Wastewater Plant Operator I/II
The Wastewater Plant Operator I/II operates and maintains wastewater treatment plant equipment to ensure effective processing of wastewater, sludge, and effluent. The role involves monitoring plant operations, performing routine maintenance, conducting laboratory tests, and ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Operators may also assist in training junior staff and are required to possess relevant certifications and mechanical skills to manage plant machinery independently.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Engineering.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
What You’ll Do
Confidential Client is seeking candidates to operate and maintain municipal wastewater treatment plant equipment and systems at an assigned shift. This role supports safe, compliant treatment operations and reliable service to the community.
- Operate wastewater treatment systems to control flow, treatment processes, sludge handling and effluent quality; monitor gauges, meters and control panels and interpret results to determine processing needs.
- Start/stop and adjust pumps, motors, valves and gates; operate boilers and other plant machinery.
- Perform routine maintenance and repairs to plant equipment, tanks and piping; use hand and power tools safely.
- Collect and document samples; perform routine laboratory tests and log operational data.
- Enter and analyze plant data in computer systems; plot trends and support reporting.
- Operate plant vehicles and heavy equipment (e.g., loaders, dump trucks) as assigned.
- Connect/disconnect chlorine cylinders and follow chemical safety procedures.
- Assist in training and guiding less-experienced operators; perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum qualifications include a combination of experience, training and license requirements appropriate to the level:
- Wastewater Plant Operator I
- Typical: High school diploma or GED plus six (6) college units or CEUs in a related field (or education sufficient for Grade I eligibility).
- Experience: One year working with mechanical equipment and tools (entry-level).
- Certification: Will be required to obtain a Grade I Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification within 18 months of hire.
- Wastewater Plant Operator II
- Typical: Meets education/experience to be eligible for Grade II certification.
- Experience: Two years of wastewater plant operator experience comparable to Operator I (or equivalent experience required for Grade II eligibility).
- Certification: Possession of a Grade II Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate (State of California) is required for the Operator II appointment.
- Licenses & other requirements:
- Valid California driver’s license at time of appointment; maintain as a condition of employment.
- Ability to read meters/gauges, learn SCADA systems and access related software.
- Ability to perform physical work: lift, climb ladders, walk, bend, stand for extended periods and tolerate temperature extremes.
- Skills and attributes:
- Basic mechanical/electrical troubleshooting and safe work practices around gases, chemicals and energized equipment.
- Reliable communication (oral and written), teamwork, and ability to follow written procedures.
- Demonstrated ability to operate computing systems for data entry and trending.
Compensation & Benefits
To comply with pay transparency norms in California, the role includes clear pay ranges by classification:
- Wastewater Plant Operator I: $5,292–$6,433 per month (approximately $63,504–$77,196 annually)
- Wastewater Plant Operator II: $5,835–$7,092 per month (approximately $70,020–$85,104 annually)
Benefits overview (typical public-sector package offered by Confidential Client):
- Paid holidays and floating holidays
- Vacation accruals that increase with tenure; paid sick leave
- Retirement plan (CalPERS or similar) with applicable member tiers
- Health, prescription, vision and dental insurance options
- Deferred compensation match and retiree health savings contributions
- Education incentives and tuition reimbursement opportunities (where applicable)
Additional details
- Work environment: Shift assignments with potential for overtime, callback and standby responsibilities; position assigned to a bargaining unit.
- Selection process: Applicants who meet minimum qualifications may be invited to written, oral and/or practical evaluations. Offers contingent on reference checks and a pre-employment medical/drug screen as required.
- Reasonable accommodations: Confidential Client will make efforts to accommodate applicants with disabilities during the recruitment and selection process—please indicate accommodation needs in application materials.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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