Systems Operator

Salary : $76,564.80 - $124,612.80 Annually Location : Santee, CA Job Type: Full Time Permanent Employee Job Number: 2026-00004 Department: Operations Division: System Operations Opening Date: 02/24/2026 Closing Date: 3/16/2026 11:59 PM Pacific Description Padre Dam Municipal Water District is seeking a Certified Systems Operator to play a vital role in delivering safe, reliable potable water to our community. This position is ideal for a motivated professional who holds a SWRCB Water Distribution Operator Grade III certificate (or higher) and has experience operating and maintaining wastewater collection and water distribution systems. This role offers a collaborative, safety-driven work environment that values teamwork, accountability, and continuous learning, with opportunities to grow skills and take on increased responsibility over time. If you're passionate about protecting public health through dependable drinking water and wastewater collection service and ready to make an impact every day, we'd love to hear from you. Successful Candidates will be invited to interview late March 2026. This position is eligible for appointment within the following Salary Grades: Salary Grade 24 - $39.71 - $56.17 Salary Grade 26 - $42.35 - $59.91 Future Salary Increase: June 2026 - 3.25% to base pay Systems Operators may receive additional pay for hours worked. Note: The following are estimated hourly rates. Duty Shift Premium 3% Adjusted Hourly Rate Grade 24: $40.90 - $57.86 Grade 26: $43.62 - $61.71 Systems Operators may also be eligible for a minimum of seven (7) hours of Overtime per Duty Shift For additional information on our performance merit system and benefits available to Padre Dam Municipal Water District employees, please refer to the BENEFITS tab of this posting. The Position: Under general supervision, the Systems Operator is responsible for monitoring, operating, and adjusting the potable water distribution system to ensure consistent service, regulatory compliance, and maintaining water quality. Duties include monitoring system performance through SCADA, adjusting flows and pressures from reservoirs, turnouts, and control facilities, collecting water quality samples, documenting operational data, and responding to customer inquiries and system alarms. Systems Operators are responsible for monitoring, operating, identifying system issues and determining adequate solutions for the District's wastewater collection systems to include the influent pump station, sewage lift stations, and related control systems to ensure proper wet well levels and pump flows. The position also supports emergency response activities, including after-hour callouts, and works closely with other operators, supervisors, and contractors to maintain system reliability. To view the complete job classification description for this position, click here: Knowledge, Skills, Training, Experience & LicensingTraining/Experience Required: High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.); AND, One year of related basic repair and maintenance experience; OR, Two years' experience in installing and repairing pumps, motors and related systems OR, An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. Licensing Requirements: Valid California Driver's License. California State Water Resources Control Board Water Distribution Operator Grade D3 or higher. NOTE: A CWEA Mechanical Technologist Grade II, CWEA Collections System Maintenance Grade I, or California State Water Resources Control Board Water Treatment Operator Grade T1 certificate is highly desirable. Supplemental Information Learn more about our mission, vision and the high-level services we provide - scan the QR code above or click HERE to view our 2025 Annual Report. Health Insurance: Employees have three plans from which to choose. Two HMO plans are 100% paid by Padre Dam for the employee and 90% for all eligible dependents; one PPO plan is partially paid by Padre Dam. Coverage is effective the first of the month after hire. Employees have the option to waive coverage and receive 50% of Padre Dam's cost savings as cash compensation. In order to waive benefits, you must show proof of other ACA eligible coverage. Dental Insurance: Padre Dam pays the total premium costs for the employee and all eligible dependents. Coverage is effective the first of the month after hire. Employee Assistance Program: Employees and their dependents have access to confidential, third-party personal counseling, financial, legal and work-life services at no cost. Flexible Spending Accounts: Padre Dam employees may elect annually to set aside pre-tax dollars to cover health care or dependent care expenses. Life Insurance: Employee Group Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance is provided at 1½ times annual salary with a maximum benefit of $250,000. Dependent coverage of $5,000 is also provided. Total premium costs are paid by Padre Dam for the employee and all eligible dependents. Short & Long Term Disability: Padre Dam provides Short & Long Term Disability for the employee at 66 2/3% of monthly gross income. The Short Term Disability benefit is payable after 31 days and the Long Term Disability benefit becomes payable after the 91st day if there is a qualified disability. Voluntary Benefits: Employees have access to additional voluntary benefits such as Critical Illness Coverage, Pet Insurance and Identity Theft Protection. Employees are responsible for the entire cost of premiums of these plans. Vacation: New employees accrue 12 days per year for 1 to 4 years of