Lead Plant Systems Technician

City of Escondido, CA

$97K — $130K *
Energy & Utilities
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in maintenance and repair of water/wastewater systems or similar equipment.
  • Strong knowledge of mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical principles.
  • Ability to lead and train a team effectively in complex repair tasks.
  • Experience in welding techniques and equipment fabrication.
  • Valid Grade 3 Plant Maintenance Mechanical Technologist certificate highly preferred.
  • Valid driver's license required.
  • Journey-level certification as a welder or millwright is desirable.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and oversee the work of staff in maintaining water/wastewater plants.
  • Estimate job requirements and requisition necessary tools and materials.
  • Train employees in maintenance methods and safety practices.
  • Verify accuracy and compliance of employees' work to standards and specifications.
  • Perform troubleshooting and maintenance of various plant equipment and systems.
  • Oversee fabrication and repair of parts and equipment as needed.
  • Provide emergency maintenance and repair services during off-hours.

Benefits

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance options.
  • Retirement savings plan with employer contribution.
  • Paid vacation and holidays.
  • Professional development and training opportunities available.
  • Supportive work environment with emphasis on safety practices.
Full Job Description
Salary : $97,206.84 - $130,266.48 Annually
Location : City of Escondido, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 03789
Department: Utilities
Division: Water Treatment Plant
Opening Date: 07/20/2026
Closing Date: 8/3/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Summary
Under direction, leads, oversees, and participates in the more complex and difficult work of staff responsible for performing a variety of skilled and semi-skilled duties involved in the maintenance and repair of the City's water and/or wastewater treatment plants and allied facilities; performs highly skilled tasks involved in the repair or fabrication of equipment parts at a water and/or wastewater treatment plants and allied facilities; and participates in the mechanical repair of equipment used in the water and wastewater systems.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced journey level class in the Plant Systems Technician series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties assigned. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series and serve as lead worker for an assigned group of employees. Employees at this level may be assigned specialized functions and are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

Key Responsibilities
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

Leads, plans, trains, and reviews the work of staff responsible for performing a full range of duties involved in the maintenance and repair of the City's water and/or wastewater treatment plants and allied facilities.

Estimates time, materials, and equipment required for jobs assigned; requisitions necessary tools, equipment, materials, and supplies as required; maintains parts inventory; orders necessary parts.

Trains assigned employees in their areas of work including maintenance and repair methods, procedures, and techniques.

Verifies the work of assigned employees for accuracy, proper work methods, techniques, and compliance with applicable standards and specifications; ensures adherence to safe work practices and procedures; supervises the use, care, and operation of equipment; ensures adherence to best management practices; ensures cleanliness of work area and tools.

Oversees and participates in performing preventative and corrective maintenance on equipment at the water and wastewater treatment plants, pump/lift stations, and other allied facilities; troubleshoots, maintains, repairs, rebuilds, and replaces valves, pumps, compressors, blowers, centrifuges, grinders, mixers, geardrives, generators, piping, mechanical aspects of electrical motors and related equipment; fits pipes; installs, aligns, test operates, and mechanically maintains all manner of equipment throughout the plants, collection, and distribution systems.

Oversees and participates in repairing, rebuilding, designing, measuring, and fabrication of parts and/or equipment.

Makes repairs, modifications, and replaces broken or damaged equipment on chemical feed systems.

Designs and welds equipment; repairs parts using welding techniques, including utilizing gas and/or arc welding and plasma cutting equipment to heat, cut, braze, or weld.

Provides expert-level knowledge, oversees and evaluates precision parts to verify OEM tolerances to provide information to machine shops to perform repair or fabrication.

Oversees, assists, and performs regular inspections and performance of preventative maintenance adjustments; services and lubricates equipment.

Operates a variety of vehicles, equipment, and hand and power tools including, but not limited to, compressors, forklifts, commercial vehicles, cranes, drill presses, welding equipment, and hand and power tools; cleans, maintains, and calibrates assigned equipment.

