Plant Operator Trainee

Salary : $66,580.80 - $79,476.80 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number: JR-T12068-202610
Business Area: 2000 - Public Utilities
Opening Date: 10/09/2026
Closing Date: 10/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


JOB INFORMATION
See NOTE(S) below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.
Plant Operator Trainee positions may be utilized in water, wastewater, or potable reuse treatment plants. Employees will be required to obtain and maintain certification. For certification requirements, click on the following link:
Plant Operator Trainee positions participate in a training program that teaches the operation of either a water treatment plant, potable reuse treatment plant, or wastewater treatment plant; obtain experience, skills, and knowledge necessary to qualify for State of California certification as a Water Plant Operator, or Wastewater Plant Operator; carry out plant control processes using both computer and manual controls; operate mechanical equipment such as pumps, valves, filters, screens, and boilers; calibrate and maintain monitoring instrumentation; perform maintenance and repair; keep logs, records, and documentation; perform chemical and biological analyses; drive pick-up trucks and other vehicles; operate forklifts, utility carts, and small tractors; and perform other duties as assigned.
NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by AFSCME Local 127 are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 7/1/29
• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Plant Operator Trainee employees may be required to work overtime, including nights, weekends, holidays, and/or rotating shifts for which they may receive 5% additional pay.
• Water, Wastewater, and Potable Reuse treatment plants are staffed 24/7/365. Shifts may include overnight and weekends to meet the 24/7/365 staffing.
• This job typically requires the performance of physically demanding tasks. Plant Operator Trainee employees must be able to stoop, twist, turn, bend, squat, sit, and stand for long periods of time; lift items weighing up to 50 pounds; climb to heights of 25 feet; and enter confined spaces and chlorine environments.
• Plant Operator Trainee employees will be required to perform work that may involve exposure to all weather conditions typical of the outside environment; hazardous chemicals; electrical and mechanical hazards; respiratory hazards; noise hazards; eye/face hazards; uneven terrain/walking hazards; blood-borne pathogen biohazards; water/wastewater substances such as scum, screenings, grit, sludge; and enter confined spaces.

• For positions in the Water Production and Pure Water Operations Divisions, Plant Operator Trainee employees will be given respirator training and must be able to pass a Respirator Fit-Test for entry into confined spaces and chlorine environments. Employees must also agree to remain clean-shaven in order to safely use a self-contained breathing apparatus or on-line air system.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.


AGE: 18 years of age or older; except for high school graduates (or persons with GED equivalency) who are 17.

EDUCATION: Graduation from high school OR passage of the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) or General Education Development (GED) examination.
NOTES:


IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYEES HIRED INTO PLANT OPERATOR TRAINEE POSITIONS MUST COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SPECIFIED BELOW:

• WATER PRODUCTION DIVISION: Grade T2 Water Treatment Operator Certificate issued from the California State Water Resources Control Board is required within two years from the date of hire; and a Grade T3 within three years from the date of hire.
• WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL DIVISION: Operator-in-Training Certificate issued from the California State Water Resources Control Board is required within 60 days from date of hire; and a Grade II Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate within two years from date of hire.
• PURE WATER OPERATIONS DIVISION: Operator-in-Training Certificate issued from the California State Water Resources Control Board is required within 60 days from the date of hire; and a Grade II Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate within two years from the date of hire.
• Employees may be responsible for acquiring any additional education needed to qualify for the certificates, as well as any fees associated with obtaining the certificates.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.

NOTE:

• Candidates will generally be required to show proof of the driver license within about two weeks of receiving a conditional job offer.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE(S):

• Associate's Degree in Wastewater or Water Technology or in a closely related field.
• Completion of an Internship program at a water, wastewater, or potable reuse treatment plant.
• Experience working on pumps, motors, and other related equipment used in an industrial setting or wastewater, water, or potable reuse treatment processes.

SCREENING PROCESS
Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.


Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).


Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

or review the
01


I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Résumés are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02


Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03


If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04


The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05


Specify how you are meeting the educational requirement

• Graduation from high school
• Passage of the California High School Proficiency (CHSPE) examination.
• Passage of the General Education Development (GED) examination.
• None of the above.

06


For positions in the Water Production Division: I understand that, as a condition of continued employment, I must obtain a Grade T2 Water Treatment Operator Certificate within two years of my date of hire and a Grade T3 Water Treatment Operator Certificate within three years of my date of hire.

• Yes
• No

07


For positions in the Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Division: I understand that, as a condition of continued employment, I must obtain an Operator-in-Training Certificate from the California State Water Resources Control Board within 60 days of my date of hire and a Grade II Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate within two years of my date of hire.

• Yes
• No

08


For positions in the Pure Water Operations Division: I understand that, as a condition of continued employment, I must obtain an Operator-in-Training Certificate from the California State Water Resources Control Board within 60 days of my date of hire and a Grade II Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate within two years of my date of hire.

• Yes
• No

09


I understand I will be required to provide proof of my driver license if I receive a conditional job offer (generally within two weeks after the offer).

• Yes
• No

Required Question