Job Title: Water Treatment Instrumentation Engineer
Job Summary:
The Mid-Level Water Treatment Instrumentation Engineer is responsible for the installation, calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and optimization of water quality monitoring and control instrumentation systems. This role involves ensuring the reliability and performance of instrumentation such as pH meters, chlorine analyzers, turbidity sensors, flow meters, and pressure transmitters used in water treatment plants. The engineer will work closely with senior engineers and operators to improve system performance, implement new technologies, and ensure regulatory compliance. Additionally, the engineer will mentor junior engineers and assist with cross-departmental collaboration to enhance water treatment operations.
Key Responsibilities:
Instrumentation System Design and Integration:
- Lead the installation, configuration, calibration, and integration of instrumentation systems used to monitor and control water treatment processes.
- Develop and optimize control strategies for instrumentation systems to ensure the accurate measurement of water quality parameters, such as pH, chlorine, turbidity, flow, and pressure.
- Work with senior engineers to integrate new instrumentation systems and advanced technologies (e.g., IoT sensors, automated control systems) into the existing water treatment infrastructure.
Calibration and Maintenance:
- Oversee the calibration, testing, and maintenance of water quality monitoring instruments, ensuring they operate accurately and efficiently.
- Ensure routine and preventative maintenance is performed on all instrumentation systems to extend their lifecycle and minimize downtime.
- Work closely with the maintenance team to identify and address any performance or calibration issues with instrumentation systems.
Troubleshooting and System Optimization:
- Provide expert troubleshooting and diagnostic support for complex instrumentation systems, including sensors, control systems, and communication devices.
- Optimize instrumentation system performance by identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and reliability.
- Work with operators and engineers to resolve issues impacting the water treatment process and ensure that all systems are functioning optimally.
Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting:
- Oversee the monitoring and control of water quality parameters, ensuring that all measurements are accurate, reliable, and meet regulatory standards.
- Collaborate with the operations team to ensure that water treatment processes maintain the required water quality levels for safe distribution.
- Prepare detailed reports on system performance, water quality metrics, and maintenance activities for internal and regulatory reporting purposes.
Project Management and System Upgrades:
- Manage instrumentation projects, including the installation of new systems, upgrades, and optimizations, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and meet performance specifications.
- Lead the commissioning of new instrumentation systems, ensuring that they are integrated successfully with SCADA systems and are fully operational before going live.
- Collaborate with other departments, such as engineering, operations, and IT, to ensure project alignment and that system upgrades meet overall plant goals.
Compliance and Regulatory Standards:
- Ensure all instrumentation systems comply with local, state, and federal regulations regarding water quality, environmental safety, and operational standards.
- Maintain accurate records of calibration, maintenance, and repairs to ensure full compliance with regulatory guidelines.
- Participate in regulatory audits and inspections to ensure systems meet water treatment industry standards and regulatory requirements.
Mentorship and Training:
- Provide guidance and mentorship to junior instrumentation engineers, offering support on technical challenges and troubleshooting.
- Assist in the development of training materials and conduct training sessions for junior engineers and technicians on best practices for instrumentation maintenance and calibration.
- Foster a continuous learning environment within the team, ensuring that all team members are updated on new technologies and practices in instrumentation and water treatment.
Continuous Improvement:
- Drive initiatives to improve the reliability, performance, and efficiency of instrumentation systems, reducing costs and downtime while improving data accuracy.
- Stay updated on industry advancements, new technologies, and best practices to continuously improve water treatment instrumentation systems.
- Collaborate with senior engineers and other stakeholders to recommend and implement process and system improvements.
Key Focus Areas:
- Instrumentation System Optimization: Lead efforts to ensure instrumentation systems are calibrated, optimized, and performing at their best.
- Troubleshooting and System Maintenance: Provide expert troubleshooting for complex issues and ensure that systems are well-maintained and compliant.
- Water Quality Monitoring and Compliance: Ensure that systems meet regulatory standards for water quality monitoring and ensure accurate data collection.
- Project and System Integration: Lead system integration projects, optimizing existing processes and introducing new technologies to improve performance.
- Mentorship and Team Development: Mentor junior engineers and technicians, helping them develop their skills and technical knowledge.
Skills and Knowledge Required:
- Proficiency in the installation, calibration, and troubleshooting of water quality monitoring instruments, such as pH meters, chlorine analyzers, turbidity sensors, and flow meters.
- Experience with SCADA, PLCs, and process control systems used in water treatment operations.
- Strong understanding of water treatment processes, including filtration, chemical dosing, disinfection, and the role of instrumentation systems in these processes.
- Expertise in troubleshooting complex instrumentation issues and optimizing system performance.
- Knowledge of industry safety standards, environmental regulations, and water quality compliance requirements.
- Ability to manage projects, including planning, resource allocation, scheduling, and ensuring on-time project completion.
- Strong communication skills to work effectively with engineers, operators, and other cross-functional teams.
Educational Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Instrumentation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Certifications in instrumentation, SCADA systems, PLC programming, or water treatment technologies are a plus.
Experience:
- 2-4 years of experience in instrumentation systems, process control, or water treatment systems, with hands-on experience in calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of water quality monitoring instruments.
- Experience in SCADA and PLC systems integration, water treatment processes, and compliance with regulatory standards.
- Proven track record of managing instrumentation projects, system upgrades, or integrations in a water treatment or industrial setting.
Tools and Technologies:
- Expertise in SCADA platforms (e.g., Siemens WinCC, Wonderware, Ignition), PLC systems (e.g., Siemens, Allen-Bradley), and industrial instrumentation.
- Proficiency with water quality monitoring instruments (e.g., pH meters, chlorine analyzers, turbidity sensors).
- Experience with data analysis and performance monitoring tools (e.g., Power BI, SQL, Excel).
Other Requirements:
- Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with the ability to guide a team of junior engineers.
- Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to resolving technical issues.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
- Willingness to travel for site assessments, installations, or system upgrades as required.