Senior Water Meter Repair Technician

City of Albany, Georgia•Georgia 31701, GA

About The Position

The Senior Water Meter Repair Technician performs advanced technical work involving installation, removal, repair, rebuilding, testing, calibration, and maintenance of residential, commercial, and specialty water meters and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). The position is the senior technical authority within the meter repair function and provides field leadership, quality control, training, and technical guidance to Meter Repair Technicians without direct supervisory or disciplinary authority. The role supports meter accuracy, revenue protection, data integrity, and compliance with applicable standards and safety requirements. The technician performs precision meter accuracy testing using certified meter-testing benches and determines whether meters should be repaired or replaced in accordance with AWWA standards and City policy. The role diagnoses complex meter issues; installs, programs, tests, and troubleshoots AMI equipment; analyzes AMI exceptions; conducts flow and pressure testing; and investigates suspected tampering and irregular usage. It also includes documentation in billing, AMI, and asset-management systems, equipment and vehicle inspections, and participation in an on-call rotation, including after-hours emergency response as required. Senior-level work includes mentoring and evaluating technicians and apprentices, reviewing work for quality, providing technical guidance and field decision-making when supervisory staff are absent, identifying failure and installation trends, contributing to Standard Operating Procedures, and supporting asset lifecycle planning. The position requires successful completion of a job-related physical agility and technical competency evaluation before appointment and/or promotion. Work is regularly outdoors and includes physical tasks and exposure to weather, wet conditions, mechanical parts, temperature extremes, and other job-related environmental factors. Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least three years of progressive experience as a Meter Repair Technician or equivalent experience in water metering, testing, or distribution systems; an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may qualify.
Possess and maintain a State of Georgia Water Distribution Operator License.
Possess and maintain a valid State of Georgia Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
Possess and maintain Georgia Soil and Water Erosion Control Certification.
Possess and maintain DOT Approved Flagging / Traffic Control Certification.
Possess and maintain State of Georgia Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Certification.
Possess or obtain and maintain Confined Space Entrant and Attendant Training.
Possess or obtain and maintain Excavation Competent Person Certification.
Complete required continuing education points as outlined in the Career Progression Plan.
Possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license.
Successfully pass a job-related Physical Agility and Technical Competency Evaluation prior to appointment and/or promotion.
Demonstrate the ability to safely lift, carry, and position water meters, meter boxes, and related materials; perform excavation and meter-setting tasks; operate tools and testing equipment; enter and exit meter vaults and confined spaces; perform hydrant flow testing; troubleshoot AMI equipment; and use PPE and follow safety procedures.
Demonstrate advanced knowledge of water meter installation, maintenance, repair, troubleshooting, and replacement.
Demonstrate technical troubleshooting and problem-solving skills for meter malfunctions, leaks, service issues, and equipment failures.
Perform work in accordance with safety procedures, utility standards, and applicable regulations.
Provide technical guidance to less-experienced technicians and coordinate field work when needed.
Meet the physical and sensory demands described for the position, with reasonable accommodation where applicable.

Responsibilities

Install, remove, repair, rebuild, and calibrate residential, commercial, and specialty water meters.
Conduct precision meter accuracy testing using certified meter-testing benches; evaluate results and determine repair versus replacement in accordance with AWWA standards and City policy.
Diagnose complex meter performance issues, including intermittent readings, reverse flow, stopped counts, chronic failures, and abnormal consumption patterns.
Install, program, test, and troubleshoot AMI endpoints, registers, and communication modules; verify meter-to-endpoint association and data transmission.
Review and analyze AMI exception data, including no-read conditions, continuous-flow alerts, leak indicators, and tamper flags; support resolution of escalated billing and usage complaints.
Perform water flow and pressure testing, assist with hydrant flow testing, and demonstrate understanding of unidirectional flushing principles.
Investigate suspected meter tampering, unauthorized connections, and irregular system usage; document findings in accordance with City procedures.
Operate meter-testing benches, programming devices, hand and power tools, and related shop equipment.
Assist with large or complex meter installations, vault inspections, and specialty meter applications.
Document meter testing, repairs, installations, and AMI programming in billing, AMI, and asset-management systems.
Perform pre-trip and post-trip inspections on vehicles and equipment and maintain tools and testing equipment in safe operating condition.
Participate in the on-call rotation and respond to after-hours emergencies as required.
Serve as the technical subject-matter expert for meter repair, testing, and AMI troubleshooting.
Provide on-the-job training and technical mentoring to Meter Repair Technicians and apprentices.
Conduct hands-on field and shop competency evaluations in support of the Career Progression Plan.
Perform quality-control reviews of meter testing results, repairs, and installations to reduce repeat service calls and billing errors.
Provide technical guidance and field decision-making authority when supervisory staff are not present.
Identify trends in meter failures, accuracy degradation, or installation issues and communicate findings to supervisory staff.
Assist with development, review, and enforcement of SOPs related to meter repair, testing, and AMI processes.
Provide technical input on meter performance, replacement timing, and failure patterns to support asset lifecycle planning.
Perform other related duties as required.