The Wastewater Treatment Electrician performs skilled electrical work in support of an Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF). This role is responsible for the installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, testing, and repair of power distribution, motor control centers (MCCs), and process control systems. The work directly impacts the reliability of equipment such as pumps, motors, sensors, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and automated treatment processes.
Key duties include performing preventive maintenance and inspections; troubleshooting and repairing electrical equipment including motors, MCCs, variable frequency drives (VFDs), starter and related control circuits; reading and interpreting technical diagrams (one-line, schematics, wiring diagrams); supporting equipment startups, shutdowns, and planned outages; documenting work in the CMMS and required logs; ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards; and responding promptly to electrical emergencies. The Electrician collaborates closely with operations and engineering teams to minimize downtime, and support the continuous, safe, and efficient AWPF operations.
Detailed Description:
This is a mid-level electrical assignment in an AWPF located within a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The AWPF is in one section of the WWTP, but access to the job site still requires driving through the WWTP. This role may be working in areas with dense instrumentation and complex automation systems. The employee is responsible for installing, maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting electrical power, control, and instrumentation systems associated with advanced water treatment processes. This position ensures high system reliability for critical infrastructure, including pumping systems, treatment trains, and automated control systems, while adhering to strict safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Electrical Systems Maintenance and Repair:
- Install, inspect, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair electrical distribution systems ranging from low-voltage control circuits to medium high-voltage power systems, including transformers, MCCs, breakers, panels, and associated wiring and terminations.
- Install, inspect, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair motors, VFDs, soft starters, protective relays, and motor control circuits supporting pumps, blowers, and other treatment equipment.
- Troubleshoot electrical faults and malfunctions affecting a treatment system, isolate failures, and restore equipment to service.
- Perform electrical testing using appropriate test equipment such as multimeters, insulation testers/megger, and power quality analyzers.
- Read and interpret line and wiring diagrams and loop drawings, verify work against drawings and specifications
Instrumentation and Control Systems:
- Troubleshoot and support programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), and automated control systems used in advanced treatment processes.
- Assist with control system modifications, testing, and commissioning in coordination with engineering and operations staff.
- Coordinate with I&C to isolate issues involving field devices, control wiring, interlock and power supply
Preventive and Predictive Maintenance:
- Perform scheduled preventive maintenance on electrical and control systems to reduce downtime and extend equipment life.
- Maintain routine work records and document work performed, test results, and equipment conditions in a Computerized maintenance activities, inspections, and repairs in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
- Identify emerging electrical issues and recommend corrective actions or system improvements.
Collaboration and Operational Support:
- Work closely with operations, engineering, and maintenance teams to support continuous treatment operations during the shift.
- Assist during planned outages, system upgrades, and facility expansions.
- Provide technical input on electrical system performance, energy efficiency, and reliability improvements.
- performs related duties as required.
Safety and Compliance:
- The employee will follow applicable safety procedures and practices, including lockout/tagout, safe electrical work practices, arc flash requirements, confined space requirements, and site-specific procedures. The employee will perform work in accordance with applicable codes and plant standards and will maintain a clean and safe working area. The employee may be required to respond to emergencies and urgent operational issues outside normal working hours.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Completion of a recognized electrical apprenticeship program or journey-level electrical experience equivalent to apprentice completion; and
- Demonstrated full-time experience performing industrial electrical maintenance and troubleshooting work involving power distribution and motor control equipment in wastewater treatment.
- Provide technical input on electrical system performance, energy efficiency, and reliability improvements.
Preferred Experience:
- Industrial Electrician experience in municipal wastewater treatment, water treatment, utilities, power generation, or other continuous process industrial facilities
- Experience advanced water treatment/purification technologies
- Strong knowledge of industrial electrical systems, including low and medium and high voltage power distribution, motor control centers (MCCs), variable frequency drives (VFDs), soft starters, motors, and transformers
- Experience installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting electrical control systems and process control wiring.
- Hands on experience with instrumentation and controls (I&C), including flow meters, level transmitters, pressure transmitters, analyzers, and sensors
- Working knowledge of PLC systems (Allen Bradley / Rockwell, Siemens, or equivalent)
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, P&IDs, and online diagrams
- Proven electrical troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills in a safety critical environment
- Experience performing preventive maintenance (PM) and corrective maintenance on electrical and control equipment
- Experience using CMMS systems for work order management, execution, documentation and maintenance history
- Experience supporting equipment commissioning, start-up, and outage execution
- Strong understanding of electrical safety, including lockout/tagout (LOTO), arc flash protection, NFPA 70E, and NEC compliance
- Ability to respond to electrical emergencies, planned outages, and system failures with minimal supervision
- Effective communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams
- Willingness to participate in on call rotation, emergency response, and after hours work as required
Work Conditions and Expectations:
- Work is performed in an active industrial plant environment and may involve exposure to noise, weather, odors, chemicals, and process areas.
- Position may require participation in on-call rotation and response to after-hour maintenance or urgent operational issues.
- Physical work typical of industrial maintenance environment is required, including climbing, bending, and handling tools/materials.
Salary Range:The anticipated starting pay range for this position is based on the employee’s primary work location and may be more or less depending upon skills, experience, and education. These ranges may be modified in the future.
Location A: $31.00/hr. - $42.60/hr.
Location B: $34.10/hr. - $46.90/hr.
You can view which BC location applies to you here. If you have any questions, please speak with your Recruiter.
Benefits and Other Compensation: We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee health, performance, and success which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off and parental leave, paid holidays, 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match, performance-based bonus eligibility, employee referral bonuses, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance and long-term care insurance. Click here to see our full list of benefits.
About Brown and Caldwell Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Brown and Caldwell is a full-service environmental engineering and construction firm with 50 offices and 2,100 professionals across North America and the Pacific. For 75 years, we have created leading-edge environmental solutions for municipalities, private industry, and government agencies. We strive to be the company of choice—to our clients, who benefit from our passion for delivering exceptional quality, and to our employees, present and future, who share our commitment to client service, collaboration, and innovation. Join us, and you will find a home where you can do your best work, reach new levels of expertise, and enjoy exceptional development opportunities. For more information, visit www.brownandcaldwell.com
This position is subject to a pre-employment background check and a pre-employment drug test.
Notice to Third Party Agencies: Brown and Caldwell does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and approved engagement request with Brown and Caldwell, Brown and Caldwell reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.
Brown and Caldwell is proud to be an EEO/AAP Employer. Minorities/Women/Disabled and Protected Veterans are encouraged to apply. Brown and Caldwell ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
