SCADA Instrumentation Technician

Manatee County Government•Bradenton, FL

7d•Onsite

About The Position

This classification performs advanced technical work operating, maintaining, installing, and troubleshooting instrumentation, process control, and SCADA systems for the County’s water and wastewater treatment plants and wastewater lift stations. The role includes implementing, coordinating, and maintaining the SCADA network; configuring, documenting, and programming automation and control systems; and managing control aspects of in-house projects from design through programming, simulation, testing, and startup. The technician maintains and calibrates instrumentation and related electrical, electronic, hydraulic, pneumatic, and telemetry equipment; installs and troubleshoots equipment, wiring, and control systems; and prepares records, reports, drawings, sketches, and schematics. Depending on the area of assignment, duties may include maintaining radio telemetry systems, repairing control panels, servicing field instrumentation, designing data-acquisition applications, and bench-testing radio equipment. The position may also train new instrument technicians, electricians, and mechanics. Other related duties may be assigned, including emergency or disaster response activities. Work is based at 4530 66th St. West, Bradenton, Florida. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a standby rotation. Work occurs indoors and outdoors, including noisy conditions and variable weather and humidity. The role may involve working with solvents, on slippery or uneven surfaces, below ground level, in water, around moving objects and medium- to high-voltage equipment, and from ladders, towers, or an aerial platform or bucket truck. Equipment weighing up to 50 pounds may be lifted alone and up to 100 pounds with assistance.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent certificate of competency.
Prior coursework or technical training in electronics, instrumentation, and controls.
At least five years of experience repairing, inspecting, adjusting, and calibrating electronic controls and instrumentation.
Ability to read and understand PLC ladder logic, function blocks, and structured text.
Ability to read, interpret, prepare, and verify control and electrical schematics, diagrams, blueprints, piping layouts, and single-line drawings.
Ability to read and understand specifications, instructions, and recommendations.
Ability to distinguish colors.
Ability to apply theory, experience, and training logically and systematically, and to investigate possible causes and prioritize problems.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with plant and field personnel, supervisors, and others.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in variable humidity and weather, noisy conditions, with solvents, on slippery or uneven surfaces, around moving objects, below ground level, and in water.
Ability to perform strenuous work in adverse weather and climb and descend ladders, stairs, and towers.
Ability to work from an aerial platform or bucket truck to repair antennas and coaxial cables.
Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds.
Ability to safely operate or drive a car or pickup truck.
Ability to respond to emergencies, work after hours when needed, and participate in a standby schedule.
Ability to work on and around medium- to high-voltage equipment.

Nice To Haves

More extensive PLC and HMI programming, instrumentation, computer science, and industrial controls experience is highly desired.
Knowledge of SCADA systems and preventive and corrective maintenance of their electrical, electronic, pneumatic, microprocessor, and other instrumentation components at water treatment plants.
Knowledge of modern water and wastewater treatment plant equipment and instrumentation, associated operating methods, work hazards, and precautions.
Knowledge of PLC and SCADA programming with Rockwell (RSLogix 500, PanelView, DeviceNet), Citect, Siemens, and DFS.
Knowledge of databases, ODBC, SQL, Microsoft Excel, and Windows operating systems.
Knowledge of networking, switches, radios, wireless communication, fiber optics, and Ethernet communications.
Knowledge of 4–20 mA principles and HART communication.
Knowledge of VFD and soft-start programming, installation, and troubleshooting.
Knowledge of antenna theory and test equipment used to diagnose radio telemetry transmit/receive problems.
Knowledge of tagging conventions, data logging and reporting, Boolean logic, and symbol conventions.
Knowledge of external paging, alarming, and reporting actions, and telemetry systems.
Knowledge of AutoCAD.
Knowledge of high- and low-voltage equipment and flow meters, recorders, and transmitters.
Knowledge of PLCs, indicators, controllers, sensing equipment, and scientific electronic instrumentation used in chemical monitoring system repairs.

Responsibilities

Implement, coordinate, supervise, and maintain the SCADA network.
Configure, document, and program automation and control systems.
Handle control aspects of in-house projects, including design, programming, simulation, testing, and startup.
Perform general electrical work, including programming VFDs, troubleshooting motor control panels, and occasionally pulling wire.
Perform preventative and corrective maintenance on instrumentation at water and wastewater treatment plants, lift stations, and related facilities.
Adjust and calibrate instrumentation using prepared chemical standards, portable electronic meters, and related calibration equipment.
Install equipment and wiring according to electrical codes, schematics, and diagrams; troubleshoot and repair existing equipment.
Use electrical and electronic test equipment to diagnose systems and calibrate existing electrical instruments.
Service and repair hydraulic, pneumatic, hydro-pneumatic, and electro-pneumatic instrument and control systems.
Prepare records, reports, drawings, sketches, and schematics.
Install, repair, maintain, and configure radio telemetry systems for lift stations, booster stations, monitoring wells, and elevated tanks, depending on area of assignment.
Assist electricians by installing, diagnosing, and repairing lift-station or RTU control panels when needed, depending on area of assignment.
Install, maintain, diagnose, and repair field instrumentation used in control systems and telemetry data acquisition, depending on area of assignment.
Design new control systems and data-acquisition monitoring applications when necessary.
Bench-test radio equipment to determine whether it requires repair.
Train new instrument technicians and train electricians and mechanics on equipment as needed.
Perform other related duties as assigned, including emergency or disaster response activities.