Austin Water Treatment Operations & Maintenance Technician Assistant - Hornsby Bend Biosolid Management Plant (NIGHT SHIFT)

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer-we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. Our guiding principles-Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity - anchor our approach in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austin residents. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.

What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
  
• Diverse and Inclusive Workplace: Work in an environment where every voice is valued, and Innovation thrives.
  
• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
  
• Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
  
• Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
  
• Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
  
• Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
  
• Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments designed to foster collaboration and inspiration.
  

By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

ABOUT AUSTIN WATER:
For over 100 years, Austin Water has been committed to providing safe, reliable, high-quality, and affordable water services to our customers. Today, we serve over 1,000,000 people in the Austin metropolitan area, across more than 548 square miles.

Austin Water has three water treatment plants: Handcox, Davis, and Ullrich. These facilities draw water from the Colorado River, filter and treat it according to federal and state standards to provide safe drinking water for the community.

Walnut Creek and South Austin Regional are Austin Water's two wastewater treatment plants. These sites can receive up to 150 million gallons per day of sewage to treat before it is returned to the Colorado River. Austin Water's biosolids facility, Hornsby Bend, receives sludge generated by the treatment processes at the wastewater plants and uses it to create compost for land application and public sales.

More than a billion gallons of this high-quality effluent are reclaimed each year for outdoor irrigation, industrial cooling, manufacturing, and other uses.

Austin Water consistently ranks among the best in the country when it comes to water quality. We also treat, return, and recycle wastewater in ways that protect environmental resources. Austin Water exceeds federal and state requirements for clean water and environmental compliance at our water and wastewater treatment plants.

Job Description:

Purpose:

Under general supervision, this position performs a variety of moderately complex tasks to provide operational and general maintenance support at a water or wastewater treatment plant, wastewater collection, water distribution systems facility, stormwater pump station, or remote stormwater facility. Performs in both operations and maintenance disciplines.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Performs process control tasks under normal, temporary, and emergency operating conditions; conducts tests to determine proper chemical feed rates, calibrate field instruments, and make changes to chemical pumping rate as required. chemical feeds.
  
• Maintains balanced and consistent operation of plant equipment based on established process control techniques.
  
• Ensures plant processes are always operating within regulated parameters as mandated by State, Federal, and department requirements; reports out-of-compliance occurrences to supervisor and superintendent.
  
• Performs preventative maintenance tasks such as lubrication, changing equipment oil/fluids, and installing packing, bearings, and seals.
  
• Performs predictive and corrective maintenance on specialized treatment facility equipment such as pumps, blowers, clarifiers, and valves.
  
• Troubleshoots and resolves mechanical and process failures; conducts routine rounds of the plant to monitor treatment process, identify and troubleshoot process, resolve anomalies or mechanical problems with plant equipment; and escalates more complex issues as necessary.
  
• Monitors and interprets data from SCADA systems, computerized control systems, and instrument panels and gauges in order to make basic to advanced process changes under normal and temporary operating conditions.
  
• Maintains facility operations and maintenance records using log books, databases, and spreadsheets; assists with generating trend analysis and reports from historical data.
  
• Assists with on-the-job training of Water Treatment Plant Workers and Water Treatment Operations & Maintenance Technician Associates.
  
• Acts as a member of Confined Space Entry Team and may serve as entrant, attendant, or lead.
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

May lead or coordinate a shift or work group as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of stormwater pump station, water/wastewater treatment, lift stations, and/or water systems operations processes and procedures, and regulatory requirements under normal operation conditions.
  
• Knowledge of basic to moderate utility mathematical formulas including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, decimalized numbers, fractions, and percentages.
  
• Knowledge of basic chemistry, chemical properties, and methods and precautions for receiving, storing, and handling of hazardous chemicals.
  
• Knowledge of diagnostic techniques and troubleshooting methodology.
  
• Skill in reading diagrams and technical drawings.
  
• Skill in using computers and related software.
  
• Skill in operating a motor vehicle and motorized equipment.
  
• Skill in operating manual and automated valves, pumps, and control systems.
  
• Skill in using hand tools and power tools.
  
• Skill in precision alignment of rotating equipment.
  
• Skill in using lifts, hoists, and rigging.
  
• Skill in preparing written reports.
  
• Ability to operate and select proper breathing apparatus and respirators, which includes SCBA and atmospheric monitors, in compliance with Utility Respiratory Protection Policy/Procedures.
  
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
  
• Ability to read and follow technical guidelines and standard operating procedures.
  
• Ability to take readings from meters, gauges, control panels, and testing and monitoring equipment.
  
• Ability to meet and maintain driver eligibility standards detailed in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus three (3) years of experience in a work environment such as stormwater pump station, process control, operations, water distribution or wastewater collections, construction, or in the operation, repair, and maintenance of mechanical or industrial equipment.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Must hold appropriate TCEQ License as specified by position at time of hire or promotion.
  
• May require a valid Texas Commercial Driver's License with endorsements.
  
• Valid current Texas Class C Driver License.
  
• Must be certified for Respiratory Protection and Confined-Space Entry Program at time of promotion or within six (6) months of employment.
  
• Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations: TCEQ Class C Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator License.
  

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work in hazardous environments with exposure to hazardous chemicals and solvents.
  
• Ability to climb ladders and work at heights of up to 200 feet.
  
• Ability to work in confined spaces up to 100 feet deep requiring the use of SRL Body Harness that supports up to 283 pounds.
  
