Water Meter Repair Technician

Charlotte, North Carolina; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Charlotte Water is seeking a Water Meter Repair Technician (Assistant Technician) to support meter service operations. You will assist the Lead Technician on a two-person crew, performing meter testing, repair, and installation for sizes from 1½" to 12" in various outdoor settings.

This role requires working in confined spaces, handling high-pressure situations, and maintaining safety protocols while delivering excellent customer service and accurate field records.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 2 years related work experience in customer service/water utilities preferred.
• 3 years related work experience preferred in customer service and water utility operations.
• Valid driver’s license required; must obtain City’s Driver’s Permit.

Responsibilities

• Assist Lead on two-person crew, manage assigned vehicle and tools.
• Disassemble, repair, test, install, and change out water meters (1½" to 12").
• Work in meter vaults and confined spaces; handle leaks and service lines.
• Respond to customer service requests; investigate meter-related issues; educate customers on meter operations and billing processes.
• Maintain records of work performed and communicate findings to leadership.
• Perform preventative maintenance and inspections on vehicles and equipment.

Skills

Hand and power tools

Confined spaces

Safety conscious

Customer service

Teamwork

Communication

Problem solving

Time management

Leadership

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

Department: Charlotte Water DepartmentSalary: $25.00 - $29.93 Commensurate with Experience**Welcome to the City of Charlotte**Charlotte is America's Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.Our guiding principles include:* Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce* Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development* Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services* Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems* Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions**SUMMARY**Charlotte's local government, with more than 9,000 employees and a total budget of $4.49 billion budget, works hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone - a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and playCharlotte Water is an enterprise department of the City of Charlotte and one of the largest public water and sewer service providers in the southeast with over 330,000 customer accounts and over 1300 employees. Our service area includes the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mint Hill, Matthews, and Pineville. Charlotte Water's FY 27 operating budget is $685.6 million and a five-year capital program of $2.5 billion.**Salary:****The salary for this position is: $25.00 per hour.****Job Summary:**The Water Meter Repair Technician (Assistant Technician), under the general supervision of the Industrial Meter Repair Crew Chief, is responsible for assisting the lead technician on a meter service truck in completing assigned field work. This hands-on role involves a variety of skilled mechanical and field service tasks such as testing, repairing, rebuilding, installing, and changing out water meters ranging from 1[1/2]\" to 12\" in size. The assistant helps the Lead Technician with locating and repairing leaks, servicing fire lines, valves, registers, endpoints, and other related components, frequently working in confined spaces and inside meter vaults up to 15 feet deep. The work often requires the use of specialized tools, power equipment, and manual labor in outdoor environments and challenging conditions. In addition to fieldwork, the technicians respond to customer service requests and investigate service-related issues. This is a physically demanding role that requires stamina, precision, technical skill, and sound decision-making, along with a strong commitment to safety, teamwork, and excellent customer service, particularly in high-pressure or emergency situations.**Major Duties and Responsibilities:*** Assists the lead on a two person work crew, including responsibility for the assigned vehicle and tools, while completing daily assignments.* Receives, reviews and performs work while serving as a competent person on the job site.* Disassembles, repairs, reassembles, tests, installs, and changes out multi-family, commercial, and industrial water meters in accordance with AWWA and City Utility Department standards.* Performs physically demanding tasks using machines or tools to cut pipes or other materials inside meter vaults.* Works in confined spaces, often under high water pressure conditions.* Inspects water meter connections for leaks; replaces pipes and other materials as needed.* Assists with correcting meter vault deficiencies and repairing service lines.* Reports on fire hydrant leaks, water main leaks and other distribution issues in a timely manner.* Interrogates endpoints/transmitters to ensure readings match the register; follows SOPs for quality assurance.* Assists the Lead with maintaining accurate records of all work performed, including findings, actions taken, and customer interactions.* Conducts field inspections of metering equipment for maintenance or replacement needs.* Investigates customer complaints related to meter readings, pressure, noise, water quality, or leaks. Evaluates billing history and educates customers on meter operation, usage, and transmitter functions. Escalates complex issues as needed.* Assists the Lead in ensuring proper maintenance of vehicles and equipment.* Educates customers on Charlotte Water's meter reading and billing processes, service responsibilities, and repair limitations on private property.* Performs preventative maintenance and daily inspections of vehicles and equipment, reporting any deficiencies.* Performs other related duties as assigned.**Minimum Qualifications:*** High School diploma or GED from an accredited institution.* Two (2) years of related work experience, preferably in customer service and water utility operations.**Preferred Qualifications:*** Three (3) years of related work experience, preferably in customer service and water utility operations.* Experience in plumbing, water meter installation, or water system maintenance.* Knowledge of and experience performing various semi-skilled maintenance and manual labor tasks.**Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations:*** Requires a valid Driver's License.* Must obtain and maintain a City's Driver's Permit.**Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:*** Proficiency with hand and power tools (e.g., cut-off saws, grinders, torches, jackhammers, chainsaws).* Physical ability to work in confined spaces and extreme outdoor conditions.* Willingness to perform heavy manual labor.* Ability to follow directives and instructions.* Knowledge of service order management systems, as well as the operations, services, and activities of a water distribution system* Ability to assess hazards and implement traffic control.* Ability to stay calm and effective under pressure or in emergencies.* Knowledge of meter operations, maintenance, and troubleshooting.* Familiarity with utility field customer service operations and meter billing processes.* Proficiency in using business computing software (e.g., MS Office Suite).* Ability to read and interpret AWWA industry standards.* Strong interpersonal, leadership, and team-building skills.* Ability to work independently as well as with others.* Strong time management, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.* Strong analytical skills.* Ability to apply quality best practices.**Physical Demands:**Daily driving; frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching, and lifting (0-60 lbs.). Must be able to apply 20 lbs. of force constantly, 30 lbs. frequently, and up to 100 lbs. occasionally. Requires climbing, entering confined spaces, balance, manual dexterity, auditory and visual acuity, and physical endurance on uneven terrain and in various weather conditions.**Work Environment:**Work is performed in a dynamic environment that may periodically involve unexpected requirements or demands. The role requires flexibility, sensitivity to change, and the ability to adapt to shifting goals, priorities, and needs. Most work is conducted outdoors in all weather conditions, with exposure to natural elements such as heat, rain, sleet, and snow. Work is frequently performed in confined spaces and in field settings where hazardous tools are used and team members operate in close proximity, requiring constant awareness and coordination. The position may also require working overtime and various shifts, responding to emergencies, and being on-call. Frequent exposure to unpleasant environmental conditions and potential hazards should be expected. Employees must be able to tolerate working around foliage, seasonal pollen, dirt, dust, mud, and water, with consistent exposure to risk in outdoor environments.**CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT**The City's Background Check Policy