WATER UTILITY MECHANIC III (WATER UTILITY MECHANIC I-III)

City of Long Beach, CA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Long Beach is seeking qualified Water Utility Mechanics I-III for the Utilities Department – Sewer Operations Division. Positions require prior water/sewer experience and two state certifications.

Duties include installing, maintaining and repairing water distribution and sewer systems, with CCTV inspections and heavy equipment operation. Applicants must meet experience options and be available for 24‑hour emergency response.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of water distribution or sewer collection systems and safety practices.
• Familiarity with construction safety regulations and traffic control.
• Ability to read maps, blueprints, plans and understand specifications.
• Ability to operate tools and heavy equipment used in water/sewer work.
• Willingness to respond to emergencies within 30 minutes when on call.

Responsibilities

• Perform heavy manual, semi-skilled and skilled work in water distribution and sewer systems.
• Load, transport and operate pneumatic and hydraulic tools and related equipment.
• Inspect sewer lines with CCTV equipment and locate leaks or blockages.
• Maintain and repair sewer lines, mains, and appurtenances.
• Respond to emergencies and work a 24-hour on-call schedule.

Skills

Water distribution

Sewer collection

Construction safety

Reading maps

Communication skills

Equipment operation

Emergency response

Education

California CWEA Grade I Certification

SWRCB D2 Certification

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Vacancy Information:

There are currently five (5) Water Utility Mechanic III (Water Utility Mechanic I-III) vacancies available in the Utilities Department - Sewer Operations Division. To qualify for Water Utility Mechanic III, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Have served in the capacity of a Water Utility Mechanic II, or equivalent (i.e., journeyman), for a minimum of one (1) year; AND
• Possess both of the following certifications as required by the Sewer Operations Division:

1. California Water Environment Association Grade I (CWEA 1) Collection System Maintenance Certification.
2. California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Water Distribution Grade II (D2) Certification.

Salary Information:

Grade I - $28.867- $39.452 Hourly

Grade II - $30.401 - $41.454 Hourly

Grade III - $36.699 - $49.785 Hourly

Performs a variety of heavy manual, semi-skilled and skilled work in the installation, maintenance, construction, operation, modification, repair and testing of water distribution and sewer collection systems, equipment and components; loads, transports, and operates a variety of pneumatic and hydraulic tools and related construction equipment used in the operation, maintenance, construction, and repair of the water distribution and sewer collection systems, such as jackhammers, horizontal boring tool, vibrating plate, pipe cutters, rock drills, gasoline-powered abrasive saws, impact wrenches, concrete saw, clay spades, and tapping machines; rotates among tasks of operating equipment, cleaning sanitary sewer lines or other collection system facilities, and inspecting sanitary sewer lines utilizing closed-circuit television equipment; operates commercial vehicles, machines, and heavy equipment such as high-velocity jetters, backhoes, forklifts, mobile cranes, pressure washers, dump trucks, air compressors, air quality monitoring instruments and others; maintains and repairs sewer lines, maintenance holes, pressure hoses, mains, parts, and other related facilities and equipment to ensure compliance with established practices; operates and maintains closed-circuit television system and equipment to inspect underground wastewater collection pipes, lateral connections, and associated appurtenances to locate leaks, breaks, infiltrations, and the buildup of dirt, debris, roots, and other materials on a scheduled preventative maintenance basis; and, performs other related duties as required.

This is not an inclusive list. A complete list of Examples of Duties is detailed on the Civil Service Commission approved WATER UTILITY MECHANIC I-III class specification.

Applicants must meet requirements of Option A or Option B:

Option A:

A minimum of one (1) year* full-time, equivalent paid experience in one or more of the following areas: water or sewer pipeline construction; installation, maintenance, and repair of water meters, backflow units, services, mains, valves, production and/or distribution systems; cleaning sewer collection system via hydrojet or jetter/vactor; inspecting sewer collection system via closed-circuit television; or closely-related work at a water treatment, water distribution, sewer collection, or wastewater treatment facility.

OR

Option B:

A minimum of two (2) years* full-time, equivalent paid experience in one or more of the following areas: general construction and repair, operation of various types of building or construction-related equipment, mechanical repair and maintenance, gas/oil pipeline infrastructure, plumbing, carpentry, welding, or other trade-related work.

Opportunities for Substitution of Education or Experience

Six (6) months of the required experience may be substituted by either A or B:

A:

Any valid State of California Water Distribution or Water Treatment, or California Water Environment -Association Sewer Collection System Maintenance Certification (Proof required**).

