Industrial Engine and Equipment Technician - Regional Wastewater Facility

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About the Department

The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is a national leader in pollution prevention, watershed protection, utility service provision, and climate action. Together, ESD employees positively impact every resident and business in San Jose.

Our department is an exceptional place to start or grow your career. We have a supportive leadership team, numerous professional growth opportunities, and an inclusive workplace culture that is welcoming of your talents! We offer an array of meaningful career paths and value flexibility. Additionally, the City offers a wide array of benefits , as well as 15 paid holidays!

To learn more about ESD, follow @sjenvironment on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and San Jose Environmental Services on LinkedIn.

Position Duties

About the Division

The Energy and Automation Division is responsible for energy production and distribution and process automation and control. This division is responsible for overseeing the plant energy usage and minimizing energy costs by optimizing the use of?in-house digester gas; and?purchasing natural gas and electricity. Staff located at the plant provide preventive and corrective maintenance, emergency repair to support 24/7 operation of the San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility, and participate in the design and implementation of capital improvement projects.

About the Positions

The Environmental Services Department is currently seeking to fill multiple full-time Wastewater Mechanic I/II positions (also known as Industrial Engine and Equipment Technicians) in the Power and Air Team at the San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility located at 700 Los Esteros Road, San Jose, CA, 95134.

These positions work rotating shifts including days, swing shift, graveyard, weekends, and holidays. Rotating shifts are typically scheduled to change every 3-months. The standard Monday through Friday day shift schedule is 5 day a week, 8-hours a day. The 4/10 schedule is 4 days a week, 10-hours a day. Work schedules are determined by operational business needs.

These positions are responsible for operating, maintaining, and overhauling the Regional Wastewater Facility’s industrial mechanical and electrical equipment related to large stationary diesel-ignited/spark-ignited engine, power generators, gas compressors and gas storage such as commonly found in municipal power plants, natural gas pipeline compressor stations and large marine propulsion systems.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Operate and/or monitor Engines, gas compressors, flares and blowers.
• Perform preventative maintenance and inspections.
• Use precision measuring tools.
• Welding cutting and fabrication.
• Use Cranes and rigging equipment.
• Operate precision machining equipment.
• Repair, install, and inspect piping systems.
• Operate mobile equipment such as forklift and manlift.
• Work with other trades and work groups on site.
• Use service manuals, parts manuals and interpreting drawings.
• Attend all safety training.

The ideal candidate will have strong mechanical, problem solving, teamwork, and customer service experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The ideal candidate will be able to conduct basic computer skills and be familiar with modern control systems (i.e. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Human Machine Interface (HMI), Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).

Review the job classification specification for more information on the job duties.

Salary ranges:

Wastewater Mechanic I: $40.26-$48.93 hourly; $83,740.80-$101,774.40 annually

Wastewater Mechanic II: $44.56-$54.33 hourly; $92,684.80-$113,006.40 annually

Additional information about Wastewater Mechanic I/II salary increases:

• The salary ranges will receive an approximate 4% increase effective the first full pay period of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 (effective around July 1, 2025).
• The salary ranges will receive an approximate 1% increase effective the first full pay period of January 2026.
• The salary ranges will receive an approximate 3.5% increase effective the first full pay period of the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (effective around July 1, 2026).

The Wastewater Mechanic I/II classification is covered by the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No. 3 (OE#3). To learn more about the OE#3 union handbook and pay increases, click here.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Education for Wastewater Mechanic I/II: Successful completion of high school, General Educational Development (G.E.D.) Certificate, or California Proficiency Certificate.

Wastewater Mechanic I Required Experience:

Two (2) years of journey-level experience as a mechanic in hydraulics, wastewater treatment or a closely related industry or in operation, maintenance, repair, and overhaul of mechanical and electrical equipment related to large stationary diesel and spark-ignited engines, and/or power generator; OR four (4) years’ of experience assisting Wastewater Mechanics in the maintenance and repair of wastewater equipment at a level equivalent to Wastewater Attendant or Assistant Heavy Diesel Equipment Operator/Mechanic with the City of San José.

Acceptable Substitutions:Completion of the Attendant Skills Knowledge and Evaluation (SKE) program andcompletion of the certification as Plant Mechanical Technologist Grade I from California Water Environment Association (CWEA) may be substituted as one (1) year experience assisting Wastewater Mechanics in the maintenance and repair of wastewater equipment at a level equivalent to Wastewater Attendant or Assistant Heavy Diesel Equipment Operator/Mechanic with the City of San José.

Wastewater Mechanic II Required Experience:

Two (2) years of journey level experience as a mechanic in hydraulics, wastewater treatment or a closely related industry or in operation, maintenance, repair, and overhaul of mechanical and electrical equipment related to large stationary diesel and spark-ignited engines and/or power generators OR four (4) years experience assisting Wastewater Mechanics in the maintenance and repair of wastewater equipment at a level equivalent to Wastewater Attendant with the City of San José; OR completion of the Attendant Skills Knowledge and Evaluation (SKE) program and certification as Plant Mechanical Technologist Grade I from California Water Environment Association (CWEA) with three (3) years’ experience assisting Wastewater Mechanics in the maintenance and repair of wastewater equipment at a level equivalent to Wastewater Attendant with the City of San José, AND certification as Plant Mechanical Technologist Grade II from California Water Environment Association (CWEA).

Acceptable Substitution: Two (2) years of experience as a Wastewater Mechanic I may be substituted for the certification as Plant Mechanical Technologist Grade II.

Required Licensing for Wastewater Mechanic I/II: Possession of a valid State of California Class C driver's license.

Physical Requirement for Wastewater Mechanic I/II:

Possess ability to:

• Exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects (e.g., large hand tools, pipes, or other wastewater equipment).
• Move between/within work areas, including but not limited to sitting, walking, and standing on various surfaces, turning, bending, grasping, and making repetitive hand movements.
• Identify problems or hazards, work in confined spaces and around machines, and climb/descend ladders.
• Be exposed to unpredictable working conditions including but not limited to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, hazardous physical substances, fumes, dust, and air contaminants.

Physical Requirement: This classification requires a pre-employment respiratory physical exam.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Job Expertise: Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Additional competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities that are desirable qualifications:
-Maintenance procedures associated with large bore, medium speed engines, valves, gearboxes, pumps, and air compressors.
-Mechanical principles, pneumatics, hydraulics, and other equipment found in wastewater facilities or similar heavy industrial facilities.
-Diesel fuels and lubricants used in heavy-duty power plant operation.
-Completion of technical trade school in the mechanical field.
-Possession of specialized certifications such as backflow preventer installation and maintenance, welding, confined space entry, power plant, hazardous material handling, etc.
-Knowledge of modern control systems.

Communication Skills: Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
Computer Skills: Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel.

Customer Service: Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.

Flexibility: Makes effective decisions and achieves desired results in the midst of major changes in responsibilities, work processes, timeframes, performance expectations, organizational culture, or work environment.

Problem Solving: Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Reliability: Completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.

Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills: Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job-specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews, one of which may include a practical.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection, or hiring processes, please contact Lupe Rodarte at lupe.rodarte@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 1/13/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of San Jose

• 408-535-1285

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