry, and related electronic and electrical control systems.
• Methods and techniques used to identify, diagnose, troubleshoot, repair, test, and maintain SCADA, communications, control-system, network, server, instrumentation, electrical, and electronic equipment issues.
• Principles and practices related to water production, treatment, water reclamation treatment, storage, distribution, wastewater collection, pumping, and treatment operations as they relate to automated monitoring and control systems.
• Principles and practices of providing technical training and support related to automated control, instrumentation, telemetry, and SCADA systems.
• Electrical drawings, technical schematics, process control documentation, and related technical records and reports.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
• Recordkeeping principles and procedures.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations as well as industry standards and best practices pertinent to the assigned area of responsibility.
• District and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service, by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and District staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and programs, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

• Install, configure, program, operate, maintain, troubleshoot, repair, test, calibrate, and upgrade SCADA, distributed control, telemetry, instrumentation, communications, and automated control systems and equipment.
• Diagnose complex operational, communications, software, hardware, network, electrical, electronic, and control-system problems and implement effective solutions.
• Analyze system performance, evaluate operational needs, and implement system modifications and improvements to support efficient and reliable operations.
• Coordinate, schedule, direct, and inspect the work of contractors, consultants, and service providers engaged in SCADA, instrumentation, communications, and automation projects.
• Provide technical training, guidance, and support to District staff regarding the safe and effective use of SCADA, distributed control, telemetry, instrumentation, and related systems.
• Read, interpret, prepare, and update electrical drawings, technical schematics, manuals, specifications, reports, and related documentation.
• Make accurate arithmetic computations.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, documentation, and other written materials.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education:

• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade, supplemented by specialized training in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, instrumentation, electrical/electronic technology, or a related field.

Experience:

• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience installing, programming, configuring, maintaining, troubleshooting, repairing, testing, and supporting supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, in a water, wastewater, utility, industrial, manufacturing, or closely related operational environment.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License, to be maintained throughout employment.
• Possession of, or acquisition within twelve (12) months of appointment, an Electrical and Instrumentation Technologist I certification issued by the California Water Environment Association (CWEA), to be maintained throughout employment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in both office and field environments and to operate standard office equipment, including a computer, as well as specialized instrumentation, telemetry, automation, control system, testing, tools and diagnostic equipment; vision to read printed materials and computer screens; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, over the telephone, by radio, and through other communication devices. The position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, reach, twist, turn, kneel, bend, stoop, squat, crouch, and grasp while performing inspection, installation, maintenance, testing, troubleshooting, and repair activities at District facilities and to pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using computer equipment and to perform programming, calibration, testing, and repair activities involving electrical, electronic, automation, and control-system components.