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  • Laboratory Technician (Water Quality Control)

    Palo Alto, California United States City of Palo Alto Full Time $97,739.20 - $119,600.00 Annually Dec 24, 2025
    City of Palo Alto Employer:

    City of Palo Alto

    The Community The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-News City Government Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey. Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff. Join an Award Winning Team  Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City. Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet." Contact Us Phone: 650-329-2376    Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov    Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map

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    Job Description

    Description

    Ensuring Water Quality, Empowering Communities: Join Us in Shaping a Sustainable Palo Alto!

    About Us: At the heart of Palo Alto's community services lies the Department of Public Works. Every day, we're dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for our residents. Our mission is simple yet profound: to deliver top-tier services with unwavering commitment, genuine courtesy, and immense pride. Through collaboration with the Palo Alto community, our Public Works team endeavors to provide efficient, sustainable, and environmentally responsible services that transform Palo Alto into a vibrant, picturesque city where both residents and professionals thrive.

    The mission of the Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) is to protect the San Francisco Bay by cleaning and treating wastewater before it is discharged into the Bay. Owned and operated by the City of Palo Alto, the Plant treats wastewater for the communities of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Stanford University, and the East Palo Alto Sanitary District.

    About the City: Nestled in the heart of the Silicon Valley, Palo Alto is more than just a city, it's a beacon of innovation and progress. Home to world-renowned tech giants like VMware, Hewlett-Packard, and Tesla, Palo Alto is where groundbreaking ideas come to life. But beyond its technological prowess, Palo Alto boasts a rich tapestry of cultural and natural treasures. With historic residential neighborhoods, vibrant shopping districts, and a thriving arts scene, Palo Alto offers a unique blend of old-world charm and modern sophistication. As a city, Palo Alto is committed to excellence, with a AAA bond rating and a reputation for innovation and well-managed governance.

    The Opportunity: Are you passionate about safeguarding water quality and ensuring environmental compliance? We're seeking to fill one Laboratory Technician vacancy to bolster our water quality control plant's analytical prowess, ensuring compliance with our NPDES permit. As a crucial member of our team, you'll dive into the fascinating world of analytical environmental science, ensuring that our city's water remains safe and pristine.

    Who We're Looking For:

    We are seeking a hands-on, detail-oriented professional with experience in an analytical environmental wastewater laboratory and a genuine interest in microbiology. The ideal candidate is comfortable working both in the lab and in the field, demonstrating strong organizational skills and a commitment to following established quality standards. You thrive in a team environment and are eager to contribute to laboratory and operational success.

    Key qualifications and attributes include:
    • California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Grade I Laboratory Analyst certification preferred, or ability to obtain within one year
    • Experience with laboratory quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures
    • Willingness and ability to perform fieldwork, including sample collection in all weather conditions
    • Familiarity with chemical handling and wastewater treatment environments
    • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other essential lab or data management software
    • Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks effectively
    • Ability to follow directions accurately and work collaboratively within a team


    Your Future in Our Lab:
    Join us in this dynamic laboratory where every experiment is an adventure and every discovery is a triumph. As a Laboratory Technician, you'll be at the forefront of ensuring water quality compliance, championing environmental integrity, and driving innovation. Your expertise in analytical chemistry and microbiology will be invaluable as you uncover insights that shape our understanding of water quality. With access to cutting-edge instrumentation and advanced software, you'll deliver precise, reliable results while upholding the highest standards of quality and integrity.

    Behind the scenes, you'll play a crucial role in maintaining equipment, documenting discoveries, and prioritizing safety. Your dedication ensures that our lab operates smoothly and efficiently, supporting our mission to create a sustainable future for Palo Alto.

    Your work directly supports compliance testing for our NPDES permit and helps maintain our lab's ELAP accreditation. By conducting accurate and timely analyses, you ensure the integrity of our water quality control processes, contributing to the health and sustainability of the Palo Alto community.

    Why Join Us? At the City of Palo Alto's Department of Public Works, you'll find more than just a job - you'll discover a fulfilling career where your contributions directly impact the community. Join us in our mission to maintain water quality standards, preserve the environment, and create a city where everyone can thrive.

    Ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? Apply today!

    Benefits: The City offers a fantastic benefits package, including affordable healthcare plans, generous retirement options, paid parental leave, child care support, convenient commuter programs, and access to the Palo Alto Unified School District (option to enroll children in Palo Alto schools), and more!
    Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click here.

    This is a continuous recruitment and may remain open until filled.

    The first review of applications will take place the week of January 12, 2026.

    Applicants are encouraged to apply early.

    Essential Duties

    Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
    • Performs and interprets analytical tests and observations necessary to monitor and control the treatment process.
    • Performs and interprets standard bacteriological examinations.
    • Performs required analytical methods process control tests within acceptable quality control standards.
    • Collects water and wastewater samples from the wastewater control plant.
    • Performs calculations, keeps records, utilizes computer software.
    • Performs or assists in performing surveys, laboratory experiments and special projects to investigate unique problems and develop testing procedures and methods.
    For the full job description, click here.

    Minimum Qualifications

    Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:

    • Equivalent to possession of an Associate of Arts degree in analytical chemistry, biology, or microbiology with supporting coursework in one other analytical discipline (chemistry, biology, microbiology) not covered in the major course of study; and,
    • Two years (full time) progressively responsible experience in a water/wastewater analysis laboratory, with coursework or applied experience in microbiology preferred.


    Note: Possession of a Bachelor's degree or the equivalent coursework in chemistry, bacteriology, or a similar science may be substituted for up to two years of the required analytical experience.

    Supplemental Information

    This position is represented by Service Employee International Union (SEIU).

    The Selection Process:
    • Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email. Governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates.
    • Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.
    • The screening process for this position typically may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
    • An eligible list may be established from this recruitment and may be used to fill future vacancies for up to six (6) months, or until the list has been exhausted.


    Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.

    The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

    See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
    Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.

    Closing Date/Time: Continuous
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