Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Maintenance Machinist

Position Description

The City of Tacoma Environmental Services Department, Operations and Maintenance Division is seeking Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Maintenance Machinists, Millwrights and Mechanics to perform complex duties in the maintenance and repair of wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, machinery, industrial equipment, and related systems. Ideal candidates will possess the ability to fabricate special tools, parts and equipment as well as proven experience within an industrial setting. If this sounds like you, then this might be the opportunity you have been searching for.

Our successful candidate will have a skill set that includes:

• Outstanding ability to work well with others in a team environment
• Knowledge of the tools and equipment used in Water/Wastewater treatment plants
• The ability to fabricate special tools and/or parts
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work from blueprints, shop drawings and sketches
• Proven background with maintenance and repair work
• Excellent attendance

Essential Duties Include:

• Perform various preventive maintenance and repair duties on equipment as assigned; inspect equipment to assure proper and efficient operation; utilize a variety of appropriate hand and power tools
• Maintain and repair pumps, burners, mechanical screens, conveyors, storm gates, blowers, piping, instruments, digestion tanks, vacuum filters, electric motors, circuit breakers and related equipment
• Operate arc and acetylene welding equipment to fabricate special tools, parts and equipment as required.
• Plan and execute machine shop work with defined schedules, interruptions and re-prioritization of assignments
• Set up and operate lathe, mill, grinder, drill press and other metalworking machines for manufacturing parts to high precision tolerances and for fabricating specialized tools and fixtures
• Remove, transport, replace and install equipment; repair or rebuild as necessary using various equipment such as mobile cranes and portable lifting devices
• Operate a variety of tools, machinery and equipment such as lathes, grinders, presses, welding and burning equipment, milling machines, various meters, drills and wrenches; operate various forklifts and City vehicles
• Perform basic electrical, mechanical, painting, carpentry and incidental masonry work as required; perform repair work for other departments as assigned; identify the source of oil spills and assist with oil removal as required
• Maintain equipment, work areas and facilities in a safe, clean and orderly condition
• Maintain machine shop equipment, perform preventative maintenance, troubleshoot equipment operation, maintain orderliness in machine shop and needed stock of raw materials and supplies; perform sharpening procedures on a variety of cutting tools
• Contact or communicate with other departments, vendors, outside organizations and agencies or others to provide and receive information and services related to job duties
• Prepare electronic records, logs and reports related to daily activities; order and transport parts and supplies according to established procedures; attend meetings and seminars as required
• Perform related duties as assigned
• This position does not supervise but does assist in the training of lower level staff
• Assist the supervisor/lead/ planner scheduler in work record keeping, workload planning and estimating

The Principles that Guide Us:
Tacoma, the City of Destiny , has a workforce of dedicated, talented employees with unique skills and perspectives. We embrace innovation and strive for excellence and community engagement. The Principles that Guide Us, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Equity, speak to the values that we embody as City of Tacoma employees, and represent the core of our work in public service.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Work includes indoor and outdoor environment
• Subject to driving from site to site and noise, and working in confined spaces with fumes and odors

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions.

• A position in this class is generally exposed to prolonged period of standing, bending, climbing, loud industrial noises, fumes, and gases, working in confined spaces, above and underground, use and operating a variety of hand/power tools, equipment, and machinery requiring finger and hand dexterity, working in the field or in a plant working environment in all types of weather conditions and using proper safety equipment and devices
• Walking, sitting, climbing or descending ladders and ability to enter tight and confined spaces
• Position requires positioning self under and/or around equipment, ascending/descending, and moving objects weighing 90 pounds or more.
• An employee in this position may be exposed to potentially hazardous materials

Qualifications

An equivalent combination to:

Graduation from high school

AND

Completion of approved four (4) year machinist apprenticeship program and/or college level technical training (i.e. Associate of Applied Science or equivalent two (2) year technical certificated training program)

OR

Five (5) years of experience as a journey-level machinist OR five (5) years of experience as a WWTP Maintenance Technician

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Valid Washington State driver's license at the time of appointment with maintenance thereafter.

Knowledge & Skills

• Methods, tools, equipment and materials used in waste water treatment plant equipment maintenance, repair, removal and installation
• Journey level knowledge and demonstrated experience in the machinist and tool and die trade equipment and procedures in an industrial environment
• Knowledge of welding practices, metal heat treating principles, thread norms and applications, metal classification numbering system
• Knowledge and understanding of machine speeds and feeds for various materials metal removal.
• Journey level understanding of principles and procedures of mechanical, plumbing, maintenance trades, basic electrical and machine tool operation
• Personal hygiene, safety techniques, testing methods and procedures associated with working with dangerous or hazardous gases and/or confined spaces in a waste water treatment plant
• Record-keeping technique
• Performs skilled maintenance and repair work for waste water treatment plants using a variety of hand held power tools and test equipment
• Read and interpret various meters
• Work from blueprints, shop drawings and sketches. Understand and follow oral and written directions. Perform heavy manual labor
• Learn to apply hygiene, safety and health procedures related to waste water treatment plant and assigned duties
• Meet schedules and defined time lines
• Operate various forklifts, City vehicles and mobile equipment
• Inspect equipment, diagnose problems and correct as needed

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

Application Process

Interested individual 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.

Examination Process:
This is a competitive selection process. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their responses to Supplemental Questions # 10-14 reviewed and scored by a committee of subject matter experts, as the Experience and Training Test. 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. DO NOT respond with "see resume" in lieu of answering these questions; this will result in a failing score.

Applicants who pass the test will be placed on an eligible list for potential interview and hiring consideration. The eligible list established for this position will be used to fill vacancies and provide set-ups for one year. This position is covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Tacoma and Local 160. New employee must successfully complete a nine-month probationary period prior to obtaining permanent status in this classification.

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.

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.

City of Tacoma’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

The City of Tacoma believes that diversity of thought, background, and experience contributes to our success and innovation. If you’re passionate about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply. If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.

The Community

Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details:

Hourly Rate: $46.68 - $51.46

Annual Salary: $97,094.40 - $107,036.80

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma

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 age26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 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.

Closing Date/Time: 3/20/2026 4:00 PM Pacific

• 

• City of Tacoma

• 253-591-5400

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