Automation Engineer I/Ii/Iii - Environmental Services Department, Regional Wastewater Facility

The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is a national leader in pollution prevention, watershed protection, utility service provision, and climate action. Together, ESD employees positively impact every resident and business in San Jose.

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The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is currently seeking to fill one (1) full-time Automation Engineer I/II/III vacancy within the department's Energy and Automation Division's Automation Engineering Group (AEG).

Salary range(s) for this classification are:

• Automation Engineer I: $84,489.60 - $102,793.60

• Automation Engineer II: $102,793.60 - $124,924.80

• Automation Engineer III: $113,776.00 - $138,382.40

Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates' qualifications and experience.

The AEG team maintains and supports the distributed controls system (DCS) for the San Jose Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF), one of the state's largest and most advanced wastewater treatment facilities. The DCS provides automatic controls, monitoring, and data storage for various wastewater treatment processes, as well as for electrical power cogeneration and distribution.

The Energy and Automation Division is responsible for energy production and distribution and process automation and control. Staff located at the plant provide preventive and corrective maintenance, emergency repair to support 24/7 operation of the plant, and participate in the design and implementation of capital improvement projects. The division is organized in five sections: power & air, electrical, HVAC, instrument & control and plant process control.

The Automation Engineer I/II/III classifications perform programming and related work in the design, installation, configuration, operation, and maintenance of the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility distributed control, network and data historian systems used for control and/or study of municipal wastewater processes.

An incumbent in this position must operate and follow directions in all phases. This position involves communication with a wide range of staff at the plant as well as contractors and help other team members with network troubleshooting and installing equipment. Automation Engineers must maintain system documentation and backups, as well as continue to acquire skills and knowledge of process control applications through on-the-job and training classes.? This is essential to have the ability to identify system problems by employing hardware and software diagnostics programs, verify nature of system malfunctions and rectify or provide information required to effect repairs. All Distributed Control System (DCS) related cabinets and other equipment must be properly organized, tagged, labeled, and orderly.

Education: Associates degree (or equivalent to 60 semester units or 90 quarter units) from an accredited college or university with a concentration in instrumentation, industrial engineering, information technology, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or related field.

Experience:

• Automation Engineer I: One (1) year experience in configuration and programming of a DCS, SCADA, or PLC system.

• Automation Engineer II: Two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience in configuration and programming of a DCS, SCADA, or PLC system, including one (1) year experience at an industrial facility similar to the Regional Wastewater Facility.

• Automation Engineer III: Three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in configuration and programming of a DCS, SCADA, or PLC system, including two (2) years' experience at an industrial facility similar to the Regional Wastewater Facility.

Licenses or Certificates: Possession of a valid driver's license authorizing operation of a motor vehicle in California.

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Competencies

Job Expertise

- Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Knowledge of:

• Process control strategies as used in a wastewater treatment facility (or similar industrial facility such as oil refineries, water treatment, pulp and paper, or chemical plant).

• Computer or function blocks programming.

• Signal configuration/programming.  

• P&ID drawings.

• Fundamentals of process engineering and control.

• Design and implementation (channel allocation and loop testing) of instrument panels.

• Maintaining and modifying real-time control algorithms.

• Contemporary principles and practices of system design, programming, start-up and troubleshooting and documentation.

• Common Industrial computer applications including but not limited to: Data Historians, Distributed Controls Systems (DCS), and Supervisory Control, Data Acquisition SCADA, and Computer or function blocks programming.

Ability to:

• Write computer programs of average difficulty in at least one language

• Configure, support, and troubleshoot PC-based system installations

• Develop testing procedures

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills

• Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Problem Solving

• Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem(s); collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Reliability

- Completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.

Flexibility

• Makes effective decisions and achieves desired results in the midst of major changes in responsibilities, work processes, timeframes, performance expectations, organizational culture, or work environment.

Communication Skills

• Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Other Desirable Qualifications Include:

• Knowledge of control system software and hardware including computer programs, networks, historian, and HMI development.

• Experience with: 

• DCS or similar control system architecture.

• Reading and reviewing loop and logic drawings.

• Control system network configurations, communication methods/protocols such as Profibus/Modbus (including wireless communications) and security configurations IT Networks configuration, architecture, and security.

Selection Process: 

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Courtney Stuerwald at courtney.stuerwald@sanjoseca.gov.