Field Compression Startup Technician

Exxon Mobil; Big Lake (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension Plan

Savings Plan

Medical, dental and vision plans

Wellbeing programs

Job summary

ExxonMobil in Midland, Texas is seeking a Compression Commissioning Technician to lead pre-commissioning, startup, stabilization, and turnover for new or modified compression facilities. You will verify readiness, coordinate with operations, automation, electrical, and engineering teams, and ensure safe, reliable handover.

This role emphasizes commissioning and startup rather than long-term operation, may require travel to field locations, and requires strong safety culture, documentation, and

Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to workplace safety, process safety, startup readiness, and environmental compliance.
• Understanding of natural gas compression equipment and associated oil and gas production facilities.
• Ability to independently perform commissioning and startup activities within the assigned role scope.
• Ability to read and interpret piping and instrumentation diagrams, equipment prints, control narratives, vendor documentation, and startup procedures.
• Ability to perform field walkdowns and verify valve lineup, system alignment, equipment readiness, and return-to-service status.
• Knowledge of compressor package systems, including lubrication, cooling, suction, discharge, control, shutdown, and supporting utility systems.
• Ability to perform or support loop checks, interlock checks, permissive verification, shutdown testing, and functional checks.
• Ability to use ROC, Allen-Bradley, or similar control platforms to evaluate equipment status, alarms, trends, permissives, shutdowns, and control response.
• Ability to troubleshoot commissioning and startup issues using field conditions, control-system information, prints, and equipment response.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment when making control changes, clearing trips, or determining whether startup should proceed.
• Ability to recognize startup-readiness concerns, punch-list items, and potential Management of Change triggers.
• Ability to accurately document commissioning activities, startup results, equipment status, and turnover information in written and digital formats.
• Ability to communicate and coordinate effectively with Operations, Automation, Electrical, Construction, Engineering, vendors, and other affected groups.
• Must be dependable and punctual in attendance.
• Must be able to work independently and manage assigned work with limited supervision.
• Must be able to read, write, and communicate effectively.
• Must possess basic computer skills and be able to use company-approved digital documentation systems.
• Must possess a valid and current state driver’s license and be able to meet company driving requirements.
• Must be willing and able to work overtime, extended shifts, callouts, nights, weekends, and holidays when required.
• Must be willing and able to travel between assigned field locations.

Responsibilities

• Perform commissioning and startup activities in accordance with the Work Management System, Process Safety Management System, company safety procedures, environmental requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Follow applicable personal protective equipment, Job Safety Analysis, safe work permit, isolation, emergency-response, hydrogen sulfide, and emergency shutdown requirements.
• Participate in Pre-Startup Safety Review walkdowns and identify field readiness concerns, installation mismatches, incomplete work, and punch-list items.
• Use piping and instrumentation diagrams, equipment prints, control narratives, vendor documentation, startup procedures, and field walkdowns to verify system readiness.
• Verify valve lineups, system alignment, equipment condition, isolation status, and return-to-service readiness before startup.
• Perform pre-commissioning and live startup work on new facilities, modified facilities, facility expansions, and major restarts.
• Support leak checks, pressure-testing activities, blowdown verification, and other startup-readiness activities within the scope of the role.
• Verify compressor package readiness, including rotation, cooling, lubrication, vibration, suction conditions, discharge conditions, controls, and supporting systems.
• Perform or support loop checks, interlock checks, permissive verification, shutdown testing, alarm verification, and functional checks.
• Use ROC, Allen-Bradley, and other approved control systems to verify run status, permissives, shutdown status, alarms, trends, control response, and key operating parameters.
• Make control-parameter adjustments within approved commissioning authority and verify actual field response before proceeding.
• Clear startup trips and shutdowns only after identifying the cause, verifying field conditions, and confirming safe restart conditions.
• Independently start compression facilities and compressor packages within assigned role scope, including electric-drive packages and other package types used by the company.
• Monitor field conditions and control-system information during startup to confirm that equipment and facility systems are responding as intended.
• Troubleshoot startup issues using field observations, prints, control-system data, equipment behavior, vendor information, and commissioning history.
• Recognize when startup issues may indicate broader mechanical, electrical, controls, instrumentation, installation, design, or process concerns.
• Coordinate troubleshooting and corrective activities with the appropriate responsible groups without crossing established craft or role boundaries.
• Identify punch-list items, close routine field items within the authorized scope, and clearly document remaining issues for follow-up.
• Recognize potential Management of Change concerns and elevate changes, deviations, exceptions, or field modifications for appropriate review.
• Remain engaged after initial startup to verify stable operation and confirm that the facility is ready for turnover.
• Complete startup records, commissioning notes, Vantage updates, turnover documentation, and other required records accurately and on time.
• Communicate equipment status, outstanding issues, temporary conditions, and required follow-up to Operations and other affected groups.
• Support multiple commissioning sites or startup scopes based on business needs.

Skills

Safety culture

Startup readiness

Reading diagrams

Troubleshooting

Team coordination

Documentation

Communication

Travel

Education

Experience commissioning natural gas compression facilities

Valid driver's license

Tools

ROC

Allen-Bradley

Control systems

Job description

ExxonMobil in Midland, Texas is seeking a Compression Commissioning Technician to lead pre-commissioning, startup, stabilization, and turnover for new or modified compression facilities. You will verify readiness, coordinate with operations, automation, electrical, and engineering teams, and ensure safe, reliable handover.

This role emphasizes commissioning and startup rather than long-term operation, may require travel to field locations, and requires strong safety culture, documentation, and