Industrial Instrument Technician - South Plant

The King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) has a staffing need for an experienced and technically proficient Industrial Instrument Technician at our South Treatment Plant. If you are looking for the ability to grow in the instrument field, this opportunity will utilize and expand your electrical instrumentation skills while working on a large variety of systems and projects. As a mission critical employee, our efforts directly support operations as we collaborate with other plant crafts to resolve issues and achieve common goals.

About the Role:
The responsibilities of this role include performing a wide variety of highly skilled technical journey-level duties to design, construct, maintain, troubleshoot, and modify computerized systems, electrical, electronics, pneumatics, hydraulics, and related instrumentation. This role will be involved in a variety of large and small-scale plant reliability improvement projects.

About the Team:
The wastewater treatment division carries out essential work that protects the environment and all members of the public. We are comprised of a group of professionals that strives to deliver outstanding service through a collaborative effort both at our treatment plants and offsite collection facilities. The instrumentation and electrical group are a critical component within the wastewater treatment division helping to fulfill the county’s mission to protect the region’s water, air, land, and natural habitats.

Commitment to Equity, Racial, and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive.  We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As an Industrial Instrument Technician, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Troubleshoot, repair, calibrate, and maintain all plant computer, electronic, pneumatic, and hydraulic instrumentation, control, and monitoring systems.
• Perform preventative maintenance, modifications, upgrades, analysis, and diagnostics on DCS, SCADA, PLC’s, SLC’s, HMI’S, telemetry, and networking with proprietary protocols. Apply electronic theory, digital electronics, and PID control strategies.
• Work with operations personnel, engineers, and suppliers to explain the function of processes and procedures needed for the operation of new equipment.
• Review or modify blueprints and shop drawings to conform with established plant standards. Assist in the inspection of instrumentation installed by contractors. Witness and assess loop commission testing.
• Make recommendations on purchasing and inventory requirements for all instrument-related equipment and determine the appropriate inventory of spare parts for instrumentation.

Qualifications You Bring:    

• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of instrumentation and electronics (typically found in a four-year apprenticeship program, two years of college-level training, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience).
• Knowledge of the application of physics and chemistry techniques and principles; Knowledge of the application of mathematical techniques and principles including algebra, trigonometry, and geometry for performing duties of this classification.
• Knowledge of the installation, configuration, and maintenance of analyzers/sensors, control system computers, single loop controllers, signal converters, distributive and supervisory control systems, detection equipment/sensors, fuses, indicators, isolators, programmable logic controllers, pneumatic equipment, process control equipment, receivers, recorders, relays, rotometers, flow transmitters, level transmitters, pressure transmitters, temperature transmitters, signal conditioning equipment, small motors, switches, tachometer generator, thermocouples, Resistance Temperature Device (RTD’s), transformers, control valves, pneumatic and electric actuators and positioners
• Knowledge of Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control loops including single loop controllers and configuration. Knowledge of soldering techniques and principles
• Knowledge of the techniques necessary to analyze industrial processes for the design, modification, troubleshooting, and repair of plant control instrumentation.
• Skill in utilizing a computer and associated software applications including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, single loop controller (SLC), and programmable logic controllers (PLC). Working knowledge of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and/or Distributed Control Systems (DCS) including networking and interconnect protocols.

Competencies You Bring:    

• Being Resilient - Is confident under pressure; Handles and manages crises effectively; Maintains a positive attitude despite adversity; Bounces back from setbacks; Grows from hardships and negative experiences.
• Action Oriented - Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm. 
• Manages Ambiguity - Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.
• Communicates Effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Collaborates - Works cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives; Partners with others to get work done; Credits others for their contributions and accomplishments; Gains trust and support of others.
• Drives Engagement - Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.

Required Licenses: 

• A valid, unencumbered Washington State Driver’s License.
• Additional licenses, certifications, and other requirements determined to be necessary to meet the business needs of the employing unit may be required.

It Would be Great if You Also Bring:

• Programming experience with Ovations DCS controls
• Allen Bradley PLC and panel-view, programming experience
• Device-NET experience
• Telemetry experience
• Wastewater experience.

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: South Treatment Plant - 1200 Monster Road SW, Renton, Washington 98057
• Work Schedule:This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible. 
  • The position requires the ability to work all shift schedules and required to report to work during adverse and inclement weather conditions and be on a rotating call list after a 9-month probationary period.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by S.E.I.U. 925 (Wastewater Treatment Division) 
• Physical Requirement: Incumbents perform fieldwork at a wastewater treatment plant and associated off-site facilities and are required to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, work in confined spaces, kneel, crawl, walk, and climb using ladders, catwalks, and stairways, work indoor and outdoor, in open tanks and vaults, and around noxious odors and high noise levels.

Application and Selection Process:
First consideration will be given to qualified S.E.I.U. 925 WTD applicants. We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives, and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness, and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in a technical assessment and one or more panel interviews.  

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Optional Resume (will be reviewed if submitted) 
• Optional Cover Letter (will be reviewed if submitted)

Note:  Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Rodney Dungo, HR Analyst at rdungo@kingcounty.gov.

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube and our WTD Blog.

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News.

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.  

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Salary : $42 - $53