Instrument Technician

About the position

Job Appointment: Full time

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 6AM - 2:30 PM Training Schedule; then 10-hour shifts 4 days a week

Work Location: Water Interstate Facility, 664 N. Interstate Avenue, Portland, OR 97227

Benefit: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position

Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.

Union Representation: District Council Trade Union (DCTU); To view this labor agreement, please click here. Applicants start at the entry salary rate of $48.18 hourly but will be increased to $49.18 on July 1st, 2025 (subject to City Council approval). If you are a DCTU represented employee, see labor agreement for additional information or talk to your union representative.


Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume. Please upload your licensure and certification if you have it.

Position Summary

The City of Portland is seeking an Instrument Technician to join our dynamic team of highly qualified and innovative technicians that work on complex and varied instruments and control systems. 

Instrument Technicians install, maintain, repair and document electrical, electronic instrument systems. These systems are used to meter, record, analyze, control and monitor water treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs, and metering sites. Instrument Technicians inspect and test instruments and systems, determine the cause of malfunctions, service and repair the instruments and then calibrate the system. Work responsibilities can include developing Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) systems and maintaining and improving existing systems; and maintaining, developing and troubleshooting networked communications and SCADA systems.

As a person, you are:

• Highly collaborative: You can take direction from and advise teams to work towards a common goal. You enjoy working with teams from diverse personal and professional backgrounds and are flexible in how you collaborate.
• Detail Orientated: You have exceptional attention to detail and follow best practices for quality assurance in your work.
• Equity Focused: You understand the connection between equity and the work we do.

• Problem-solving: You can combine your understanding of instrumentation and controls with real-world situations to develop solutions and improvements to the Bureau’s I&C program.
• Adaptable: you can look at established processes and identify and implement changes and improvements, whether through training or technology adaptation. 

About the current vacancy:


The Portland Water Bureau's approximately 600 employees work together to serve almost a million people in the Portland area. The bureau values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization and with the public. The City of Portland Water Bureau’s mission is to serve excellent water every minute of every day to almost 1 million customers in the Portland Metropolitan area. We work to uproot systemic inequities and their impacts on our employees and the people we serve. We are committed to the difficult—and essential—work of transforming Water Bureau policies, practices, and culture to better serve historically and currently oppressed communities. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and people with disabilities, are encouraged to apply for this position.  
Our mission: We serve excellent water every minute of every day.
Our vision: The water our community loves is safe and abundant for generations to come.
Our equity commitment: We work to uproot systemic inequities and their impacts on our employees and the people we serve. We commit to the difficult—and essential—work of transforming Water Bureau policies, practices, and culture to better serve historically and currently oppressed communities.

More Information about the bureau: www.portlandoregon.gov/water

Although not currently hiring, the list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill vacancies in the Bureau of Environmental Services:


About the Bureau of Environmental Services
This is an exciting time to join the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES).  Together we are re-imagining the work we do to ensure it aligns with Our Values:

• We implement equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery.
• We value our customers and partners.
• We carefully manage our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources.
• We encourage leadership among our employees in our City and community.
• We support a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce.
• We urge respectful communication and transparency.
• We advance innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

At BES, we value our customers and partners; Portlanders’ sense of connection to their waterways; conscientious stewardship of our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources; a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce; leadership among our employees and in our City and community; equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery; clear communication and transparency; innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

To learn more about the work we do at BES, click on the link: www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/

About the Bureau of Fleet and Facilities
The Bureau of Fleet & Facilities manages over 1.5 million square feet of City-owned facility assets valued at approximately $900 million, including the City’s highest-profile civic facilities. The organization provides facility operations and maintenance, capital project development and management, space planning and management, and property management and leasing services for City bureaus. The organization is also responsible for long-range capital and real estate planning.

Have a question?

Contact Information:

Anna Morgan, Senior Recruiter

Bureau of Human Resources

Anna.Morgan@portlandoregon.gov

Applicants must describe in their résumé how their education, training, work experience and/or lived experience, meets each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Knowledge of tools, materials, processes and techniques of precision instruments, process control equipment and electronics including troubleshooting techniques
2. Skill in repairing, troubleshooting, maintaining, modifying and installing precision instruments and process control equipment; maintaining, developing and troubleshooting networking as well as other electronic equipment, electronics and communications devices
3. Skill in mechanical and process control troubleshooting techniques; methods and techniques of structured IEC programming logic; database principles and concepts; office suite software; application of the National Electrical Code (NEC), and Instrument Society of America (ISA) standards; safe work practices
4. Ability to perform layout and sketch designs for process control installations, modifications and repairs
5. Ability to communicate effectively and establish and maintain effective working relationships and work constructively as part of a team and independently

Applicants must also:

• Possess a State of Oregon limited Energy Class A or B Electrical license within six months of time of hire (A higher level/broader electrical license may be substituted for the limited Energy Class A or B license.)
• Possess a valid state driver’s license and acceptable driving record
• Possess ability to pass background check
• Lift up to 50 pounds
• Wear protective gear 
• Work with hand and power tools and are exposed to electric currents
• Climb to heights of 150 feet and work in confined spaces (underground vaults)

Although not required, you may have one or more of the following: 

• Experience with SCADA systems

STEP 1: Apply online between March 24, 2025 – April 7, 2025

Required Application Materials:

• Resume
• Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

• Licensure (if you currently have the Oregon limited Energy Class A or B electrical license).
• If you wish to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your veteran documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) by the recruitment's closing date.

We have recently updated our veteran preference process. Starting March 3rd, 2025 If you made the eligible list and met the eligibility to receive veteran preference, you will no longer need to submit veteran documents for future recruitments.

If you need to update or remove your veteran preference for a specific recruitment or from your master profile, please contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

Application Tips:

• Your resume should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage using AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills. 
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. 
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

STEP 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: April 8 - April 22, 2025 

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
• Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

STEP 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of April 22, 2025 

Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list. 


STEP 4: Selection (Interview): Late April/Early May

Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview

STEP 5: Offer of Employment: Early - Mid - May

• Some positions will require those offered employment to complete and sign a criminal background statement before being considered for employment.

STEP 6: Start Date: Mid-Late May

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations 

Salary : $48