Performs work in confined spaces; performs necessary precautions prior to entering confined spaces with potential hazardous atmospheres; use air quality monitors and ventilators.

Maintains inventory and assists with ordering replacement parts and equipment for machinery in the plants and at the pump stations; researches and obtains prices on replacement equipment and repair parts; coordinates with suppliers/contracts in order to ensure correct sections of equipment ordered.

Maintains records and prepares basic reports regarding operations, maintenance and work performed.

Serves in emergency standby capacity; provides all aspects of plant and pump station maintenance and repair during after hours periods including holidays and weekends.

Meet with subcontractors or contractors to set up jobs.

Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:

Operations, services, and activities of a water and/or wastewater treatment plant and allied facilities maintenance and repair program.
Principles of lead supervision and training.
Operational characteristics of water and wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations including associated mechanical and electrical devices.
Theories and fundamentals of mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical principles associated with the repair and operation of plant equipment and pumping stations.
Materials, methods, techniques, and terminology used in maintenance and repair activities related to the maintenance and repair of water and wastewater plants and associated equipment.
Methods, techniques, tools and equipment used to repair and rebuild equipment.
Welding principles, practices, tools, and equipment.
Occupational hazards and standard safety practices including those associated with working in confined spaces.
Operational characteristics of maintenance and construction equipment and tools used in work activities.
Proper procedures used in the maintenance and repair of hand and power tools.
Mathematical principles.
Pertinent federal, state, and local codes, laws, and regulations.
Principles and practices of record keeping and basic report preparation.
Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
Principles and practices of customer service.

Ability to:
Lead, organize, and review the work of staff.
Independently perform the most difficult tasks involved in the maintenance and repair of the City's water and/or wastewater treatment plants and allied facilities.
Interpret, explain, and enforce department policies and procedures.
Perform highly skilled tasks involved in the repair or fabrication of precision machine parts at water and/or wastewater treatment plants and allied facilities.
Read, explain, and follow blueprints, mechanical drawings, and oral and written instructions, particularly from maintenance and service manuals.
Install, test, and operate mechanical equipment and machinery including pumps, valves, valve operators, piping, chemical feed equipment, and mechanical conveyance equipment.
Align precision equipment within manufacturers' specifications utilizing laser alignment tools.
Ensure adherence to safe work practices and procedures.
Prepare and maintain records of time, material, and Work Order status using City Works Asset Management program.
Perform mathematical calculations required to adjust and calibrate equipment.
Respond to plant and pump station maintenance/repair emergencies.
Use alignment instruments including laser, dial indicators, micrometers, calipers, and other related installation and repair tools and meters.
Use electrical testers on circuits less than or equal to 48 volts DC.
Test, maintain, and install lead acid batteries for engine driven equipment.
Test, maintain, and install starting systems, charging systems, and ignition systems on engine driven equipment.
Work in closely confined spaces while wearing a respirator.
Safely drive and skillfully operate equipment and machinery including trucks, compressors, forklifts, cranes, drill presses, welding equipment, and hand and power tools.
Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
Maintain good housekeeping practices.
Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Minimum Requirements
Education/Training:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by specialized training/coursework in mechanical repair.

Experience:

Three years (Full-Time equivalent) of increasingly responsible experience performing duties comparable to a Plant Systems Technician II in the City of Escondido or comparable experience in the maintenance of water/ wastewater or equivalent industrial equipment and machinery performing repair, rebuilding, and fabrication of precision parts for pumps, motors, and other mechanical equipment. Experience must also include repair, installation, alignment and test operation of pumps, motors and other mechanical equipment.

License or Certificate:

Possession of a valid driver's license.

Possession of a valid Grade 3 Plant Maintenance Mechanical Technologist certificate.

Journey level certification as a welder or millwright is desirable.

Supplemental Information
NOTE: For a complete listing of job duties and qualifications, please refer to the corresponding job description, which can be obtained from the Human Resources Department or downloaded from the City's web site.

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at City of Escondido, CA

More Energy & Utilities Jobs

Find similar Lead Plant Systems Technician jobs: