Lead Pump and Controls Technician
Location: Waters, Michigan
Employment Type: Full-time
Compensation: $32.00–$42.00 per hour, depending on experience, qualifications, and certifications
About Operations Services, Inc.
Operations Services, Inc. (OSI) is an established provider of water and wastewater operations, maintenance, and technical services. We manage, operate, maintain, and develop solutions for municipal, commercial, industrial, and private utility clients throughout Michigan and several other states.
Our services include water and wastewater system operations, specialized treatment plant services, industrial pretreatment, utility management, laboratory and sampling services, customer billing, and the installation, repair, and maintenance of municipal pump stations, sanitary lift stations, and Environment One (E/One) residential grinder pump systems.
Position Summary
OSI is seeking an experienced Lead Pump and Controls Technician based at our Waters, Michigan facility. This is an advanced technical and field leadership position responsible for troubleshooting, repairing, rebuilding, installing, and commissioning municipal pump stations, wastewater lift stations, control panels, telemetry systems, and E/One residential grinder pump systems.
The Lead Technician will diagnose complex electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and control-system problems involving pumps, motors, three-phase power, control panels, variable-frequency drives, level controls, alarms, and remote call-out systems. This position will also lead field crews, train technicians, coordinate work with customers and contractors, and help determine the labor, equipment, parts, and materials needed to complete assignments safely and efficiently.
The successful candidate must be capable of working independently, making sound field decisions, and communicating technical findings and repair recommendations to supervisors, customers, engineers, equipment suppliers, and contractors.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Pump and Mechanical Systems
- Lead the inspection, troubleshooting, repair, installation, and maintenance of municipal pump stations and wastewater lift stations.
- Troubleshoot, repair, replace, and install E/One residential grinder pump stations and related components.
- Remove, disassemble, inspect, repair, rebuild, test, and reinstall submersible, centrifugal, grinder, and other wastewater pumps.
- Diagnose problems involving pumps, motors, impellers, seals, bearings, guide rails, discharge piping, valves, check valves, and related mechanical equipment.
- Evaluate pump performance using operating data, pump curves, amperage readings, wet-well drawdown testing, and other diagnostic methods.
- Identify the cause of recurring pump failures, excessive run times, low pumping rates, overheating, seal failures, vibration, noise, and equipment alarms.
- Assist with bypass pumping, wet-well cleaning, pump removal, confined-space activities, and emergency repairs.
- Recommend whether equipment should be repaired, rebuilt, replaced, or further evaluated.
Electrical and Control Systems
- Troubleshoot single-phase and three-phase electrical systems associated with pumps, motors, lift stations, and grinder pump systems.
- Troubleshoot control voltages and pump power circuits, including common 120/240/208/480-volt systems.
- Read and interpret electrical schematics, ladder diagrams, wiring diagrams, control-panel drawings, and equipment manuals.
- Perform control-panel wiring, equipment connections, component replacement, and modifications within the limits of the employee’s training and applicable licensing requirements.
- Troubleshoot and replace motor starters, contactors, overloads, relays, breakers, fuses, transformers, power supplies, phase monitors, alternators, timers, switches, and other control-panel components.
- Troubleshoot floats, pressure transducers, ultrasonic level sensors, probes, level controllers, and pump sequencing controls.
- Diagnose phase loss, phase reversal, voltage imbalance, overcurrent, grounding, short-circuit, and motor-rotation problems.
- Use multimeters, clamp meters, megohmmeters, phase-rotation meters, and other electrical testing equipment safely and correctly.
- Troubleshoot and configure variable-frequency drives and soft-start systems.
- Verify proper pump rotation, operating amperage, voltage, control sequencing, alarm operation, and equipment protection.
- Maintain accurate wiring diagrams and clearly document control-panel changes and field modifications.
- Coordinate licensed electrical work when repairs or installations exceed OSI’s authorization or the technician’s qualifications.
Telemetry, Alarm, and Call-Out Systems
- Install, configure, test, and troubleshoot remote monitoring, telemetry, and call-out systems used at municipal pump stations and lift stations.
