Hybrid Systems Operator na Santa Margarita Water District

About the Department

Join our team as a Systems Operator!

Meet Santa Margarita Water District 

Santa Margarita Water District is a dynamic, forward-thinking agency dedicated to delivering high-quality potable water, recycled water, and wastewater services to its 200,000 customers across Southern Orange County. As one of the region’s largest and most impactful utilities, we are committed to the highest standards of transparency, innovation, and environmental stewardship. 

Our people drive our progress, innovation, and results. Our collaborative, human-first culture fosters the sense of fun, comradery, and a rewarding sense of purpose as we do work that matters. 

Dynamic teams of intelligent individuals work collaboratively to achieve SMWD’s goals and solve challenges with a common aim that fosters a unique bond that is not often found in governmental agencies. 

Santa Margarita Water District’s values include: 

• Exemplary service excellence 
• Intelligent innovation that is forward-thinking and adaptive 
• Ethical fiscal responsibility and transparency 
• Environmental and resource stewardship 
• Employee development and leadership training 
• Building relationships that strengthen communities 

Tentative Interview dates subject to change 9/23, 9/25, and/or 10/15

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed by individual positions.

JOB SUMMARY 

Under general supervision, performs technical and skilled work in the installation, modification, fabrica­tion, maintenance, repair and servicing of sophisticated and complex mechanical systems and machinery used in District infrastructure.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS 

Systems Operator is the working level position in the Systems Operator series and performs mechanical duties in the installation, maintenance and repair of District infrastructure.  All incumbents are qualified to perform preventive, predictive and corrective maintenance of the District’s equipment and facilities. 

This position reports to an Operations Foreman and may receive day-to-day work direction from a Crew Chief or Senior. Systems Operator.  Systems Operator is distinguished from Senior Systems Operator in that an incumbent in the latter class has a higher level of knowledge, experience and certification. 

Position Duties

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS 

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. Performs a variety of working-level duties associated with the construction, installation, main­tenance and repair District infrastructure and components including, but not limited to, pipelines, turbo blowers, belt presses, centrifuges, gear boxes, compressors, a variety of pumps, clarifiers, fans, screen systems, conveyers, loaders and pneumatic and hydraulic equipment; partici­pates in system shutdowns to perform scheduled and emergency maintenance and repairs, and in system startups.
2. Inspects, diagnoses, maintains, repairs, and rebuilds pumps and valves; aligns motors to pumps; ensures the proper operation of air and oil hydraulic systems in pumping facilities; maintains and repairs pump control and flow control valves; conducts routine lubricant and oil analysis for machine condition monitoring and to ensure equipment and machinery performance and longevity.
3. Installs, replaces and repairs chlorine storage, feed and distribution system components such as storage tanks, chlorinators, distribution lines and valves, and injector pumps; builds concrete forms and pours concrete; levels and aligns machinery and electric motors; replaces and repairs choppers and pumps, and rebuilding valves.
4. Inspects, diagnoses, maintains and repairs a wide variety of compressors and chemical feed pumps; performs preventive and predictive maintenance and makes repairs to sump pumps, auto control valves, and isolation valves; responds to emergency leaks in chemical feed systems (sodium hypochlorite, ferric chloride, zinc orthophosphate) and makes emergency repairs to storage tanks and feeders.
5. Plans work from blueprints, drawings, sketches or instructions; maintains records, plans and inspec­tion documents.
6. Operates a variety of light to medium trucks and equipment and a wide variety of hand and power equipment; checks pre-operating condition of vehicles and equipment to ensure proper and safe working condition; ensures proper loading and unloading of tools and equipment; cleans and maintains tools and equipment; as certified, may operate heavy equipment.
7. Requisitions necessary tools, equipment, and supplies.
8. Assists on construction, repair, and maintenance of water distribution system facilities and equipment as needed. 
9. Responds to emergency situations during off-hours as required; participates in standby duties at the sole discretion of the District. 
10. Performs related duties and responsibilities as required. 

Minimum Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education, Training and Experience: 

Graduation from high school or GED equivalent, and one year of journey-level experience in the installa­tion, maintenance and repair of pumping equipment, including valves, pumps and motors; or an equiva­lent combination of training and experience. Experience in a public agency is preferred. 

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements: 

• Water Distribution System Operator Grade II (D2) certifi­cation from the California State Water Resources Control Board.
• Water Treatment Operator Grade I (T1) certifi­cation from the California State Water Resources Control Board.
• Possession of a valid California Class C driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the District’s vehicle insurance program. 
• Annual certification for CPR, First Aid, Confined-Space Entry and use of Self-Contained Breathing Appa­ratus (SCBA) per OSHA requirements are required.

Knowledge of: 

1. Methods, techniques, tools and equipment used in the installation, maintenance and repair of mechanical equipment and machinery common to a large water works system.
2. Pipe materials, fittings and pipefitting tools and methods.
3. Safe Drinking Water Act, AWWA, Title 22 of California’s Water Recycling Criteria and relevant state and federal regulations.
4. Water mathematics.
5. Methods for the safe operation of light, medium and heavy-duty motorized power equipment, as certified.
6. Knowledge of traffic control practices and requirements.
7. Principles and practices of sound business communication; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.
8. Safety policies and safe work practices applicable to the work.
9. Records management, recordkeeping, filing and basic purchasing practices and procedures. 
10. Uses and operations of computers, standard business software and specialized database and spread­sheet applications.
11. Safely operate a District vehicle on city streets and freeways.

Ability to: 

1. Diagnose and repair a wide variety of mechanical equipment, systems and machinery, specific to the District’s operations.
2. Use precision and diagnostic instruments to measure required tolerances of mechanical parts.
3. Safely operate and maintain tools and equipment.
4. Read and interpret plans, maps, layouts, piping sketches and facility record drawings.
5. Use independent judgment and exercise initiative in daily work activities.
6. Operate a computer, standard business software and a variety of computer software programs and databases related to area of assignment.
7. Prepare clear and accurate reports, documents, data entries and files.
8. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. 
9. Understand and follow written and oral instructions. 
10. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work.

Other Qualifications

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS 

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees 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 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk and stand; talk and hear; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; perform repetitive movements of hands or wrists; climb or balance on ladders or stairs; stoop, kneel, bend at the waist, crouch or crawl; and have the ability to detect odors. The employee is frequently required to lift up to 50 pounds unaided and up to 100 pounds with assistance.

Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, use of both eyes, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus. 

Employees in this class may be periodically required to wear Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). In accordance with OSHA regu­la­tions, employees are prohibited from having facial or head hair that impairs the effec­tiveness of respirator equipment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable indivi­duals with disabili­ties to perform essential duties of the class as they relate to this require­ment.

Mental Demands 

While performing the duties of this class, an employee uses written and oral communication skills; reads and interprets data, information and documents; analyzes and solves problems; uses water math; learns and applies new information and skills; responds to emergency situations; and interacts with others encountered in the course of work.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee works in a shop and field environment where the noise level is usually moderate. The employee works in outdoor weather conditions; extreme heat or cold; wet, humid conditions; in confined spaces; on ladders/scaffolding or in high, precarious places; on uneven or slippery surfaces; near mov­ing mechanical parts and equipment and heavy traffic. The employee is exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and biological hazards. The employee is occasionally exposed to loud or prolonged noise and equipment with heavy vibrations. The employee may be at risk of electrical shock.

The employee may be required to work various shifts and standby at night, on weekends and holidays as needed.