Instrumentation Specialist - Contract
Salary
$36.58 - $47.58 Hourly
Location
Water Plant 435 14th Ave S, Fargo, ND
Job Type
Full Time Contract (40)
Job Number
2026-00024
Department
Water Treatment
Division
WATER - FILTER - SELECT THIS OPTION
Opening Date
06/23/2026
Closing Date
7/7/2026 11:59 PM Central
Position Description
Under general direction, the Instrumentation Specialist focuses on and is responsible for electronic instrumentation data quality and reliability for the water system - which is mostly used in the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) control system. The instrumentation information managed by the incumbent is used to serve other WTP personnel, for data retention verifying regulatory compliance, for general equipment monitoring (operation, maintenance, troubleshooting), and to protect expensive water system equipment. This instrumentation generally measures water quality chemistry or physical parameters such as pressure, levels, or flow. The incumbent installs, monitors, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs programmable logic process control systems, electrical and electronic controls and data acquisition equipment, and related instruments throughout the water system, including the Water Treatment Plant.
Primary Responsibilities
Responsible for the quality and accuracy of his/her own work. Responsible for the care and safe operation of a variety of equipment which has a high monetary value. Responsible for instrumentation data quality and reliability, much of which monitors water processes that are highly regulated by the EPA toward providing compliant and safe drinking water to a population of over 180,000 people. This continuously monitoring instrumentation is critical for regulatory compliance and protection of expensive water system equipment. EPA violations can result in public notifications, water system boil orders, and/or fines. Violations also erode public trust in the water system. The values of individual pieces of WTP continuously monitoring instrumentation can range up to $100,000 which can protect equipment and WTP processes valued at over $1 million dollars.
Installs, monitors, maintains, calibrates, repairs, and replaces programmable logic controls, instruments, and electronic devices.
Design and plan installation of new meters and install/wire new meters;
Analyzes and determines causes of malfunctions and takes corrective action regarding repair or replacement;
Conducts or arranges for component level repair and installation;
Researches available sources and/or designs new parts, controls, and instruments to replace obsolete components and equipment;
Calibrates analog, digital, and other sophisticated chemical/electronic devices according to mandated requirements, specifications, and operations/maintenance manuals to ensure accuracy.
Installs, monitors, maintains, calibrates, repairs, and replaces continuously monitoring water quality instrumentation.
Know how the instrumentation outputs and results tie to and impact compliance with EPA regulations for water quality.
Maintain instrumentation O&M records that are reviewable by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, USEPA, or other agencies. Know records retention criteria under federal and state law.
For entire water system, manage complicated, advance online water quality instruments such as Total Organic Carbon analyzers, Trihalomethane analyzers, Metrohm Process analyzers, Monochloramine parameter analyzers, Ultraviolet analyzers, raw water early-warning parameter analyzers, and others. These are not typical analyzers for water systems.
Coordinate and schedule annual maintenance with instrumentation manufacturer or technical service provider for the more sophisticated water quality instrumentation installed in the WTP (listed in 2.2).
For the entire water system, manage basic or typical water industry instruments such as pH, turbidity, chlorine, ozone, conductivity, ORP, and others.
Compares water quality instrumentation outputs against environmental lab results (benchtop), other similar instrument outputs in SCADA, logical expected results within water system processes operation, and other means to verify outputs make sense within water system operation.
Implement strategies to identify deterioration of instrumentation outputs data such as decreased sensor sensitivity, instrumentation damage, or worn components.
Develop and maintain a schedule for maintenance and calibration of continuously monitoring water quality instrumentation to comply with EPA regulatory requirements, maintain high-quality data to SCADA system, and minimize instrumentation downtime.
Replace or refill consumable materials in continuously monitoring water quality instruments to maintain operability and avoid after-hour alarms or downtime.
Have detailed knowledge of regulatory and safety requirements for plant operation. Drinking water is highly regulated by the EPA for tap water. The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) enforces the EPA regulations for drinking water, called a 'Primacy Agency'. From an EPA and DEQ perspective, of the most critical importance are 'acute' water quality risks to the public associated with disease from pathogenic microorganisms getting into customer tap water. Therefore, water quality regulations related to particles in tap water - which may contain microorganisms - and disinfection of water are of the utmost concern. Non-compliance with the most critical water pathogen-related rules can result in a 'boil order' for the water system. Among others, the following are critical regulatory rules most operations staff need to understand and ensure compliance with during plant operation and maintenance:
EPA turbidity (water clarity) rules for individual conventional filters, conventional plant combined filter effluent, membrane Ultrafiltration trains, membrane plant effluent, and any other regulated process water streams from both water treatment plants.
Pathogen disinfection/inactivation requirements in both water treatment plants, distribution entry point(s), and water distribution system.
Knowledge of miscellaneous regulations for the operation of treatment plant operation and water distribution system such as EPA Recycling Rules, Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal requirements, disinfection by-product regulations, Lead & Copper regulations, and other regulations.
From an operational perspective, a general understanding is required of operational theory of treatment processes/systems and how operator adjustments or raw water quality changes will affect the treatment process performance and water quality data (regulatory and non-regulatory).
Knowledge of personnel safety, OSHA requirements, safe housekeeping practice, Chemical Risk Management (Clean Air Act) requirements, and other safety-related requirements.
Coordinates with personnel in the Fargo WTP Environmental Laboratory to help maintain quality instrumentation data and operations data within the whole water system. The objective is to promote efficient workflow and responsiveness to other WTP personnel in the event of questionable instrumentation data or instrument failure.
Assist in Fargo WTP Environmental Laboratory or Operator Laboratory as needed for water quality benchtop testing
Provide training to other WTP personnel regarding continuously monitoring instrumentation (flow, pressure, level, water quality, etc.) toward understanding principles of operation, simple diagnosis/troubleshooting, and recognizing instrumentation value to water system and instrumentation limitations. Coordinate with other WTP to help provide this important training.
Coordinates with contractors regarding installation, maintenance, and repairs on outsourced systems such as security and fire alarms.
Sends out bids to various contractors; makes recommendations to Water Treatment Plant Superintendent or Water Utility Director;
Monitors and inspects installation and repair work performed by outside contractors to certify accuracy.
Coordinates with Water Treatment Plant Superintendent, Water Utility Director, and others regarding automation opportunities for manual work tasks and implementation of latest online instrumentation technologies available in the Water/Wastewater field.
Researches technical information for new technology and products related to installation, integration, and value to Water Utility; makes recommendations to Water Treatment Plant Superintendent or Water Utility Director;
Works with outside contractors, consultants, or other Water Utility personnel to implement new instrumentation or automation strategies to improve decision-making information or personnel workflow.
Recommends replacement schedule for water quality instrumentation and other industrial instrumentation.
Compiles information and costs regarding instrumentation changes and recommends annual budgetary costs.
Carries out preventative maintenance program for equipment and devices including cleaning, tightening, and inspecting parts. Make adjustments to equipment as required.
Communicates courteously and professionally and maintains working relationships with others in carrying out job functions.
Communicates with others within the work unit, the public, vendors and across departments to exchange detailed and/or technical information;
Interacts with contractors and utility representatives to coordinate activities;
Responds to inquiries, provides information and/or refers individuals to supervisors or other appropriate personnel, as necessary, to resolve issues
Performs all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.
Knows and follows department and City policies/rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss;
Wears proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilizes proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work;
When potentially unsafe conditions are observed makes efforts to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draws them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner.
Installs new water meters under the Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) project and facilitates minor plumbing changes using local plumbing contractors.
Completes the installation of new water meters of all sizes under the AMI project within the allowed budget.
Manages and schedules appointments for the installation of water meters under the AMI project.
Solicits quotes or bids under the Purchasing Policy for plumbing contractors or other services to complete the AMI related project tasks.
Remedies customer concerns and answers questions associated with the AMI project.
Attains quotes and make purchase arrangements for needed water meter inventory and fittings to complete installations.
Perform statistical analysis to compare new AMI system performance against data from old water meters.
Develop enhanced features with new water meters for other City users' such as an alarm dashboard and a water pressure heat map of City.
Manages any addition needs or requirements to successfully complete the AMI project
Manages the Backflow prevention program for the water system as required by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ).
Performs other duties and activities as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
The job requires an Associate's degree or higher in Water/Wastewater technology, Chemical or Biological, science, instrumentation electronics, industrial electronics, computer science, or a closely related field and three years of previous experience in Water/Wastewater operations, environment laboratory operation, industrial processes, manufacturing, maintenance and repair of electrical devices and electronic equipment (PLCs), or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. A valid driver's license is also required.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities include:
Physical Demands
Work is performed primarily in the Water Treatment Plant and other remote water distribution and storage facilities. Work is generally light with extensive computer use and involves moving between rooms and buildings within multiple locations including remote water towers, raw water pumping stations, ground storage reservoirs and drinking water pumping stations. Work involves local driving on a weekly basis. There is frequent exposure to chemicals, fumes, humidity and moving mechanical parts,loudnoise,andpossibleelectricshock.Thereisconsiderableattentiontodetailanddeadlines, Stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pulling, lifting, digital dexterity, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing/listening, seeing/observing, repetitivemotions.
Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires the exertion of forces greater than for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated LightWork.
Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals withdisabilities.
Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required. To perform this jobsuccessfully,theworkermustpossesstheabilitiesandaptitudestoperformeachdutyproficiently.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship. The City Administrator retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.
The City of Fargo offers a comprehensive benefit package, to include participation in the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System. For more information on our benefits click here.
If you are applying for a Part Time Temporary or Seasonal position, you are not eligible for benefits through the City of Fargo.
Employer City of Fargo
Address 225 4th Street N
Fargo, North Dakota, 58102
Phone (701) 241-1321
Website http://www.fargond.gov