- Install and configure alarm dialers, cellular telemetry units, antennas, batteries, power supplies, digital inputs, analog inputs, and alarm outputs.
- Integrate high-level alarms, pump-failure alarms, power-failure alarms, seal-failure alarms, generator alarms, and other operating conditions into remote monitoring systems.
- Work with systems such as Mission Communications, Sensaphone, OmniSite, or similar cellular and SCADA-based monitoring platforms.
- Program alarm conditions, call lists, notification settings, and basic system configurations.
- Test alarm activation, remote notifications, cellular communication, power-failure operation, and battery backup.
- Assist with diagnosing communication failures, intermittent alarms, faulty input signals, and remote monitoring problems.
- Coordinate with customers, system providers, electricians, engineers, and control-system integrators when necessary.
Installation and Commissioning
- Lead the installation and startup of pumps, motors, control panels, level controls, telemetry equipment, valves, piping, and related pump-station equipment.
- Perform pre-startup inspections and verify that equipment is installed according to approved plans, manufacturer requirements, and applicable safety standards.
- Test pump operation in hand and automatic modes.
- Verify lead-lag operation, pump alternation, alarm setpoints, level settings, generator operation, and emergency control functions.
- Document startup conditions, equipment settings, amperage readings, voltage readings, alarm testing, and identified deficiencies.
- Assist with reviewing plans, specifications, equipment submittals, and control-panel drawings for constructability and operational concerns.
- Develop repair scopes, equipment lists, material requirements, and field recommendations.
- Assist management with preparing labor estimates, repair proposals, and replacement recommendations.
Field Leadership and Customer Service
- Serve as the lead technician on assigned service calls, installation projects, emergency responses, and maintenance activities.
- Direct and coordinate the daily work of technicians, subcontractors, equipment operators, and other field personnel.
- Assign tasks based on employee training, qualifications, and job-site conditions.
- Provide hands-on training and technical guidance to pump technicians and other OSI employees.
- Ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with OSI procedures and customer requirements.
- Conduct or participate in pre-job planning, job-hazard analysis, tailgate safety meetings, and equipment inspections.
- Communicate equipment conditions, repair options, costs, and operational concerns clearly and professionally.
- Serve as a primary field contact for municipal representatives, utility operators, property managers, contractors, engineers, vendors, and residents.
- Investigate customer concerns and help resolve service issues professionally.
- Monitor contractor work and provide field oversight when assigned.
- Notify management promptly of safety concerns, significant equipment failures, potential sanitary sewer overflows, unauthorized discharges, or other regulatory concerns.
- May act as the field supervisor in the supervisor’s absence.
Documentation and General Responsibilities
- Complete accurate service reports, inspection forms, startup records, equipment histories, photographs, test results, and daily work logs.
- Document electrical readings, control settings, alarm tests, wiring changes, equipment deficiencies, and recommended corrective actions.
- Identify required parts, tools, equipment, and materials for planned and emergency work.
- Assist with maintaining service-truck and shop inventory.
- Maintain company tools, vehicles, electrical testing equipment, safety equipment, and work areas in clean and serviceable condition.
- Collect water or wastewater samples and perform basic field testing when assigned.
- Operate company vehicles, trailers, lifting equipment, generators, pumps, and other specialized equipment for which the employee is trained and authorized.
- Participate in OSI’s after-hours emergency on-call rotation.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Safety Responsibilities
- Make safety the highest priority and enforce OSI safe work practices, standard operating procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Follow lockout/tagout procedures before servicing electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, or rotating equipment.
- Verify the absence of hazardous energy before beginning work.
- Follow electrical safe-work practices and use properly rated testing equipment and personal protective equipment.
- Use atmospheric monitors, fall-protection equipment, confined-space equipment, traffic-control devices, and other required safety equipment.
- Participate in confined-space work only when properly trained, equipped, authorized, and included under an approved entry procedure.
- Stop work and notify management when unsafe conditions exist or when work exceeds the qualifications or authorization of the assigned personnel.
