Programmable Logic Controller Engineer
Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States of America
Full Time
1 day ago
$80,321 - $96,386 USD
Key skills
Communication
About this role
Join the City of Chattanooga Team
Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network. The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.
Our Organization
As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately 2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:
Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
Innovation: Leading-edge smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.
Why Choose Chattanooga?
The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:
Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground: Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it. As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim. Whether you are an
adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.
In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.
Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.
CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY:
Salary: $80,321 - 96,386 Annually (WWFG12.E)
Work Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments, or projects.*
Work Location: Dependent upon on assignment.
FLSA Status: This is an Exempt position.
Department: Wastewater Treatment Plant
The incumbent is responsible for the design, programming, implementation, and maintenance of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) systems and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) networks across the Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant (MBWWTP), regional pump stations, and Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) facilities. This role serves as a technical authority on industrial automation, ensuring the reliability of critical control systems that manage liquids and solids treatment processes. Work is performed with a high degree of initiative and judgment to optimize system performance and ensure 100% regulatory compliance.
SERIES LEVEL:
The PLC Engineer is a stand-alone position.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
(The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities.)
Automation Programming: Develops, codes, tests, and debugs PLC programs and HMI (Human Machine Interface) software to ensure precise control of wastewater infrastructure.
System Maintenance: Performs preventative and corrective maintenance on industrial control systems, VTSCADA, and distributed control systems (DCS).
Technical Troubleshooting: Diagnoses and addresses complex electrical and control system problems to ensure the continuous availability of the wastewater treatment system.
Project Support: Serves as a technical authority for maintenance on capital projects and Consent Decree initiatives, providing expertise on system integration.
Network Management: Manages communication protocols between plant equipment, remote pump stations, and the central SCADA system.
Data Integration: Ensures reliability maintenance tracking data and control systems are maintained to allow for data-based and informed decision-making.
Safety Compliance: Adheres to all Standard Operating Procedures and holds responsibility for following safety policies within the electrical and control work groups.
Continuous Improvement: Identifies and implements process optimization practices and innovations in the field of industrial automation.
Vendor Coordination: Interacts with suppliers and 3rd party service providers to ensure specialized control equipment meets City specifications.
Emergency Response: Provides troubleshooting support to operations during system failures or critical equipment malfunctions.
Must meet regular attendance requirements.
Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers and citizens.
Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.
Performs other duties as assigned.
DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any):
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field and five (5) years of experience in PLC programming and industrial automation, preferably in a large wastewater facility or heavy manufacturing environment.
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:
A valid Driver's License.
Professional certification in specific PLC platforms (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens) or SCADA software is preferred.
Ability to obtain Tennessee Grade IV WWTP Operator Certification is preferred but not required.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Knowledge of VTSCADA or other distributed control systems (DCS); Cityworks or other CMMS programs ; industrial electrical maintenance ; and large WWTP mechanical and control systems.
Skill in: Using logic and reasoning to identify alternative solutions or approaches to automation problems ; preparing, reviewing, and analyzing technical data and reports ; and maintaining good interpersonal relationships with staff and managers.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Positions in this class typically require reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Sedentary work: exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally to move objects. Incumbents may be subjected to fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and infectious diseases while working in the treatment plant or pump station environments.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Safety Sensitive: Y
Department of Transportation - CDL: N
Child Sensitive: N
This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check, drug screening.
The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
BLR 7.1.2026