Control Systems Manager

City of Sunnyvale•Sunnyvale, CA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Sunnyvale is hiring a regular full-time Control Systems Manager. This is a pivotal new leadership role to support the continued advancement of our newly renamed Sunnyvale Clean Water Facility. We are seeking a forward-thinking professional who excels at guiding technical teams, strengthening critical infrastructure, and ensuring reliable, safe, and efficient plant operations. The ideal candidate will bring expertise in modern control technologies, a proactive approach to system reliability, and the ability to collaborate closely with various operational groups across the organization. Under general direction, the Control Systems Manager plans, organizes, and directs the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of critical automation, instrumentation, supervisory control and data acquisition/programmable logic controller (SCADA/PLC), and control systems at the City’s wastewater treatment plant. This position supervises technical staff, coordinates closely with operations and maintenance teams, directs design and implementation relating to controls, manages system upgrades and cybersecurity measures, and ensures compliance with regulatory and safety standards, manages outside consultants, and performs related work as required.

Requirements

An associate degree or 60 semester/90 quarter units from an accredited college or university in Instrumentation, Electrical, Industrial, or Mechanical Engineering, Information Technology, or a closely related field.
Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in process control systems for an industrial or wastewater treatment facility, including at least two (2) years in a supervisory or lead role.
A bachelor’s degree in Instrumentation, Electrical, Industrial, or Mechanical Engineering, Information Technology, or a closely related field may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.
Knowledge of: Principles, practices, and methods of automation, instrumentation, and control system engineering.
Design, programming, and maintenance of PLCs, DCS, SCADA systems and associated communication networks.
Electrical theory, industrial control wiring, and diagnostic troubleshooting.
Industrial networking protocols, virtualization, and cybersecurity best practices.
Wastewater treatment plant processes, systems, and operations.
Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) principles and predictive maintenance methods.
Applicable codes, standards, and safety regulations (OSHA, NEC, NFPA 70E).
Project and contract management, budgeting, and procurement procedures.
Principles of effective supervision, leadership, and staff development.
Complex arithmetic and statistical techniques.
Research methods and techniques.
Recent and on-going developments related to the operations of the assigned department.
Methods and techniques of preparing technical and administrative reports, and general business correspondence.
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations as well as industry standards and best practices pertinent to the assigned area of responsibility.
City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
Techniques for providing a high level of customer service, by effectively working with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
Ability to: Design, implement, and troubleshoot complex control and instrumentation systems.
Interpret and apply electrical schematics, diagrams, and specifications.
Develop and enforce network, cybersecurity, and disaster recovery plans.
Plan, organize, and direct the activities of professional and technical staff engaged in automation and control systems.
Ensure compliance with City policies and applicable safety regulations.
Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
Perform mathematical calculations quickly and accurately.
Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
Prepare clear, comprehensive technical and administrative reports, plans, specifications, and correspondence
Manage multiple projects and priorities while meeting critical deadlines.
Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.
Supervise the establishment of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
Develop and implement goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.
Provide administrative, management, and professional leadership for Control Systems Operations.
Select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively, and evaluate performance in an objective manner.
Lead, motivate, and coach staff in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
Prepare and administer complex budgets; allocate limited resources in a cost-effective manner.
Apply sound judgment in technical and management decision-making.
Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
Effectively represent the division and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals.
Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, with staff, management, contractors, and regulatory agencies, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships.
Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
Willingness to: Work irregular hours as needed to support operational and emergency response requirements.
Respond to emergency situations including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Travel to various worksites throughout the City as required.
Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class C California driver's license or the ability to provide alternative transportation as approved by the appointing authority and a safe driving record.

Nice To Haves

Possession of one or more of the following certifications is highly desirable: ISA Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST); ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP); or equivalent industry certification in process automation or control systems.
Master’s degree in Engineering, Automation, or Information Systems.
Knowledge of wastewater plant operations, equipment and instrumentation.
Experience managing automation projects in a public utility or municipal wastewater treatment environment.
Demonstrated success implementing large-scale control system modernization or integration projects.
Expertise in virtualization, advanced industrial networking, and cybersecurity practices.
Experience with strategic planning and asset management programs.
Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities, emphasizing innovation and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, and manage all activities related to control, instrumentation, SCADA/PLC, and automation systems throughout the wastewater treatment facility.
Supervise, train, evaluate, and direct assigned staff; establish goals and performance standards; ensure work is performed safely and efficiently.
Oversee the design, configuration, and programming of PLCs, distributed control systems (DCS), and SCADA control logic and human-machine interface (HMI) systems.
Coordinate with Operations, Maintenance, and Capital Improvement Project (CIP) teams to plan and implement process control strategies, upgrades, and commissioning activities.
Develop and maintain system standards for automation architecture, network infrastructure, and data management, including cybersecurity and disaster recovery protocols.
Evaluate control system capacity, reliability, and expansion needs; recommend improvements and new technologies.
Review and approve engineering drawings, project submittals, and specifications for control system components and installations.
Direct emergency troubleshooting and repair operations for automation, instrumentation, and control systems.
Prepare, monitor, and administer budgets for control systems programs, projects, and maintenance activities.
Manage contracts and vendor relationships; oversee selection of consultants and integrators to ensure compliance with City standards and specifications.
Ensure adherence to City safety policies, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Electric Code (NEC), and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 70E) requirements, and best practices for electrical and confined-space work.
Provide leadership, mentoring, and professional development opportunities for assigned technical staff.
Promote innovation, standardization, and continuous improvement in automation, process control, and information systems management.
Reviews the work of staff to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
Represents the City in meetings with members of other public and private organizations, community groups, contractors, and the public.
Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of municipal control systems.
Monitors changes in regulations and technology that may affect operations; implements policy and procedural changes after approval.
Answers questions and provides information to the public; investigates and responds to complaints and inquiries from residents, other departments, and agencies.
Ensures staff observe and comply with all City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
Performs other duties as assigned.