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- At least five years of progressively responsible experience involving pump systems, wastewater lift stations, industrial maintenance, electrical controls, or closely related work.
- At least three years of hands-on experience troubleshooting pump control panels and associated electrical systems.
- Demonstrated experience working with single-phase and three-phase electrical systems.
- Demonstrated ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, ladder diagrams, wiring diagrams, pump curves, equipment manuals, and construction drawings.
- Demonstrated experience troubleshooting pumps, motors, starters, control panels, floats, level controls, alarms, and related equipment.
- Ability to diagnose complex mechanical, electrical, and control-system problems independently.
- Ability to use electrical meters and diagnostic equipment safely and correctly.
- Experience leading field crews, coordinating service work, or training less-experienced technicians.
- Ability to prepare accurate service documentation and clearly communicate technical findings and recommendations.
- Valid Michigan driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
- Ability to use email, mobile devices, electronic work-order systems, and other job-related software.
- Ability to participate in an after-hours on-call rotation and respond to emergency service calls.
- Ability to travel to customer locations throughout Michigan and occasionally outside the state.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience maintaining municipal wastewater lift stations and pump stations.
- Experience repairing and maintaining Environment One (E/One) grinder pump systems.
- Experience rebuilding submersible, centrifugal, and grinder pumps.
- Experience installing and commissioning pump control panels.
- Experience troubleshooting variable-frequency drives, soft starters, phase monitors, and motor-protection equipment.
- Experience installing or troubleshooting Mission Communications, OmniSite, SCADA, cellular telemetry, or similar remote monitoring systems.
- Experience with generators, automatic transfer switches, bypass pumping, wet-well cleaning, and confined-space work.
- State of Michigan electrical license or documented electrical-control training.
- Michigan wastewater operator certification or the ability and willingness to obtain applicable certifications.
- CDL or other relevant trade, safety, mechanical, electrical, or equipment-operation certifications.
Work Schedule and On-Call Responsibilities
This is a full-time position generally scheduled for 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. The position requires participation in an after-hours on-call rotation and may include evening, weekend, holiday, and emergency work.
The Lead Technician may be required to coordinate or respond to pump failures, high-level alarms, power failures, sanitary sewer backups, storm events, and other utility emergencies. Extended shifts may occasionally be required during emergency conditions.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
This position regularly involves work around wastewater, sewage, chemicals, electrical equipment, rotating machinery, traffic, uneven terrain, open wet wells, and other industrial hazards.
The employee must be able to:
- Work in wet, dirty, dusty, hot, humid, cold, noisy, or odorous environments.
- Work outdoors during rain, snow, heat, cold, and other inclement weather.
- Frequently stand, walk, climb, bend, kneel, stoop, reach, push, and pull.
- Safely lift and move equipment or materials weighing up to 75 pounds, with assistance or lifting equipment used when appropriate.
- Climb ladders and work around pump stations, wet wells, tanks, and utility structures.
- Wear required personal protective equipment for extended periods.
- Work near wastewater, moving machinery, energized equipment, and other industrial hazards.
- Maintain concentration while troubleshooting complex equipment, completing technical records, reading drawings, and performing detailed repair work.
- Work extended shifts during emergency conditions, including occasional shifts of 12 hours or longer.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Compensation and Benefits
OSI offers an hourly wage of $32.00–$42.00, depending on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, certifications, and demonstrated technical abilities.
The benefits package includes:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Group life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage
- Paid holidays
- Paid vacation and personal time
- Company-provided safety and technical training
Selection Process
The selection process may include an application and résumé review, interviews, reference checks, driving-record review, technical skills assessment, and other job-related testing or verification.
Technical testing may include interpreting wiring diagrams, troubleshooting a simulated control circuit, identifying control-panel components, demonstrating safe use of electrical testing equipment, and diagnosing pump or alarm-system problems.
The selected candidate will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment medical examination and drug screening.
Operations Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.
Pay: $32.00 - $42.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