OR

B:

3.0 semester units of a Water or Wastewater class. (Proof required**)

Proof of required documents, such as degree, transcripts, or licenses must be uploaded to the online application at the time of filing. Any proofs submitted must contain either the applicant's name or other identifying characteristic on the form. Degrees must indicate the field of study and transcripts must indicate field of study and degree conferred date. Candidates who possess degrees from colleges or universities from outside the United States must attach proof of educational equivalence at the time of filing.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of basic principles of water distribution or sewer collection systems, including methods, equipment, terminology, basic arithmetic, and apply this knowledge to implement an appropriate response;
• Knowledge of principles and procedures of asphalt paving and patching, street and infrastructure construction, and maintenance;
• Knowledge and implementation of construction safety regulations/practices, safety hazards, traffic control, tools, equipment, and personal protective equipment;
• Knowledge of basic arithmetic for, but not limited to, the calculations of pavement restorations measurements, backfill materials requirements, thrust block volume, and pipe fitting;
• Knowledge of proper valve operation to reduce the risk of poor water quality as a result of improper valve positioning and/or valve failures;
• Skilled in the safe operation of tools, machinery, and equipment necessary to work on water distribution or sewer collection systems;
• Ability to inspect a construction site in preparation for equipment operation to ensure adequate clearances, such as Underground Service Alerts;
• Ability to follow, understand, and communicate written and verbal instructions effectively;
• Ability to conduct field investigations and make determinations that would best resolve whatever issue is being investigated;
• Ability to respond to emergency call-outs on a 24-hour basis within 30 minutes of being contacted while on standby;
• Ability to perform construction, modification, maintenance, and repair work on streets, water distribution, and wastewater collection systems, facilities, and equipment such as found in the Department;
• Ability to obtain a Class A or B Commercial Driver's License and endorsements before completion of probation;
• Ability to read maps and navigate local streets, locations and geography;
• Ability to operate light-, medium-, and heavy-vehicles including, but not limited to a backhoe, dump truck, crane, forklift;
• Ability to read, redline, and make corrections to construction drawings, blueprints, plans, and maps of water distribution and/or sewer collection systems;
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with coworkers and supervisors and professionally represent the department when dealing with customers, outside contractors, agency officials, and the general public;
• Ability to use written, electronic, and verbal communication to effectively interact with all levels of City staff, including customers and vendors;
• Ability to use computer software such as MS Office Suite (e.g., Word, Excel, etc.) and other applications related to assigned job duties; and
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull items weighing up to 90 pounds.

Willingness and ability to respond to emergency call-outs on a 24-hour basis and to report to the Operations Service Center for emergency calls within a 30-minute timeframe.

A valid driver's license and current DMV driving record must be submitted to the hiring department at the time of selection.

A Class B Commercial driver's license with tanker endorsement is required before the completion of probation.

This is not an inclusive list for the Water Utility Mechanic I-III classification. A complete list of Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities is detailed in the Water Utility Mechanic I-III Classification Specification.

Desirable Qualifications:

Possess both of the following certifications as required by the Sewer Operations Division:

1. California Water Environment Association Grade I (CWEA 1) Collection System Maintenance Certification (proof required**).

2. California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Water Distribution Grade II (D2) Certification (proof required**).

EXAMINATION WEIGHTS:

• Application and Supplemental Application............................................Qualifying
• Written Examination.......................................................................................100%

The online written examination will be waived for candidates who meet the requirements to file and provide proof of both a current CWEA Collection System Maintenance Operator Grade I (or higher) certification AND a current Water Distribution Operator Grade II (or higher) certification issued by the State of California (proof required).

A minimum rating of 70 must be attained to pass the examination. Certification by score bands will be considered based on an analysis of exam results. The resulting eligible list will remain in effect for one year. Screening of applicants will be conducted on the basis of applications and required supplemental applications submitted. Based upon the number of applications received, the selection procedure may be changed. In the event a revision is necessary, all affected persons will be notified.

In accordance with Civil Service Procedure 3.38, all eligible veterans that successfully qualify on any or all open-competitive examinations shall receive an additional credit of ten (10) points that will be added to their original passing score. Disabled veterans passing the examination shall receive a credit of fifteen (15) points that will be added to their original passing score. (A copy of the veteran’s DD-214, Member 4 form indicating honorable discharge must be attached to the application at the time of filing.)

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.

The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act

This position is eligible for Local Hiring Preferences and Veterans Preference Points. Learn more about available preferences and eligibility criteria here: www.longbeach.gov/jobs/working-for-the-city/hiring-preferences

In support of the City's Language Access Policy, bilingual skills (Spanish, Khmer, or Tagalog) are desirable for some positions interacting with the public.

This information is available in an alternative format by request at (562) 570- 6202. If special accommodation is desired, please contact the Human Resources Department two (2) business days prior to the test at (562) 570- 6202. For the hearing impaired, call [phone].

An Equal Opportunity Employer.

J.O.B. M42AN-27 WUM:FGV HR:11/2/2026