Communications & Control Technician (Electronic Technician)
About The Position
The Communications & Control Technician participates in the development, installation, enhancement, and maintenance of the MWRA's Deer Island instrumentation and control systems. The role supports data communications equipment, SCADA-controlled and monitored water and wastewater facilities, programmable logic controllers, and instrumentation at remote headworks sites. The technician follows MWRA safety, operating, and emergency response procedures and may perform duties associated with lower-graded Instrumentation Specialist positions. The position is based at Deer Island in Winthrop, Massachusetts, with a Monday–Friday schedule from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The technician is required to take rotating 24/7 emergency on-call duty and is designated as essential during emergencies or other situations in which the MWRA Executive Director requires essential personnel to report. The position works under the general supervision of the Instrumentation Operations Supervisor and exercises close supervision of technicians and support staff.
Requirements
- An associate's degree in Electronic Engineering or a related field, an electronics technician certification from a community college or trade school, or an ISA Control Systems Technician Certification; an equivalent combination of education or experience may be considered.
- At least two years of experience maintaining and servicing computer-controlled programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and/or other automated process control systems, including one year as a team lead or supervisor. Successful completion of the MWRA-sponsored supervisory training program and receipt of its certificate may substitute for supervisory experience.
- At least one year of experience calibrating, repairing, and maintaining instrumentation and data communications equipment, or an equivalent combination of education or experience.
- Valid Massachusetts Class D motor vehicle license or a driver's license from another state.
- Must complete Confined Space Entry Training within six months.
- Ability to troubleshoot to board level using electronic test equipment and computer-driven diagnostics.
- Ability to install and repair PLC CPUs and associated I/O cards.
- Familiarity with computer interface software associated with PLCs in use.
- Working knowledge of Windows operating systems.
- Strong initiative and work ethic, and excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
- Must be available for rotating emergency on-call duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Must report to work when designated as essential during inclement weather or other emergencies.
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with Windows-based HMI application software.
- Familiarity with AutoCAD or an equivalent CAD design program.
Responsibilities
- Assist with the development, installation, enhancement, and maintenance of control and monitoring systems.
- Install, repair, and service direct-to-line and time-division-multiplex digital channel banks, CSU/DSU high-speed data modems, and other data communications equipment.
- Coordinate with the phone company and other vendors to arrange data-line installations and repairs.
- Calibrate and maintain primary instrumentation devices used to control and operate SCADA-controlled and monitored water and wastewater facilities.
- Troubleshoot, repair, and maintain programmable logic controllers.
- Work with Human Machine Interface screens, SCADA PCs, network equipment, programmable logic controllers, and remote terminal units as directed.
- Maintain communications hardware and software associated with remote headworks sites.
- Follow established MWRA safety, operating, and emergency response procedures and policies.
- Install, repair, and service analog and digital control instruments and related computer-based systems and equipment as required or assigned.
- Inspect, calibrate, and troubleshoot electronic, electromechanical, pneumatic instrumentation, and computer-based control systems using precision measuring instruments and electrical testing equipment.
- Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on analog and digital instrumentation, control systems, equipment, and support systems according to vendor specifications.
- Read and interpret complex instrumentation and control drawings, diagrams, and control logic sequences.
- Perform related duties as required.
- Take rotating emergency on-call duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Closely supervise technicians and support staff.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Associate degree
