Instrument & Control Specialist

Lansing Board of Water & Light • Lansing, MI

2d

About The Position

The Instrument & Control Specialist performs technical duties involving electrical instrumentation, control, and monitoring for the LBWL’s electric, steam, water, and chilled water utilities. The equipment ranges from legacy pneumatic systems to computerized systems, including Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. The role requires aptitude in mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, electronic, computer, networking, and troubleshooting work.

The specialist installs, configures, tests, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs control systems, networks, wireless systems, programmable controllers, process instruments, and related equipment. The role also involves understanding facility processes and operational requirements, communicating issues and recommendations to plant staff, coordinating with engineering on prints and project changes, maintaining the integrity of reporting data, and conducting daily walkdowns of critical plant systems.

The position requires compliance with safety mandates and participation in ongoing training and safety initiatives. The employee must be available for overtime and on-call work as needed, hold a valid Michigan driver’s license with an acceptable driving record, and obtain respirator, CPR, and AED certifications within six months of hire. Work may involve indoor and outdoor labor in varied weather, exposure to plant dust, fumes, heat, noise, asbestos, and coal dust, and work at heights, in confined spaces, and underground.

Requirements

• Completion of a four-year Instrument Controls Specialist apprenticeship plus one year of experience; or an associate degree with an electrical, electronics, and computers curriculum plus four years of utility maintenance experience; or equivalent education and experience to a current Journeyman ICS.
• Aptitude in mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, electronics, computers, networking, and troubleshooting.
• Valid Michigan driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
• Must obtain respirator, CPR, and AED certifications within six months of hire.
• Ability to work independently and in a team-oriented environment.
• Ability to follow good documentation practices.
• Ability to differentiate between colors and use fine motor skills to service sensitive equipment.
• Ability to perform physical work including stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and prolonged standing; work from elevated platforms and in confined spaces; and potentially lift objects weighing 50 pounds or more.

Responsibilities

• Comply with LBWL, state, and federal safety mandates; complete ongoing safety training; and participate in safety initiatives.
• Install, configure, test, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair Distributed Control Systems, SCADA systems, and Human Machine Interfaces.
• Install, configure, test, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair control system networks and supporting devices, including switches, routers, gateways, servers, and media converters.
• Install, configure, test, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair wireless networks, including cellular, licensed, radio, spread spectrum, and microwave systems.
• Install, configure, test, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair programmable logic controllers, single process loop controllers, manual/auto stations, temperature controllers, data recorders, vibration monitors, variable frequency drives, and digital process indicators.
• Install, configure, test, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair process transmitters, gauges, switches, and analytical equipment for chemistry and continuous emissions monitoring.
• Service and repair pneumatic equipment, regulators, and solenoid valves.
• Understand facility processes and operational requirements that affect control systems, and inform plant staff of issues, concerns, or potential improvements.
• Read, understand, and extract technical information from schematics, diagrams, prints, manuals, and other resources.
• Work with engineering to update prints for project and field changes and review new projects and system modifications, providing instrumentation and controls feedback or recommendations.
• Ensure the integrity of reporting data for engineering review and historian captures.
• Perform daily walkdowns and checks of critical plant systems.
• Participate in ongoing job-related training.
• Support LBWL Asset Management System initiatives and NERC-CIP requirements.
• Be available for overtime and on-call work as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive wages, employee development, and opportunity for professional growth.
• Vacation, free-choice time, sick leave, parental leave, and 11 paid holidays.
• Medical, prescription, dental, life insurance, long-term disability, and employee assistance program.
• Voluntary vision, supplemental and dependent life insurance, flexible spending, AFLAC options, LifeLock anti-theft, long-term care, tuition reimbursement, and a home purchase plan offering a forgivable $5,000 loan for a home purchase in Lansing.
• 401(a) Defined Contribution Plan, with company contributions of up to 9.5% of base salary for BU positions and up to 13% for NBU positions; 457 Deferred Compensation matches up to $2,500 per year.
• Post-retirement benefits at the respective level of coverage, co-pays, and health care premium as active employees.
• Two on-site fitness centers open 24/7, a work-life balance program, employee assistance program, and free parking.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree