^{Closing Date: 12/16/2024, 11:59 PM}

General Purpose

Under general supervision, performs a variety of duties to provide administrative oversight and lead support and maintenance of the process control system (PCS) associated with the District’s water treatment plants, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, operations network, and ancillary systems including the asset management program; support the communications systems and equipment associated with the PCS sufficient to sustain plant operations; and performs other related work as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Senior Process Control Engineer will work under the direction of the Water Operations Superintendent. The incumbent will be responsible for performing a wide variety of duties including support of the PCS hardware, software, cybersecurity initiatives related to operational technology, and management of field devices associated with the treatment plants. The level of administrative oversight and support will extend to the field level device instrumentation and electrical controls. Therefore, “hands-on” experience and knowledge will be required to work with the District’s contract operations team and on-call integration firm to support the PCS system, network and associated devices. Responsibilities also include management of the Operations databases, data integrity, data backup, and support of report generation for treatment plant operations and compliance. The Senior Process Control Engineer will also work in close coordination with the District’s Data and Technology Services (DTS) Department to ensure seamless integration and functionality of all District-wide programming initiatives that is sustainable, optimized, and safe.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this class.

1. Administrative oversight of Operations hardware and software associated with the SCADA system, PCS systems, and ancillary systems such as the asset management program and computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). This includes management of licenses, renewals, and upgrades associated with hardware, software, and firmware versions of all field devices and Operations network system hardware to ensure all platforms are current and secure.
2. Support the development, execution, and management of on-call integration support contracts, budgets, and general services and others as needed and required. This includes interacting with District staff in the DTS Department and others including District Counsel to prepare solicitations, staff reports, and documentation for WRD Committee/Board meetings. Contract execution entails working closely with District staff and the contract operations teams to ensure proper and effective execution.  
3. Develop and maintain methods for evaluating process and equipment performance monitoring, including providing data connections to the District’s asset management program.
4. Oversee user security administration and establish and manage user security levels and system security procedures.         
5. Perform and/or direct maintenance on all PCS equipment, including investigating, analyzing, and troubleshooting issues and problems to resolution.
6. Maintain I/O subsystem integrity through monitoring and troubleshooting as required.  Monitor I/O system performance parameters utilizing system diagnostics and initiate and/or direct corrections as needed.
7. Evaluate and recommend selection and purchase of hardware/software while developing and maintaining District standards.  
8. Implementation of field analyses, instrumentation, etc. into the existing PCS/SCADA system in coordination with the District’s contract operations team.
9. Stay abreast with current developments and regulation changes in the automation controls, information systems technologies, cybersecurity, and water utility industries to provide updates, best practices, and integrate new methods and tools as appropriate.
10. Manage and configure process-related reports as requested. This includes extraction of operational process and compliance data from the treatment plants’ SCADA historians.  Responsibilities also include establishing proper checks and filters sufficient that only proper data is reported and disseminated. 
11. Assist the Engineering Department, and other departments, with the planning and execution of capital improvement projects which include PCS-related systems, modifications, enhancements, etc.  This may include participation in workshops, review of technical specifications, and assessment of implementation schedules and workflows.    
12. Provide support of the contract operations team instrumentation & electrical team as needed to troubleshoot, repair, or replace process control and monitoring equipment and devices. 
13. Respond to Operations PCS-related issues that arise at the treatment plants, including, but not limited to, remote support and/or on-site support as needed outside of regular business hours.
14. Perform other duties to support system operations of the WRD treatment plants and ancillary facilities.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

1. SCADA hardware and software, including but not limited to Wonderware System Platform and InTouch, Modicon PLCs and other programs.
2. Reporting and alarm system programs including but not limited to XL Reporter and TopView.
3. Control Systems and database practices sufficient to execute necessary and appropriate management.
4. System and network administration techniques, methods and securities, including cybersecurity threat management.   
5. Control programming languages including functional block and structured text. 
6. Principles and practices of public administration, including budgeting, purchasing and procurement as it pertains to PCS-related equipment and support.
7. Knowledge of the Windows-based operating system and servers, including familiarization with Microsoft SQL Server and Power BI. 
8. Contract development and administration related to integration support contracts and services. 
9. Safety assessment methodologies and applications across the treatment plants, field and office settings.
10. Field operations working with system(s) infrastructure while exercising safe and responsible work practices, including knowledge and use of required personal protective equipment.
11. Project management and change management processes.   
12. Principles and practices of sound business communication.

Ability to:

1. Proactively interact with District and non-District staff including the contract operations teams, integration support firms, and others as it pertains to operations of the District treatment plants PCS and SCADA systems. 
2. Collect, evaluate, and interpret information and data.
3. Analyze, summarize, and present information to management, WRD Committees/Board, and the public.   
4. Evaluate and recommend improvements in operations systems, procedures, policies, and/or methods.
5. Coordinate and manage multiple projects and tasks with competing priorities and meet short and long-term deadlines.
6. Assist with the development and tracking of PCS-related systems and equipment procurements and budgets, including working with the District’s finance team and asset management system as it pertains to supporting capital improvement forecasting and initiatives.
7. Work in close collaboration with District procurement and legal teams related to the establishment, and maintenance of PCS system-related contracts, including, but not limited to renewals, upgrades, etc. 
8. Interpret and disseminate complex and technical information related to District operating systems, SCADA systems, etc. to staff and WRD Committees/Board as needed.    
9. Communicate effectively and clearly, both orally and in writing. 
10. Establish sound filing and recordkeeping practices in conjunction with District   database systems, practices, and records retention policies.
11. Organize, set priorities, and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of assigned responsibility.
12. Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with complex situations and environments.
13. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with District management, staff, representatives of other agencies, general public, and others encountered in the course of work.
14. Work under pressure situations where timely resolution is paramount.

Education, Training and Experience:
A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, engineering or a related field from an accredited college or university; and five years of increasingly responsible duties, including experience in programming and supporting process control equipment, systems and networks; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience sufficient to readily and successfully perform the essential duties of the position.  
Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:
A valid California driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the District’s vehicle insurance policy is required. Desirable certifications and training sufficient to enhance support of District operations includes: AVEVA Application Developer, Schneider Electric Control Expert Certified Professional, Schneider Electric Networking Certified Professional, Wonderware Application Server training, VMware training, etc.
     

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands
Incumbents require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting; stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; operate office equipment including use of a computer keyboard; push, pull, life, and/or carry light amounts of weight; verbally communicate to exchange information. This position requires a variety of physical activities including, but not limited to the following: climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, talking, listening, seeing and various repetitive motions.  Heavy Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally to move objects.
Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents; and to operate assigned equipment.
Hearing:  Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Mental Demands
While performing the duties of this class, incumbents are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; learn and apply new information or skills; perform highly detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks; work with constant interruptions, work under intensive deadlines and interact with District management, staff, benefit providers, applicants, the public and others encountered in the course of work.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The duties and responsibilities of this position will require as needed travel to all District facilities, including headquarters, treatment plants, annex facility, etc.  It will require working in both indoor and outdoor settings, subject to changing environment and weather conditions.  This position is based out of the WRD treatment plant located in Pico Rivera, CA.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS: To be considered for this opportunity please complete the application process for this position located at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/wrd. INCOMPLETE SUBMISSIONS MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION. The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate further in the screening process, which will include a panel interview and possible written exam. Final candidates must be able to prove legal U.S. residency, pass a background check, a physical, and a drug test. The District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

About Water Replenishment District (WRD)

The Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) is the largest groundwater agency in the State of California, managing and protecting local groundwater resources for over four million residents. WRD's service area covers a 420-square-mile region of southern Los Angeles County, the most populated county in the United States. The 43 cities in the service area, including a portion of the City of Los Angeles, use about 250,000 acre-feet (82 billion gallons) of groundwater annually which accounts for approximately half of the region's water supply. WRD ensures that a reliable supply of high quality groundwater is available through the use of recycled water and stormwater capture. WRD is responsible for monitoring and testing groundwater throughout the region using effective management principles.

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