Job Description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision, the Instrumentation I/II/III performs a variety of technical work involved in the installation, preventative maintenance, diagnostic evaluation, and repair of electronic systems, instrumentation, process controls, and associated systems to support water production and water distribution for the City of Abilene.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

The Instrumentation Technician I exercises no supervision. The Instrumentation Technician II and III may exercise technical and functional supervision over lower-level staff.

IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Instrumentation Technician I

Investigate complaints related to water utility maintenance.

Installation, repair, diagnostic evaluation, and servicing of all types of metering devices, receivers, transmitters, and process control systems supporting water and wastewater functions.

Perform effective electrical troubleshooting to identify hazards or malfunctions and repair or substitute damaged units.

Troubleshoot motor and control systems.

Perform routine maintenance on electrical wiring and systems.

Prepare and assemble conduits including connecting wires appropriately through the conduit.

Establish and maintain parts inventory, requisition supplies, materials and equipment for use in instrumentation systems.

Operate a City vehicle daily to travel to various water treatment plants, pump stations, storage tanks, lakes, and vendors.

Instrumentation Technician II

Troubleshoot, calibrate, repair, and maintain flow, pressure, radar, and other metering equipment.

Repair, adjust, and maintain various types of programmable controllers. Maintain radio telemetry systems.

Read and interpret analog and digital input and output; perform repairs on associated DC control circuitry.

Assist with training and evaluating staff, planning and assigning work.

Instrumentation Technician III

Perform calibrations and measurements on telemetry equipment requiring a high degree of precision.

Troubleshoot Allen Bradley PLC Ladder Logic.

Maintain and support Aveva (Wonderware) operations management software.

Evaluate proposed and existing instrumentation and control systems; make recommendations and develop specifications.

Assist in the preparation of the division budget.

OTHER JOB-RELATED DUTIES

Perform other job-related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

Methods, materials, practices, and equipment used in the installation, maintenance, and repair of PLCs and motor controls.

Skill to:

Practice, use methods, equipment, tools, and materials used in installation, diagnostic evaluation, maintenance, and repair of radio telemetry systems, computerized process controls, and electronic instrumentation.

Use Allen Bradley PLC Ladder Logic, Aveva (Wonderware) HMI, Studio 5000, and Studio 500 software.

Perform needed work on equipment with voltages ranging from 12 volts D.C. to 4160 volts A.C.

Work with a variety of hand tools and technical calibration equipment.

Locate general characteristics of assigned systems.

Practice safe driving principles.

Ability to:

Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, both internally and externally.

Identify and distinguish colors.

Follow and embrace the City of Abilene Core Values – Respect, Integrity, Service Above Self, and Excellence in All We Do.

Perform as a team member in a manner that accomplishes the Division’s mission and treats team members with dignity, courtesy, and respect.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES:

For positions with more than one level, all listed requirements at the lower levels are required at the higher levels. Any combination equivalent to experience and training to provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be qualifying. Knowledge, skills, and abilities may be obtained through:

Instrumentation Technician I

Experience:

At least six (6) months of experience in the installation, maintenance, and repair of instrumentation, process controls, electrical, and electronic systems is required.

Education/Training:

A high school diploma or GED is required.

License or Certificate:

A Texas driver’s license, or the ability to obtain one within ninety (90) days of employment, or a military waiver is required.

Completion of OSHA-mandated electrical safety training for “Qualified Electrical Worker” within one (1) year of employment is required.

Possession of a Class D Water License and Class D Wastewater License from the State of Texas within six (6) months of employment is required.

Instrumentation Technician II

Experience:

Two (2) years of experience in the installation, maintenance, and repair of instrumentation, process controls, and electronic systems associated with water and/or wastewater is required.

Successful completion of the City of Abilene’s Instrumentation Technician II Proficiency Test with a minimum score of 70% for promotion is required.

External applicants seeking direct placement as Instrumentation Technician II must achieve a minimum passing score of 90% on the proficiency test.

Education/Training:

Technical education equivalent to the level of an associate’s degree or 60 semester credit hours is preferred.

License or Certificate:

A Class C Water License from the State of Texas within two (2) years of employment or promotion is required.

Instrumentation Technician III

Experience:

Three (3) years of experience in the water or wastewater field is required.

Two (2) years of relevant instrumentation experience are required.

Successful completion of the City of Abilene’s Instrumentation Technician III Proficiency Test with a minimum score of 70% for promotion is required.

External applicants seeking direct placement as Instrumentation Technician III must achieve a minimum passing score of 85% on the proficiency test.

License or Certificate:

Possession of a Class B Water License or Class B Wastewater License from the State of Texas is required.

Special Requirements:

Participate in on-call schedule work.

Exposure to cold, heat, noise, outdoors, vibration, and confined workspaces.

Exposure to chemicals, explosive materials, mechanical hazards, and electrical hazards.

Travel to different sites.

After hours, weekend, holiday, and night work as needed.

Not afraid of heights, ability to climb elevated storage tanks.

Work two (2) weeks, rotating on call schedule.

Respond to emergencies as needed.

Respond within 30 minutes when on call.

Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:

With or without accommodation, the “X” indicates the overall strength demand of the position during a typical workday:

___ Sedentary – lifting of no more than 10 pounds

___ Light – lifting no more than 20 pounds; carrying up to 10 pounds

_X_ Medium – lifting no more than 50 pounds; carrying up to 25 pounds

___ Heavy – lifting no more than 100 pounds; carrying up to 50 pounds

___ Very Heavy – team lifting over 100 pounds; carrying more than 50 pounds

Physical Demand Codes: The following describes whether or not the position is expected to exert the physical demands listed during a typical workday as well as the overall frequency of the task:

Codes for how often:

N = No

E = Extensive (100 – 70% of the time)

M = Moderate (60 – 30% of the time)

I = Infrequent (20 – 10% of the time)

A = Almost Never (<10% of the time)

Code / Task

_M_ Standing

_M_ Sitting

_M_ Walking

_M_ Lifting

_M_ Carrying

_M_ Pushing/Pulling

_M_ Overhead Work

_E_ Fine Dexterity

_M_ Kneeling

_M_ Crouching

_A__ Crawling

_M_ Bending

_M_ Twisting

_I__ Climbing

_I__ Balancing

_E_ Vision

_M_ Hearing

_E_ Talking

_M_ Other:  _Typing__