Instrumentation Specialist - Contract

City of Fargo•Fargo, ND

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Under general direction, the Instrumentation Specialist focuses on and is responsible for electronic instrumentation data quality and reliability for the water system – which is mostly used in the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) control system. The instrumentation information managed by the incumbent is used to serve other WTP personnel, for data retention verifying regulatory compliance, for general equipment monitoring (operation, maintenance, troubleshooting), and to protect expensive water system equipment. This instrumentation generally measures water quality chemistry or physical parameters such as pressure, levels, or flow. The incumbent installs, monitors, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs programmable logic process control systems, electrical and electronic controls and data acquisition equipment, and related instruments throughout the water system, including the Water Treatment Plant.

Requirements

Associate’s degree or higher in Water/Wastewater technology, Chemical or Biological, science, instrumentation electronics, industrial electronics, computer science, or a closely related field and three years of previous experience in Water/Wastewater operations, environment laboratory operation, industrial processes, manufacturing, maintenance and repair of electrical devices and electronic equipment (PLCs), or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
A valid driver’s license is also required.
Knowledge of the proper operation and maintenance of equipment used in the treatment process including pumps and motors.
Knowledge of confined space entry and hazardous materials handling as related to treatment process.
Knowledge of procedures of sampling and sample testing.
Knowledge of principles of water, wastewater and sludge treatment processes and process control.
Knowledge of the general concepts and principles of electronics including PLC Controls.
Knowledge of the techniques, methods, procedures and practices of installation, maintenance and repair of electronic and electrical devices and equipment.
Knowledge of techniques and procedures of metrology and calibration of electronic equipment.
Knowledge of operation and maintenance of computer software systems and equipment.
Knowledge of water treatment processes as it relates to the online instrumentation data and outputs.
Skill in installation, maintenance, calibration, and repair of electronic equipment.
Skill in the use of repair and testing tools and equipment.
Skill in providing instruction and training to other workers.
Skill in performing mechanical maintenance and repair to equipment.
Skill in performing basic mathematical computation such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Skill in reading and writing English sufficient to read and write logs and records.
Skill in observation and interpretation of changes in process control to sufficiently determine necessary adjustments.
Intermediate skill with Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written forms and have good customer skills.
Ability to read and interpret schematic and other technical drawings and technical manuals.
Ability to learn specialty testing and repair equipment, new systems, and software.

Nice To Haves

Allen Bradley experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Responsible for the quality and accuracy of his/her own work.
Responsible for the care and safe operation of a variety of equipment which has a high monetary value.
Responsible for instrumentation data quality and reliability, much of which monitors water processes that are highly regulated by the EPA toward providing compliant and safe drinking water to a population of over 180,000 people.
Installs, monitors, maintains, calibrates, repairs, and replaces programmable logic controls, instruments, and electronic devices.
Design and plan installation of new meters and install/wire new meters.
Analyzes and determines causes of malfunctions and takes corrective action regarding repair or replacement.
Conducts or arranges for component level repair and installation.
Researches available sources and/or designs new parts, controls, and instruments to replace obsolete components and equipment.
Calibrates analog, digital, and other sophisticated chemical/electronic devices according to mandated requirements, specifications, and operations/maintenance manuals to ensure accuracy.
Installs, monitors, maintains, calibrates, repairs, and replaces continuously monitoring water quality instrumentation.
Maintain instrumentation O&M records that are reviewable by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, USEPA, or other agencies.
Manage complicated, advance online water quality instruments such as Total Organic Carbon analyzers, Trihalomethane analyzers, Metrohm Process analyzers, Monochloramine parameter analyzers, Ultraviolet analyzers, raw water early-warning parameter analyzers, and others.
Coordinate and schedule annual maintenance with instrumentation manufacturer or technical service provider for the more sophisticated water quality instrumentation installed in the WTP.
Manage basic or typical water industry instruments such as pH, turbidity, chlorine, ozone, conductivity, ORP, and others.
Compares water quality instrumentation outputs against environmental lab results (benchtop), other similar instrument outputs in SCADA, logical expected results within water system processes operation, and other means to verify outputs make sense within water system operation.
Implement strategies to identify deterioration of instrumentation outputs data such as decreased sensor sensitivity, instrumentation damage, or worn components.
Develop and maintain a schedule for maintenance and calibration of continuously monitoring water quality instrumentation to comply with EPA regulatory requirements, maintain high-quality data to SCADA system, and minimize instrumentation downtime.
Replace or refill consumable materials in continuously monitoring water quality instruments to maintain operability and avoid after-hour alarms or downtime.
Coordinates with personnel in the Fargo WTP Environmental Laboratory to help maintain quality instrumentation data and operations data within the whole water system.
Assist in Fargo WTP Environmental Laboratory or Operator Laboratory as needed for water quality benchtop testing.
Provide training to other WTP personnel regarding continuously monitoring instrumentation (flow, pressure, level, water quality, etc.) toward understanding principles of operation, simple diagnosis/troubleshooting, and recognizing instrumentation value to water system and instrumentation limitations.
Coordinates with contractors regarding installation, maintenance, and repairs on outsourced systems such as security and fire alarms.
Sends out bids to various contractors; makes recommendations to Water Treatment Plant Superintendent or Water Utility Director; Monitors and inspects installation and repair work performed by outside contractors to certify accuracy.
Coordinates with Water Treatment Plant Superintendent, Water Utility Director, and others regarding automation opportunities for manual work tasks and implementation of latest online instrumentation technologies available in the Water/Wastewater field.
Researches technical information for new technology and products related to installation, integration, and value to Water Utility; makes recommendations to Water Treatment Plant Superintendent or Water Utility Director.
Works with outside contractors, consultants, or other Water Utility personnel to implement new instrumentation or automation strategies to improve decision-making information or personnel workflow.
Recommends replacement schedule for water quality instrumentation and other industrial instrumentation.
Compiles information and costs regarding instrumentation changes and recommends annual budgetary costs.
Carries out preventative maintenance program for equipment and devices including cleaning, tightening, and inspecting parts.
Make adjustments to equipment as required.
Communicates courteously and professionally and maintains working relationships with others in carrying out job functions.
Communicates with others within the work unit, the public, vendors and across departments to exchange detailed and/or technical information; Interacts with contractors and utility representatives to coordinate activities; Responds to inquiries, provides information and/or refers individuals to supervisors or other appropriate personnel, as necessary, to resolve issues.
Performs all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.
Installs new water meters under the Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) project and facilitates minor plumbing changes using local plumbing contractors.
Completes the installation of new water meters of all sizes under the AMI project within the allowed budget.
Manages and schedules appointments for the installation of water meters under the AMI project.
Solicits quotes or bids under the Purchasing Policy for plumbing contractors or other services to complete the AMI related project tasks.
Remedies customer concerns and answers questions associated with the AMI project.
Attains quotes and make purchase arrangements for needed water meter inventory and fittings to complete installations.
Perform statistical analysis to compare new AMI system performance against data from old water meters.
Develop enhanced features with new water meters for other City users’ such as an alarm dashboard and a water pressure heat map of City.
Manages any addition needs or requirements to successfully complete the AMI project.
Manages the Backflow prevention program for the water system as required by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ).
Performs other duties and activities as assigned.