Rainbow Municipal Water District
SCADA Technician
…k Places 2021-2025. Background is light blue with a fade into a photo of workers in hard hats looking at a SCADA screen.
This is a rare opportunity to step into a high-impact SCADA and controls role at a small public water agency where your work is visible, valued, and essential. We’re recruiting due to the retirement of a long-tenured employee and are intentionally evolving the role to strengthen in-house PLC, SCADA, instrumentation, and controls expertise that supports critical water and wastewater operations.
If you enjoy solving complex problems, working independently, and knowing people are counting on you when systems matter most, this role offers meaningful work, broad technical responsibility, and true ownership of systems that make a difference every day.
This Role Is Right for You If…
• You bring a sense of urgency to your work and understand that SCADA and communications systems support essential services people rely on every day.
• You’re eager to learn, build new skills, and stay current as SCADA, controls, and automation technologies evolve.
• You’re motivated by improving systems, not just maintaining them, and are interested in strengthening communications and controls to enable more automation and better use of staff time.
• You’re comfortable working independently, prioritizing tasks, and making thoughtful decisions—while knowing when to collaborate or ask questions.
• You enjoy problem-solving, digging into how systems work, and implementing solutions that improve reliability over the long term.
• You take pride in leaving systems better than you found them, with clear documentation and a focus on sustainability.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
- Flexible entry point: We’re open to hiring at the SCADA Technician I or II level, depending on experience, and growing your career from there.
- Generous compensation: The final compensation offered will depend on the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate:
- Electrical/SCADA Technician I: $41.56 – $56.11 per hour
- Electrical/SCADA Technician II: $45.82 – $61.86 per hour
- Customized benefits: A benefits package designed to meet your unique needs, including five health care options (some free), five weeks of PTO to start, CalPERS pension, tuition, and student loan repayments. See the benefits tab for more information.
- Best of all: A great team! Enjoy a collaborative and supportive work environment that has been named a San Diego Union-Tribune Top Workplace for five years running.
How You’ll Contribute
As our next Electrical/SCADA Technician, you’ll play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of our water distribution and wastewater collection systems as the primary person responsible for our district’s motor controls and SCADA systems. Your expertise will ensure the reliable and efficient operation of our water distribution and wastewater collection systems. This position offers autonomy, challenges, and opportunities for learning and growth in a dynamic environment.
Responsibilities vary by level, but this is the core of the role:
• SCADA & controls systems: Maintain and troubleshoot SCADA, PLCs, instrumentation, radios, and industrial networks supporting water and wastewater operations
• PLC programming: Modify and build PLC programs using Connected Components Workbench, Studio 5000, and Logix Designer
• Operator visibility: Develop and support Ignition HMI screens, SQL queries, and Python scripts to improve system monitoring and response
• Industrial networking: Support switch configurations and troubleshoot network connectivity issues in SCADA environments
• Field-based work: Travel to District facilities to inspect, test, and resolve SCADA, instrumentation, and communications issues
• System ownership & reliability: Evaluate system conditions and operational risk, proactively identify improvement opportunities, and help strengthen reliability and automation over time
• Coordination & documentation: Prioritize work, maintain SCADA architecture documentation, and coordinate with Operations, Engineering, IT, and contractors
• Electrical backup: Provide basic electrical and instrumentation troubleshooting support as needed
The complete job descriptions can be found here:
The Ideal Candidate
This role is ideal for someone who brings a sense of urgency, enjoys problem-solving, and is motivated by improving systems—not just maintaining them. You’re comfortable working independently, eager to learn and grow as technologies evolve, and take pride in leaving systems more reliable and efficient than you found them.
Any combination of training, education, and experience demonstrating possession of the knowledge and abilities required to perform the position’s duties is qualifying. Typically, this includes:
For the Electrical/SCADA Technician I level: ($41.56 – $56.11 per hour)
• Experience or training in SCADA, PLCs, controls, instrumentation, or industrial communications
• Basic PLC knowledge (ladder logic, variables, connecting to PLCs)
• Exposure to Allen-Bradley platforms or a strong ability and interest in learning
• Ability to work safely around electrical panels and troubleshoot 4–20 mA instrumentation
• CWEA Electrical & Instrumentation Grade 1 Certification (or ability to obtain within 12 months)
• Willingness to complete Ignition training/certification within 12 months
To be eligible for the Electrical/SCADA Technician II level: $45.82 – $61.86 per hour
In addition to the qualifications for level I, you should also have:
• Several years of hands-on experience with SCADA, PLCs, or industrial automation
• Ability to independently develop, implement, and troubleshoot PLC programs
• Experience with Connected Components Workbench, Studio 5000, and Logix Designer
• Experience supporting Inductive Automation’s Ignition platform (screens, queries, scripting, or configuration)
• Experience with industrial networks or radio communications systems
• Rockwell Automation PLC Programmer Certification and Ignition credential (or equivalent experience)
• CWEA Electrical & Instrumentation Grade 2 Certification (preferred; required within one year of appointment)
• Ability to work independently and evaluate priorities, considering the operational impact of communication failures
Does this sound like you?
If you enjoy owning systems, solving real problems, and working in an environment where your expertise makes a visible difference, we’d love to hear from you.
What to Expect
The Team
• You will be part of a small IT department (5 people) covering IT, SCADA, and electrical systems
• Reports to a supportive IT Manager who values mentoring, innovation, and growing in-house SCADA and PLC capabilities
How the Work Happens
• Mix of field work and focused technical work (programming, configuration, documentation)
• Single-incumbent SCADA role — you’ll be the primary owner of SCADA and control systems
• Backup support is available from cross-trained IT staff during emergencies
Expectations for Independence
• Even at the SCADA Technician I level, you’re expected to hit the ground running using prior PLC/SCADA experience or training
• Success requires comfort working independently and making decisions within your role
Learning & Development
• The District supports outside training and certifications to deepen your skills and keep pace with new technologies
• Some certifications require self-directed study outside work hours, which candidates should be comfortable with
Work Conditions
• Hands-on, industrial environment supporting water and wastewater facilities
• Some tasks occasionally require climbing up to 50 feet, entering confined spaces, or wearing specialized PPE
After-Hours & Emergencies
• May be contacted outside normal hours for urgent SCADA or electrical issues
• Designated Disaster Service Worker under California law
• No regular standby rotation restricting personal time
This Role May NOT Be for You If…
• You’re looking for a role with intensive on-the-job shadowing or step-by-step training.
• You prefer narrowly defined work with limited ownership or decision-making.
• You’re uncomfortable being the primary technical resource for SCADA and control systems.
• Occasional work at heights, in confined spaces, or in wastewater environments is a non-starter.
• You’re unwilling to engage in self-directed learning to prepare for certifications or stay current with new technology.