• Ability to walk, stand, sit, bend, stoop, twist, push, pull, climb, kneel, crawl, and lift/carry up to fifty (50) pounds unassisted.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience operating and performing preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, repair and rebuilding of industrial equipment and machinery.
  
• Experience working in an industrial setting; which could include treatment plant, oil, gas or refinery, mining, automotive and heavy machinery repair.
  
• Experience performing facility operation and maintenance tasks related to process control and process optimization.
  
• Training or experience in plumbing or pipefitting.
  
• Training or experience in welding and metal fabrication.
  
• Experience using computerized work order system, basic computer navigation skills and ability to learn new software applications.
  

Notes to Candidate:

Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant receives biosolids that are generated from the wastewater treatment process and further processes these solids to create compost for land application and public sales.

Position Overview:

The Austin Water Treatment Operations & Maintenance Technician Assistant is responsible for performing wastewater treatment plant operations and maintenance task, which includes but is not limited to:

• Operations: operating process control systems that run treatment plant processes, monitoring process control systems, managing chemical dosage in water basins, testing water samples, and recording and reporting water samples readings.
  
• Maintenance: performing mechanical work on plant equipment and machines, such as preventative and scheduled maintenance, diagnostic and corrective maintenance, new equipment installation and equipment rebuilds.
  

Pay Range: $27.41 - $33.30 per hour

Position(s) will be filled at the following location:
Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant
2210 S FM 973, Austin, Texas 78725

THIS IS A NIGHT SHIFT POSITION:

Days and Hours: Sunday - Saturday: 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (Operations - NIGHT SHIFT)

• This position is considered essential and may be required to work weekends, holidays, overtime, callback, and on-call.
  

Benefits:

Working with Austin Water provides a number of health and welfare benefits, such as medical, paid leave time, a great retirement plan, training opportunities and more - click HERE for more information. Additionally, this position offers a career progression plan, which provides a unique opportunity to promote without having to go through the competitive process. As employees go through on-the-job training to develop new skills and abilities and obtain the appropriate license, they are eligible to submit for Career Progression, which allows them to demonstrate knowledge and skills without having to interview for the promotion.

Retention Incentive Bonus:

This position may be eligible for an Incentive Bonus of up to $3,000!

$500 after 90 days.

$500 after 180 days.

$1,000 after 1 year.

$1,000 after 2 years.

Technical Licensure:

This position requires a Class C Wastewater Operator License from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) at the time of hire. TCEQ may restrict granting an occupational license to individuals with certain criminal convictions. To review TCEQ’s criminal conviction guidelines, go online to TCEQ .

Driving Requirement:
This position requires a valid current Texas Class “C” Driver License or the ability to acquire one by your hire date. External New Hires must meet the City of Austin Driver Safety Standards requisite. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months.

Physical Requirements:

• This position will require that you be able to perform the following essential job functions with confidence and with or without reasonable accommodations: carrying or lifting up to 50 lbs., pushing or pulling up to 50 lbs., sitting, standing, walking, lying, climbing stairs and ladders, reaching overhead, kneeling, crawling, stooping/bending, twisting, repetitive foot and hand movement, driving, grasping and squeezing, ability to wear personal protective equipment including a self-contained breathing apparatus, exposure to extreme weather conditions, atmospheric conditions, hazardous conditions, and very loud noise.
  
• Selected candidate will be required to complete and pass a pre-employment physical exam to be considered for this position, which includes a Functional (FC)strength/agility test.
  

Confined-Space Entry Requirements:

• Candidates must be able to work in environments which may have hazardous atmospheres, or in confined spaces where there is limited or restricted means for entry and exit, or where the activities of an employee are hindered.
  
• Candidates must be able to qualify for the Utility’s Respiratory Protection Program.
  
• Candidates must be clean shaven to meet the Utility’s Respiratory Protection Program guidelines which requires the use of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).
  

Climbing Requirements:

Candidates must be able to perform duties with confidence at sites where climbing ladders and working at heights of up to 200 feet and descending into confined spaces up to 100 feet deep with the use of a required SRL body harness that supports weight as designated by work area.

When completing the City of Austin employment application:

• A detailed, complete employment application is required. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine salary if you are selected for this position.
  
• Provide each job title and accurate employment dates for all jobs included on the application.
  
• Your work history should include the duties you performed, any supervisory or lead responsibilities, and any equipment and computer software used.
  
• The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
  
• Although you have the option to attach your resume, a resume is not required.
  
• Statements such as “see resume” will be considered incomplete.
  

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution.
  
• And are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
  

Essential Employee:

• This has been designated as an Essential Employee position. In the event of a City-designated emergency, Essential Employees provide services that impact the public health, safety, utility services, and welfare of members of the Austin community and other employees and ensure the continuity of essential operations. In such an emergency, Essential Employees may be called back in, may be required to modify their schedule, may be assigned to a City-designated work site, or may be retained on site to assist with operations and recovery.
  

Secondary Employment:

• All Austin Water employees are prohibited from accepting or engaging in any secondary employment that might conflict or interfere with an employee’s duty and responsibility to the Department.
  
• Austin Water must review all secondary employment.
  
• Employees are required to submit a Secondary Employment Application for review and approval upon being hired with Austin Water, as well as current Austin Water employees considering secondary employment.
  

To learn more about what it means to be a Treatment Operations & Maintenance Technician Associate and the benefits of working for Austin Water, please click here for our informational brochure .

For general information about a career as a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant System Operator, click HERE .

All Austin Water worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any AW worksite - including construction sites, parking lots, garages or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

Important Note to Applicants:
Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Closing Date/Time: 2025-09-05

• 

• City of Austin

Show more