UTILITY SYSTEM SPECIALIST

City of Hobbs; Hobbs (NM); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Hobbs is seeking a skilled SCADA/Instrumentation Technician to design, implement, and maintain electronic control systems across wastewater treatment and water production facilities. This role emphasizes PLC programming, data acquisition, and robust instrumentation in a critical municipal environment.

You will troubleshoot a range of electrical, electronic, and computer-controlled equipment, train staff, and maintain calibration and records.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED with 4 years of related electronics experience such as electronic circuitry repair, installation, maintenance, metering or other related electronic technology.
• Associates Degree in electronics or related field with 2 years of related electronic experience as stated above.
• Ability to read and interpret wiring diagrams (schematics) and specifications.
• Knowledge of computer-based data acquisitions and control systems and software used in a PLC and SCADA environment.

Responsibilities

• Trains employees in proper use and operations on SCADA control computers and related processes.
• Diagnoses malfunctions in electrical, electronic and instrumentation systems.
• Troubleshoots and implements changes to computer software and hardware used in SCADA/PLC environments.
• Monitors, repairs, programs, and upgrades control and processing computer systems.

Skills

Electrical circuitry

Wiring diagrams

SCADA/PLC knowledge

Troubleshooting

Communication

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate Degree in Electronics

Tools

IEC 61131-3 programming

SCADA systems

PLC hardware

Job description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Designs, installs, repairs, programs, calibrates, and maintains electronic and computer-based Supervisor Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, metering and recording instruments, controlling apparatus, data logging and display equipment, communications and telemetry equipment, gate controllers and other controlling devices in the wastewater treatment plant, water production wells, reservoirs, elevated tower sites and Sewer Lift Stations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Trains employees in proper use and operations on SCADA control computers and related processes.
• Diagnoses malfunctions in a variety of electrical, electronic and instrumentation systems.
• Troubleshoots and implements needed changes to computer software and hardware used in a SCADA and programmable logic controllers (PLC) environment.
• Monitors, repairs, programs, and upgrades control and processing computer.
• Installs, maintains, troubleshoots and upgrades all desktops or laptop computers, servers, and alarm and gate control computer for department.
• Maintains records of instrumentation calibration data, process control and monitoring data for wastewater treatment plant and water production, and instrument maintenance and replacement data.
• Subject to emergency call- outs involving SCADA and Instrumentation system problems.
• Install, maintain, and upgrade the department’s Ethernet LAN to City Hall.
• Troubleshoots radios and telephones.
• Assists department with selecting computer applications, equipment, software, and instrumentation in establishing budget requirements.
• Develops control system programming using International Electric Code (IEC) standard programming languages for industrial automation (IEC 61131-3).

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES

May serve on various employee committees, as required and assigned.

This position is subject to the City of Hobbs’ Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy which includes one or more of the following: pre‑employment testing, post accident testing, random testing, reasonable suspicion testing, return to duty testing and follow‑up testing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

High School Diploma or GED with (4) Years ofrelated electronics experience such as electronic circuitry repair, installation, maintenance, metering or other related electronic technology.

OR

AssociatesDegreein electronics or relatedfield with (2) Years ofrelated electronicexperience as stated above.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Skilled in electrical andelectronic circuitry, makemathematical calculations and draw logical conclusions.
• Knowledge of methods, practicesand tools used in installing, maintaining, repairing, testingandadjustingcomputers, programsoftware, metering, recording, and displayequipment.
• Knowledge of installation, maintenance and repairof instrumentation wiring, communication,computerhardware and software andother control andelectrical equipment.
• Workingknowledge of use andoperationof sophisticated measuringand testingdevices, handtoolsandequipmentofthe trade.
• Knowledge of computer-baseddata acquisitions and control systemsandsoftware used inaPLC and SCADAenvironment.
• Knowledge of a widerange of instrumentation systems,processes,andtechniques used inwastewater and water treatmentfacilities,includinglaboratoryprocedures.
• Abilityto plan,layout and execute instrumentationandcomputer control work.Abilityto readandinterpret wiringdiagrams (schematics) and specifications.
• Abilityto troubleshoot instrumentation, electrical, mechanical and computer controlmalfunctions in typicalwastewater and water treatment equipment.
• Abilityto troubleshoot radio,antenna,andfiber optic SCADAcommunication problems.
• Abilityto work independentlyandtocompletedailyactivities accordingto work schedule.
• Abilityto effectivelycommunicateorallyand in writing.
• Abilityto understand,followand transmit written andoral instructions.
• Abilityto establish andmaintaineffective workingrelationshipswith Utilities personnel, ITpersonnel,Trafficpersonnel, vendors/manufacturers, and general public.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS

Valid state issued driver’s license.

Abilityto obtainandmaintainWasteWater IIcertification within 36 months of hire.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the broad policy guidance and direction of the Senior Utility System Specialist and Utilities Director.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear, and reach with hands and arms from a standing position. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, kneel and use hands and fingers to handle feel or operate objects. The employee is occasionally required to climb or descend ladders or stairs, stoop, kneel, or crouch and work at heights greater than 10 feet.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects up to 25pounds or more and occasionally lift upto75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and perceive the full range of the color spectrum, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performingthe essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performingthe duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and equipment and regularly works outdoors. The employee occasionally works in high precarious places and is frequently exposed to adverse weather conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, vibration, hot surfaces, rotating equipment, stored energy, risk of electrical shock, drowningand exposure to blood borne pathogens.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.