Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities. If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!
About Essential Utilities
Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.
Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.
We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.
Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.
We are hiring for an experienced Instrumentation & Controls [I&C] professional to join our team as our Process Automation Engineer I in the Southeastern PA region. This person is expected to apply their advanced understanding of process control systems engineering principles in the programming, installation, operations, maintenance, repair, and replacement of our process control systems (especially with our SCADA system(s)). This involves overseeing the technical aspects of the process control systems as well as executing improvements, modifications, and enhancements to existing control systems. This person will also be expected to provide project supervision to internal & contract staff members.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Supports System Administrator of servers & systems used for the statewide process control network.
Develop & Implement PLC OIT Applications in conjunction with PLC
Troubleshoot both PLC’s and SCADA applications
Assist in and maintaining programming standards across all PLC and HMI platforms
Direct work by vendors (e.g.: Systems Integrators) to ensure adherence to programming standards as well as associated testing & elevation processes.
Provide technical support / expertise for the control center as well as divisional offices / staff to ensure all control systems are operational and that any control or communications issues are addressed in a timely manner.
Respond to systems issues & problem responses; these activities include logging problems in the appropriate databases, assigning resources as appropriate, providing status updates, documenting resolutions, and providing operational & system configuration recommendations to ensure issues are addressed throughout the state (as well as implementing system changes to ensure repeat incidents are minimized or eliminated, whenever possible).
Work with Operations staff to ensure issues are resolved properly and expediently.
Provide technical supporton an as-needed basis to project teams that include internal & contract staff.
Audit work performed on the system by others to ensure that our standards are met.
Monitor / oversee SCADA reporting; this involves ensuring a high level of data availability and accuracy.
Develop and/or generate reports, as requested by Operations Managers using Excel and Excel Reporter software
Analyze system information (including alarm & event history); this involves identifying trends and leading post-event analysis of issues & incidents as well as recommending / implementing modifications based on incident analysis.
Coordinate / manage system elevations, patches, updates, changes, and enhancements in accordance with established timelines; these activities include major control system upgrade projects at Water & Wastewater treatment plants as well as other larger facilities (while ensuring that projects stay within budgetary and timing constraints).
Adhere to cyber security best practices and assists with control systems cyber security incident response, as needed.
Coordinate and/or lead training sessions for SCADA Users and contracted Systems Integrators; this person will be expected to provide advice & guidance, as needed, to less-experienced staff members.
Assist in the review and application of new technologies that would improve monitoring & automation processes.
Serve as a technical resource on capital planning and other pertinent subjects, as needed, to support Engineering & Operations.
Support and service instrumentation associated with control systems (including pressure, level, and other analytical transmitters); this work incudes calibration, configuration, and troubleshooting.
Performs other assignments, as required.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in an Engineering-oriented field of study (preferably Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering, Computer Engineering, etc.).
1-3 years of professional experience working with Industrial Automation / Control Systems preferred
Experience with PLC (preferably Rockwell Allen-Bradley PLC's / RSLogix or Schneider Electric Modicon PLC's / Control Expert).
Water and/or Wastewater process control experience is a plus!
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Proficient in SCADA programming applications (such as RSLogix, Unity, System Platform, etc.).
Proficient in SCADA reporting software (such as XLReporter, etc.).
Understanding of networking and networking ring setup.
Understanding of Microsoft Server, vLans, and Remote Desktop.
Understanding of instrumentation associated with control systems.
Aptitude for understanding industrial safety, especially with electrical systems; electrical hazard safety awareness training (including arc-flash safety awareness) will be required.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills; this person will be expected to communicate effectively (clearly, concisely, and professionally) with internal & external customers.
Strong customer service skills.
Ability to work well under pressure.
Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Team Player demeanor with the ability to work effectively and multi-task in a team-fostered environment.
WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Perform sedentary work – this involves exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects (including the human body); sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
Working conditions may include travel to work sites of Essential Utilities and/or other constituents (if applicable)
Travel Requirements: up to 15% overnight travel is required.
Respond to after-hour emergencies and/or attend periodic meetings outside of normal work hours (as needed).
Serve in an On-Call rotation with 24/7 availability to handle any problems that may arise.
Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:
- Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
- Family members cannot work in the same department.
Read Full Description