Salary: $46.18 - $56.13 Hourly
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Classified
Job Number: 5096-26
Department: Environmental Services
Opening Date: 07/08/2026
Closing Date: 8/4/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Position Description

The City of Tacoma Environmental Services Department is seeking skilled Electrician/Instrumentation Technicians to join our collaborative team. Electrician/Instrumentation Technicians are responsible for performing skilled journey level electrical and instrumentation maintenance work that involves maintenance and installation of a wide variety of equipment, instrumentation, apparatus, controls, and motors.

An employee in this classification develops and implements a proactive maintenance work program that includes preventative and predictive maintenance, corrective maintenance, and equipment condition monitoring on a variety of instrumentation equipment, communications equipment, meters, control systems, electrical systems, circuits, and motor controls associated with wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, stormwater control facilities and solid waste systems such as compactors. Employees work on a variety of electrical components at our facilities, such as relays, PLC's, circuit breakers, and electrical distribution. Prior experience at a wastewater, surface water, or solid waste utility is not needed for the position.

Interested in learning more about the Wastewater Treatment Plant? Check this video out!
Qualifications
High School Diploma or equivalent

AND

Two (2) years of journey-level experience as an electrician OR an instrumentation technician in an industrial or manufacturing plant/work environment,
AND
Two (2) years supplemental advanced course work in electric theory and industrial controls.
Additional experience can be substituted for education at the rate of three (3) years of apprentice-level experience or two (2) years of journey-level experience per one (1) year of advanced course work.

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Washington State Driver's License at time of appointment with maintenance thereafter.
• Valid First Aid Card with C.P.R. at time of appointment and maintenance thereafter.
• There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer's responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.
• Individuals may have to pass a background check depending upon assignment.

Knowledge & Skills

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Control Systems, electrical circuits, and instrumentation for system integration, maintenance, troubleshooting and root cause analysis
• National Electrical Code (NEC), regulations, and procedures
• Electrical, instrumentation and electronic technology including PLC's (Rockwell) and various programming formats (Ladder, Function block, Structured Text)
• Various types of conduit applications and methods of installation
• Schematics, wiring diagrams and instrument control diagrams
• Electrical codes, regulations and procedures
• Proper methods of storing equipment, materials and supplies
• Health and safety regulations
• Technical aspects of field of specialty
• Proper record keeping techniques
• Basic wastewater treatment plant processes and impact of equipment malfunction
• Safety techniques, testing and procedures to handle dangerous or hazardous chemicals, gases and/or confined spaces, as related to wastewater treatment plants and pump stations
• Experience with 480-volt equipment, instrumentation and controls, HMI, SCADA systems and in conducting maintenance work on motor controls, electrical distribution and generating systems
• Understanding and ability to calculate wire sizes and conduit fill

SKILLS:

• Understand basic troubleshooting and repair of industrial systems, with the ability to visualize how different systems operate together to find the root cause
• Read and interpret electrical drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, engineering plans, P&ID drawings and specifications
• Apply principles of electrical theory to daily tasks, which may include design of electrical systems
• Implement a preventative maintenance work program
• Operate, install, repair, and inspect a variety of electronic testing equipment
• Understand basic computer skills that the technician will need in using a laptop in their daily work, i.e. changing the IP address, using serial ports, and troubleshooting network connectivity
• Operate a variety of tools and equipment used in the electrical and instrumentation trade such as; hydraulic presses, cutters, benders, various types of testing equipment and recording devices
• Lift heavy objects in awkward and confined spaces, using proper lifting and rigging techniques
• Understand and interpret the national electrical code
• Operate motor vehicles and forklifts
• Understand and follow oral and written directions
• Observe appropriate safety procedures in the performance of assigned tasks
• Maintain records and prepare reports as directed
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Work independently with little direction

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

Application Process

Interested individuals should complete the online application and attach a resume and cover letter by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process.

Applicants who are eligible for veterans scoring criteria (Veterans Preference) MUST attach a copy of their DD-214 member copy 4 (proof of military discharge form) at time of application to be eligible for review for Veteran's Preference points.

Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the NeoGov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

Supplemental Questions

This is a competitive selection process. Applicants will be required to respond to written questions outlining their experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the essential functions of this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their responses to Supplemental Questions #7 to #14 reviewed and scored by a committee of subject matter experts, as the Experience and Training Test. These questions will be scored based on the information provided. It is the responsibility of the applicants to adequately describe all pertinent experience and training. Please make sure you read the questions and provide complete informative answers, including your roles in the position and key activities. DO NOT respond with 'see resume' in lieu of answering these questions; this will result in a failing score. Providing false information will result in disqualification.

Accommodations: We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation during this process, please contact Human Resources at(253) 591-5400.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details:

Hourly Rate: $46.18 - $56.13

Annual Salary: $96,054.40 - $116,750.40
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
01

The Supplemental Questionnaire is part of the examination process; accordingly, it should be completed carefully. It must be submitted with your application. Responses to supplemental questions must be original content created by the applicant using their own words. The use of online tools or resources to create responses, such as Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT, etc), Google, Bing, etc., or plagiarism in any form, is considered cheating and falsification of the application.Do not indicate "see resume" or copy unrelated content from your resume when answering these questions. Answer all information requested in each question. Failure to do so may result in rejection of your application.I certify that the information provided is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any falsification may cancel any terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.

• Yes
• No

02

Did you graduate from high school or the equivalent (GED)?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have Two (2) years of journey-level experience as an electrician OR an instrumentation technician in an industrial or manufacturing plant/work environment?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have Two (2) years advanced course work in electric theory and industrial controls?***Additional experience can be substituted for education at the rate of three (3) years of apprentice-level experience or two (2) years of journey-level experience per one (1) year of advanced course work. If no advanced course work in electric theory and industrial controls, six (6) years of apprentice-level experience or four (4) years of journey-level experience is required.

• Yes
• No

05

If you answered "Yes" to question #3, please describe your experience including the duties performed, name of the employer(s), and date(s) of employment. If you have no experience. please type N/A.