Job Title: Water Treatment Instrumentation Engineer
Job Summary:
The Water Treatment Instrumentation Engineer Manager is responsible for overseeing the design, installation, maintenance, optimization, and performance of instrumentation systems used to monitor and control water treatment processes. This leadership role involves managing a team of engineers and technicians to ensure the reliability and efficiency of critical water quality monitoring instruments, including pH meters, chlorine analyzers, turbidity sensors, flow meters, and pressure transmitters. The manager will be responsible for ensuring that all systems comply with regulatory standards, lead technical projects, and continuously improve operational performance.
Key Responsibilities:
Team Leadership and Management:
- Lead and manage a team of instrumentation engineers and technicians, providing guidance, mentoring, and fostering a collaborative environment.
- Set clear performance objectives, track team progress, and provide feedback to ensure tasks are completed effectively and on time.
- Ensure that all team members are properly trained on instrumentation systems, safety protocols, and industry best practices.
Instrumentation System Design and Optimization:
- Oversee the design and integration of instrumentation systems for water treatment processes, including sensors, flow meters, pressure transmitters, pH analyzers, and chemical dosing systems.
- Ensure that all systems are optimized for accurate monitoring and control of water quality parameters, such as pH, chlorine levels, turbidity, and flow rates.
- Lead efforts to implement new technologies, automation systems, and process control strategies to improve water treatment efficiency and reliability.
Project Management:
- Manage and coordinate large-scale projects related to the installation, upgrades, and optimization of instrumentation systems.
- Develop project plans, including resource allocation, timelines, budgets, and risk management strategies, ensuring that projects meet performance, quality, and regulatory requirements.
- Oversee the commissioning and testing of new systems or upgrades, ensuring smooth integration with existing control systems (SCADA, PLCs) and minimal disruption to water treatment operations.
Troubleshooting and System Optimization:
- Lead the troubleshooting and diagnostic efforts for complex instrumentation issues, working with engineers and operators to resolve technical problems promptly.
- Drive the optimization of instrumentation systems to ensure that they operate efficiently and meet operational goals, including improving system accuracy and minimizing downtime.
- Implement and oversee preventive maintenance programs to ensure the longevity and reliability of instrumentation systems.
Regulatory Compliance and Reporting:
- Ensure that all instrumentation systems comply with local, state, and federal regulations regarding water quality, environmental standards, and safety.
- Maintain accurate records of calibration, maintenance, and testing activities for instrumentation systems to ensure compliance during audits and inspections.
- Prepare detailed reports for internal and regulatory purposes, documenting system performance, maintenance activities, and compliance status.
Data Management and Performance Monitoring:
- Oversee the collection and analysis of data from instrumentation systems to monitor water quality, system performance, and efficiency.
- Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and reports to monitor system health, identify trends, and improve system performance.
- Use data analysis to support decision-making for continuous improvement initiatives, predictive maintenance, and resource optimization.
Collaboration and Cross-Functional Communication:
- Collaborate with engineers, operators, and maintenance teams to ensure seamless integration and operation of instrumentation systems across water treatment facilities.
- Work closely with IT, operations, and other departments to ensure that instrumentation systems align with overall plant objectives and are integrated with other control systems.
- Communicate effectively with senior management and stakeholders to provide updates on system performance, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
Safety and Risk Management:
- Ensure that all instrumentation work adheres to safety standards, environmental regulations, and health and safety protocols.
- Lead safety audits, risk assessments, and incident investigations related to instrumentation systems, ensuring corrective actions are implemented to mitigate future risks.
- Promote a safety-first culture within the team, ensuring that all work is conducted safely and that safety procedures are followed at all times.
Continuous Improvement and Innovation:
- Drive initiatives to enhance instrumentation systems and processes by adopting new technologies, methodologies, and best practices.
- Stay updated on emerging trends and innovations in water treatment instrumentation and process control systems, recommending and implementing improvements to enhance system performance and water quality management.
- Encourage a culture of continuous learning and improvement, identifying opportunities to streamline processes, reduce costs, and increase system reliability.
Key Focus Areas:
- Team Leadership and Development: Lead a team of engineers and technicians to ensure efficient system operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
- Instrumentation System Optimization: Oversee the optimization, calibration, and troubleshooting of instrumentation systems to improve system performance.
- Project and Compliance Management: Manage projects and ensure that all instrumentation systems meet regulatory standards and operational objectives.
- System Troubleshooting and Performance Monitoring: Lead troubleshooting efforts and monitor performance to ensure systems are operating optimally.
- Continuous Improvement: Implement and drive continuous improvement initiatives, adopting new technologies and refining existing processes.
Skills and Knowledge Required:
- Extensive experience in instrumentation systems, including sensors, pH meters, chlorine analyzers, turbidity sensors, flow meters, and pressure transmitters, used in water treatment processes.
- Proficiency with SCADA systems, PLCs, and other process control technologies used to monitor and control water treatment operations.
- Strong knowledge of water treatment processes, including filtration, chemical dosing, and disinfection.
- Experience in troubleshooting complex instrumentation and control system issues.
- Ability to manage projects, including resource allocation, budgeting, scheduling, and ensuring successful project completion.
- Knowledge of industry safety standards and regulatory requirements for water treatment and environmental compliance.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
Educational Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Instrumentation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Relevant certifications in instrumentation systems, SCADA, PLC programming, or water treatment technologies are highly desirable.
Experience:
- 7+ years of experience in instrumentation, process control, or water treatment systems, with a focus on managing and optimizing instrumentation systems.
- Proven experience managing projects related to instrumentation upgrades, system integrations, or new installations in water treatment facilities.
- Experience with SCADA and PLC systems in a water treatment or industrial setting is essential.
Tools and Technologies:
- Expertise in SCADA platforms (e.g., Siemens WinCC, Wonderware, Ignition) and PLC systems (e.g., Siemens, Allen-Bradley).
- Familiarity with water quality monitoring instruments (e.g., pH meters, chlorine analyzers, turbidity sensors).
- Proficiency in data analysis and performance monitoring tools (e.g., Power BI, SQL, Excel).
Other Requirements:
- Strong leadership, project management, and organizational skills.
- Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to resolving technical issues.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize tasks effectively.
- Willingness to travel for project execution, system upgrades, or troubleshooting as required.