SCADA Systems Technologist, Wastewater

Requisition ID: 19406
Department: Infrastructure & Water Services Dept.
Service: Water Facilities & Treatment Services
Branch: Water Production - West Branch
Employment Type: 1 Full-time Permanent -
Work Hours: 40.00 hours per week
Affiliation: CUPE 503 Inside/Outside
Salary Information: $87,694.88 - $102,602.24 annually (2024 rates of pay)
Location: Brit Plant, 2731 Cassels Street
City: Ottawa, ON
Job Category: Planning and Infrastructure
Application Close: 24/02/2026

JOB SUMMARY

The Wastewater Treatment Branch manages the operation and maintenance of the major City wastewater treatment facility and various communal treatment systems, provides technical expertise for wastewater treatment process technologies, and is responsible to protect public health by ensuring all environmental compliances and preventive and corrective maintenance are performed as required. The Wastewater Collection Branch is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the City’s Wastewater Collection infrastructure and systems including communal wastewater treatment facilities and wastewater system, and oversees the Sewer Use Program.

You are responsible for technical support for the day-to-day delivery of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)* system for Wastewater Services, which enables the monitoring, operation and control of all City-wide wastewater collection and treatment processes, and related equipment, linear assets, remote facilities and plant.

This includes responsibility for: designing, developing and implementing complete SCADA systems in Wastewater Services; maintaining the SCADA infrastructure to enable the monitoring, operation and control of all City-wide wastewater collection and treatment processes; administering and ensuring security of the SCADA systems/infrastructure; troubleshooting, diagnosing, and resolving SCADA system malfunctions; and acting as a SCADA technical expert.

*The SCADA system and its entire infrastructure are totally independent of City IT operations since it is a unique industrial system, comprising both legacy and “smart” hardware and software. The SCADA system includes several components: the human–machine interfaces (HMI’s), which are the terminals/screens which present process data to human operators, so they can monitor and control the processes; the computer control systems, which gather (acquire) data on the processes, continuously update databases, and send commands (control) to the processes; programmable logic controllers (PLCs) which connect to sensors in the numerous processes (in the hundreds of sewage pipes, pumping stations, tanks etc. throughout the City), convert sensor signals to digital data, and send digital data to the supervisory system; the communication infrastructure (entire network) which connects the hundreds of PLCs to the computer control systems (comprising servers, WAN, LAN, fibre optics/telecom/satellite and other connections, with switches, routers, firewalls etc.); and various process and analytical instrumentation.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of 3 year community college diploma in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Control Systems or a related field

Minimum of 5 years of experience in the design, implementation, application and maintenance of electronic, instrumentation and SCADA industrial control systems

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENCES

Confined space entry training or completion of this training within the timeframe defined by the employer

KNOWLEDGE

• PLC implementation and real-time programming with Allen-Bradley, SCADAPacks, Modicon and Siemens PLCs
• The design and programming of SCADA human machine interface (HMI) Systems with one or more of the following software applications: Intellution, GE Proficy Cimplicity, OPC Systems, IEC 1131 (international standard for programmable controller programming), ClearSCADA, Wonderware, Rockwell, Siemens
• Programming in C#.NET, VB.NET and Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
• General knowledge of emerging technologies focusing on mobile platform/web based SCADA applications integration
• Local and wide area networks including CISCO switches and routers, TCP/IP protocol and Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA/EIA) cabling standards
• Network security products such as VPN, firewalls and intrusion detection
• Voice/data radio systems including 802.11 a/b/g/N technology, frequency-hopping and direct sequencing spread spectrum modulation techniques and electronic security alarm systems
• The most recent server and network operating systems including MS Windows, Cisco IOS and Oracle
• SCADA infrastructure management tools and applications such as Citrix, SolarWinds and Orion
• Technology infrastructure hardware such as HP Servers, Terminal Servers, Oracle Servers, blade chassis and blades
• Familiar with tagging conventions, data logging and reporting, Boolean logic, symbol convention
• Must have some knowledge of tools such as SCADA Historians, Measurement Systems, Statistical Modelers, etc.
• Wastewater treatment and collections’ equipment and systems
• Technical Safety Standards Association (TSSA) standards for all mechanical, fuel and HVAC equipment
• Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) codes/standards for electrical equipment
• Best practices and principles for the operations and maintenance of plant, facility or linear network assets
• Environmental Services policies, procedures and standards for wastewater processes, operations and maintenance
• Departmental and Branch quality control procedures
• Health and safety procedures and equipment, including hoisting, rigging, protective clothing and equipment, and confined space entry rules and regulations
• Knowledge of applicable health and safety legislation, including the rights and duties of workers

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Use RF and wireless test equipment such as Time Domain Reflectometers (TDR’s), spectrum analyzers, power meters and O-scopes to analyze and debug RF hardware issues
• Analyze and solve a variety of complex control systems’ problems in a timely and efficient manner
• Read and interpret control schematics, specifications and PID control diagrams
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills
• Consult one-on-one with users of the SCADA system, analyze their needs and recommend solutions
• Work both independently and as an effective member of a team offering guidance and support to colleagues
• Work within deadlines and balance competing demands
• Prepare and deliver clear and concise reports, estimates, etc.
• Assist with planning for technology changes
• Patience and tact
• Work effectively under pressure
• Demonstrated initiative and self motivation
• Willing to perform shift work, if required

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Language Requirement: English oral, reading, writing
• Police Record Check: The successful candidate will be required to complete a Criminal Records and Judicial Matters Check (Level 2) with the Police Services detachment in their jurisdiction to the City of Ottawa’s satisfaction.; Police record checks completed by a third-party company will not be accepted.
• Driver’s License Requirement:
• You may initially be paid 95% of your starting rate of pay, in accordance with the collective agreement.
• Experience and formal training combined with demonstrated performance and ability may substitute for stipulated academic requirements.
• Please save a copy of the job poster. Once the closing date has passed, it will no longer be available.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

The City of Ottawa promotes the principles of diversity and inclusion and adheres to the tenets of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women and non-binary persons, persons of all ethnic origins, religions, sexual orientations, classes, gender identities and expressions.
Candidates are encouraged to self-identify as a member of one or more designated employment equity groups in the self-identification questionnaire.

The City of Ottawa provides accommodation to applicants during all parts of the hiring process, upon request.