Lead Utility Systems Programmer

Job Posting Title:

Lead Utility Systems Programmer

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Hiring Department:

Utilities and Energy Management

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

AUSTIN, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

Who We Are

We are “the power behind UT”.

Utilities and Energy Management (UEM) provides reliable and cost-effective electricity, chilled water, steam, deionized water, compressed air, emergency power, and elevator services for The University of Texas at Austin. We have more than 170 employees in five divisions: Utilities Operations; Utilities Distribution; Power Systems, Controls, and Operating Technology; Finance and Administrative Services; and Engineering and Technical Services.

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking candidates who share the following core values:

Safety: Commitment to the well-being of our fellow employees, ourselves, and the campus community.

Respect: Treating everyone with fairness and dignity.

Integrity: Transparency, honesty, trust and ethics in our work and our relationships.

Reliability: Delivery of consistent, dependable, and uninterrupted services.

Teamwork: Working together through cooperation, contribution, and the sharing of our knowledge.

Excellence: Setting the highest standards through innovation, collaboration, forward-thinking, and stewardship.

As a member of our team, you will be part of a globally recognized district energy system that serves a top-tier research university. We strive to provide a positive workplace culture that welcomes ideas, talent and perspectives – and we look forward to hearing from you!

Learn more about Utilities and Energy Management.

Your skills will make a difference.

You’ll be working for a university that is internationally recognized for our academic programs and research. Your work will make a difference in the lives of Campus Operations staff, thereby enhancing the student experience. If you’re the type of person that wants to know your work has earning and impact, you’ll like working in our department and for UT Austin. UT Austin provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with employer matching funds
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities.
• Tuition assistance
• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
• Free access to UT Austin’s libraries and museums with staff ID card
• Free rides on all UT shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card
• For more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards

Utilities and Energy Management (UEM) provides reliable and cost-effective electricity, chilled water, steam, deionized water, compressed air, and emergency power for The University of Texas at Austin.

Purpose

To perform skilled, technical work involving the installation, operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of utility metering systems applications.

Responsibilities

• Team Coordination - provide coordination within the metering team to ensure effective problem-solving, collaboration, and alignment with UEM’s goals. This includes working to address metering issues, facilitating a collaborative environment, and ensuring that the team works cohesively to meet operational objectives. Effectively communicate status, progress or any issues found with the metering system to the group, internal customers and management.
• Metering System Installation, Operation, and Maintenance - ensure the smooth, accurate, and reliable operation of UEM’s metering systems on a day-to-day basis. This includes performing routine maintenance, installing and programming and maintaining programmable logic controllers, troubleshooting issues, coordinating repairs or adjustments, and working closely with UT divisions, including IT, to address system performance and resolve technical issues. Work in tunnels and mechanical rooms while testing, troubleshooting or installing PLC/meter equipment.
• Meter and PLC Programming - support the metering team in the programming, configuration, and maintenance of UEM’s metering systems. This includes ensuring that meters are programmed to meet the specifications required by the UEM Metering Program, troubleshooting software issues, and ensuring compliance to security of data transmission. Design, develop and maintain data driven applications using common web languages and cloud infrastructure. Utilize API's and common query methods to obtain or augment databases used for analysis and utility billing.
• System Optimization and Performance Monitoring - ensure the ongoing optimization of UEM’s metering systems through continuous performance monitoring, strategic technology integration, and data analysis. Ensure the accurate, timely, and reliable collection of metering data in support of UEM’s Metering Program. Maintain applications used for historical trending, utility billing and alarm monitoring.
• Team Development - mentor and develop metering team members in the installation, operation, programming, and maintenance of meters, meter systems, PLC, and associated metering system equipment.
• Follow all University and UEM safety policies and procedures, take required safety training, and identify and report safety hazards. Perform work tasks in a safe manner, wear the proper personal protective equipment, and report near misses and incidents. Abide by Utilities and Energy Management's set of core values: Safety, Respect, Integrity, Reliability, Teamwork, and Excellence. Work effectively from a remote office or on campus. Drive university vehicle or cart. Maintain acceptable driver rating as established in Policy: UTS157 Section 2.5.4.
• Performs other functions as assigned. Attends staff meetings and safety/training meetings. Attends plant operation and maintenance training courses. Completes training certifications under UEM training requirements. Required to carry University cell phone during work. May be required to report to work at PRC campus. May be required for to come in after hours, weekends, and holidays.

Required Qualifications

• Associate’s degree with 6+ years of experience in metering systems with a mixture pertaining to PLC programming, Proficy programming, Modbus communication protocols, or meter data management systems.
• Must have familiarity with OPC-UA and data gateways.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree related to the following fields: utilities and energy management systems, data acquisition, web programming, machine learning, industrial communication protocols.
• 10 years of work experience with a combination of the following: Allen Bradley-Rockwell, Emerson Ovation, GE Versamax, Red Lion, IA-Ignition, IA-Perspective, Kepware OPC, MSSQL, PostgreSQL, HeidiSQL, HTML5, CSS, Python, JavaScript, Node, Ruby, MQTT, API, FTP, AWS S3, Bitbucket, Jira,Windows Server, Linux, VMWare, Cisco IOS .

Driving Required                                                            

This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident.

Salary Range

$80,000

Working Conditions

Environmental Demands:

• Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment (furnished)
• May work in all weather conditions
• May work in extreme temperatures
• May work around chemical fumes
• May work around standard office environments
• May work around biohazards
• May work around chemicals
• May work around electrical/mechanical equipment

Physical Tasks:

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Use of manual dexterity
• Climbing of stairs
• Climbing of ladders
• Lifting and moving

Additional Working Conditions:

• May be required to work in confined spaces, tunnels and manholes, and extended shifts including nights, holidays, and weekends.

Work Shift

40 hours/week, Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Cover Letter

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above. May be required to work in confined and elevated spaces. Shifts may be extended- including nights, holidays, and weekends.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.