service. Additional days are earned with additional years of service. Sick Leave: All employees accrue 12 days per year. Employees who accumulate and maintain a sick leave bank in excess of 240 hours may, on an annual basis, sell back up to 40 hours of unused accrual hours. Holidays: Employees enjoy 12 paid holidays per year. Retirement: Membership is compulsory in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). Benefit formula for new CalPERS members is 2% @ age 62. Benefit formula for classic CalPERS members is 2.5@ age 55. Social Security/Medicare: Employees are covered under provisions of Federal Social Security and Medicare. Deferred Comp Plan: An optional deferred income plan is available which allows current income to be set aside as supplemental retirement savings. Salary Adjustments (2022-2027): Padre Dam provides an annual Cost of Living Adjustment of 3.25% on the first pay period of each fiscal year. In addition, Padre Dam offers a pay for performance merit system. Annually, on the anniversary date of the employee, an evaluation will be done that may include an increase in salary in alignment with performance. Tuition Reimbursement: After the probationary period, full-time and part-time employees working a minimum of 20 hours per week may apply for tuition reimbursement benefits. Workforce Partnership (Pipeline): Padre Dam MWD encourages broad based participation in the organization's decision making process. Employees are encouraged to participate, voice opinions, share ideas and give feedback and collaborate. This brief summary of benefits is provided for informational purposes only. This summary is intended to be accurate but it's not an official plan document and has no legal or binding effect as an expressed or implied contact. This summary does not alter or amend any provisions of the District's Standard Practices & Policies or any Memorandum of Understanding between the associations. Should you have any questions in regards to this summary, please contact the Human Resources department at 619-258-4656. 01 Your responses to the questions below will be used to determine your eligibility to advance in the recruitment. An incomplete application or referencing your application in lieu of answering any of the supplemental questions will be cause for disqualification from the recruitment process. Changes can not be made to your application once it's submitted so please ensure that the information you provide is accurate and complete. I acknowledge that I have read, understand and agree to the above. 02 Applicant Acknowledgement: Padre Dam's Human Resources Department uses email to notify applicants of important information relating to the status and processing of their employment application. As an applicant, you are hereby advised of the following: 1. It is your responsibility to ensure the email address you provide is current and readily accessible to you. 2. It is your responsibility to check your email to ensure you do not miss any deadlines established as part of the recruitment process. 3. It is your responsibility to read all Padre Dam emails carefully and follow instructions, if any. If you experience technical difficulties please contact NEOGOV Customer Support at (877)204-4442. Please be aware that Padre Dam's recruitment deadline is firm and we will not accept applications after the deadline has passed. I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to the above. 03 Please indicate the level of certification you currently hold with California State Water Resources Board, California Water Environment Association (CWEA) and/or other applicable certifications issued by the State or CWEA. If you have certifications, please also upload copies of the certifications with your application. If none, indicate N/A. Water Distribution Grade I Water Distribution Grade II Water Distribution Grade III Water Distribution Grade IV Water Distribution Grade V Water Treatment Operator I Water Treatment Operator II Water Treatment Operator III Water Treatment Operator IV Water Treatment Operator V Collections Systems Grade I Collections Systems Grade II Collections Systems Grade III Collections Systems Grade IV Mechanical Technologist Grade I Mechanical Technologist Grade II Mechanical Technologist Grade III Mechanical Technologist Grade IV None of the above 04 How many years of experience do you have in the installation/repair and maintenance of water/wastewater equipment, facilities and appurtenances? One to Three Years Three to Five Years Five to Seven Years More than 7 Years 05 For your indicated experience in Question 4, please describe your experience below. Please include your job title, name of employer, dates of employment and describe the duties you performed. 06 Applicant Acknowledgement: This position plays a critical role in ensuring our customers receive the highest water quality and customer service possible, which may include responding to after-hour emergencies. As a part of the essential job duties of this position, Systems Operators are required to participate in a call back/standby rotation, which may include nights, weekends, and holidays and if necessary, return to work to address urgent issues that arise. Employees assigned to a call back/standby shift will be compensated in accordance with legal and applicable MOU requirements. I have read, understand, and if selected, will be able to fulfill the responsibility described above. I have read, understand, and if selected, will NOT be able to fulfill the responsibility described above. Required Question

Created: 2026-03-04