Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Associate Process Control Engineer (#20003295)

General Statement

Under general supervision, provides engineering services for the design, construction, improvement, modernization and maintenance of process instrumentation and computer control systems for water reclamation plants, pumping stations, and flood control reservoirs.

Essential Job Functions

Essential job functions are fundamental, core functions common to positions in a classification.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class.  Since class specifications are designed to be descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents may complete one or all of the job duties listed or tasks of similar kind not specifically listed here.
  • Assigns, schedules, supervises and reviews work relating to process instrumentation and computer control systems such as Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and Supervisory Control, Data Acquisition Systems (SCADA), and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). 
  • Administers Process Control and Instrumentation projects; initiates improvements in process control systems hardware and software; coordinates design work with other sections and departments. 
  • Designs and maintains process instrumentation and computer control systems for water reclamation facilities. 
  • Prepares cost estimates for projects involving process instrumentation and/or computer control systems. 
  • Prepares and reviews contract specifications and plans for process instrumentation and computer control systems; reviews contractor submittals for compliance. 
  • Investigates and analyzes contractor claims for extra work; provides resolution to post contract award design and construction problems. 
  • Maintains, troubleshoots and manages process control systems, including system database, network, and security and performs routine backup of system. 
  • Creates, modifies and maintains documentation of the process control system including procedural guidelines, required reporting, trend analysis and historical archives. 
  • Maintains, troubleshoots and manages cybersecurity and security in process control systems, including updating virus protection and patches on the entire DCS system. 
  • Monitors and reviews emerging security alerts and issues via server logs, intrusion detection logs, and network traffic watching for unusual or suspicious activity; interprets activity and makes recommendations for resolution. 
  • Maintains and manages all DCS spare parts related to the process control systems.

Other Job Functions

  • Conducts field investigations of construction work and existing facilities.    
  • Develops and deploys end-user practices and tools for database extraction, queries, and data manipulation. ·
  • Troubleshoots and resolves applications and/or hardware issues.  
  • Maintains and updates recovery procedures, and any other measures required in the event of a security breach. 
  •  Performs other duties as assigned.

Environmental Conditions

Typical office environment.  May use standard office equipment and computer terminals.  May involve exposure to a variety of operating mechanical equipment and loud noise and/or noxious odors.  May include working in all types of weather conditions or confined space environments.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Considerable knowledge of the principles and applications of process control instrumentation technology including analog and digital signals and Proportional Integral and Derivative (PID) control loops.   
  • Considerable knowledge of the principles and applications of computerized process control systems including the application of serial and Ethernet communication.  
  • Considerable knowledge of Microsoft software including, Operating Systems, Domain Servers, Excel, Word, and Outlook.   
  • Considerable knowledge of PC’s both hardware and software.   
  • Considerable knowledge of programming software including PLC Ladder logic, OPC data exchange and Operator Interface Unit (OIU) development.   
  • Knowledge of networking and database management.   
  • Ability to plan and supervise the work of others in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale. ·
  • Ability to coordinate process control instrumentation with operation, maintenance, and construction activities. 
  • Ability to supervise the field inspection of process control systems done on contract.  
  • Ability to prepare cost estimates for design and construction.   
  • Ability to check process control systems against plans and specifications. 
  • Ability to perform routine maintenance on the process control system.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from a four-year accredited college or university majoring in engineering, computer and cybersecurity engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or electronic engineering technology, and two years of experience in the design or maintenance of computer-based process control or process instrumentation systems.

Promotional Requirement

  • None
CLASS: 20003295; EST: 7/1/2015; REV: 2/1/2024;