Gas Control Technician II

Sacramento-Municipal-Utility-District; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SMUD in Sacramento, CA is seeking a Gas Control Technician II to monitor and maintain the natural gas transmission system, emphasizing safe operation, field inspections, and adherence to regulatory standards.

Ideal candidates will have hands-on SCADA experience, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to work with high-pressure gas facilities. This is an on-site role requiring daily presence and strict safety practices in a regulated environment.

Qualifications

• Solid hands-on experience with SCADA systems and control technologies.
• Familiarity with PHMSA, CPUC, and CEC regulations.
• Experience with natural gas measurement systems, overpressure protection, and chromatography.
• Experience with TIMP and industry practices (AGA, GPA, API).

Responsibilities

• Installs, troubleshoots, repairs, operates, and maintains gas control and measurement equipment.
• Maintains corrosion protection equipment and valve/ vault components.
• Performs odorization facility maintenance and odorization testing.
• Keeps files and records to comply with a highly regulated industry.
• Performs field-locating duties and leak surveys; supports tests.

Skills

SCADA systems

Control technologies

Read schematics

Communication

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

This position is being posted at both level I and II; however, only one hire will be made from these two postings. Candidates interested in both levels must apply separately to each posting.

Join us at SMUD, where we power over 1.4 million customers across the Sacramento area as a community-owned, not-for-profit electric utility with more than 75 years of delivering low-cost, reliable electricity.

We manage a diverse mix of energy sources that include hydro, solar, and wind, and operate an essential 76-mile high-pressure natural gas pipeline that transports approximately 190 million cubic feet of gas daily from Winters to four thermal plants in Sacramento County. This system is run without compression, remotely monitored through a sophisticated SCADA system, and prioritized for safety with continuous leak detection, remotely operated shutoff valves, and rupture mitigation devices.

We're looking for a Gas Control Technician II to join our Gas Pipeline Operations team. In this role, you'll keep the pipeline operating safely and efficiently by monitoring its performance, troubleshooting issues, and performing routine inspections and maintenance key to reliable gas delivery.

The ideal candidate has solid hands-on experience with SCADA systems and control technologies, a strong commitment to safe work practices, and familiarity with transmission pipeline safety regulations guided by PHMSA, CPUC, and CEC. Advanced skills in natural gas measurement systems, overpressure protection, pressure regulation, chromatography, and analysis equipment are essential. Experience with transmission integrity management programs (TIMP) and industry best practices from AGA, GPA, and API is highly valued.

Purpose

Under limited supervision, performs highly skilled installation, maintenance, repair, operation and test work related to construction, modification, maintenance, and operation of natural gas transmission facilities, pipelines, and appurtenances in the most efficient, safe, and cost-effective manner.

Nature and Scope

This is a full working journey level classification and differs from the Power Systems Operator roles in that the latter monitors, controls, and/or operates SMUD's gas pipeline system, from a Gas Control Center.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Installs, troubleshoots, repairs, operates, and maintains all types of natural gas control, measurement and treatment equipment such as regulators, meters, valves, controllers, and chromatographs.
• Installs, operates and maintains corrosion protection equipment such as anodes, insulated fittings, volt-ohm-ammeters, potentiometers, and recorders.
• Installs valves and valve components and performs valve maintenance and vault maintenance per the Gas Pipeline Procedures Manual.
• Performs inspection and maintenance of natural gas odorization facilities and equipment; conducts odorization testing.
• Maintains files and records in order to comply within a highly regulated industry.
• Performs, without direct supervision, highly technical tasks associated with gas instrumentation, including gas supervisory and remote-control equipment.
• Conducts field-locating duties; performs leak surveys and leak investigations.
• Assists others in performing and evaluating field and station tests.
• Assists in transmission line repair work, construction of new pipelines, purging of pipelines, and tapping pipelines under pressure.

Required Education

• High School diploma or equivalent

Required Experience Qualifications

• Any combination of education and experience that has provided the necessary knowledge and skills.

Knowledge Of

Safe work practices in a gas environment; functional requirements for effective operation and maintenance of gas control equipment; fundamentals and operation of gas transmission lines, automatic controls, natural gas analyzers, and cathodic protection systems; applicable fundamentals of electricity, electronics, mathematics through trigonometry, mechanics and corrosion protection; physics of thermal, fluid, gas and instrumentation, metering and control systems.

Skills To

Recognize off-normal conditions, assess cause and react effectively; read and interpret electrical and electronic schematics and diagrams; install, repair, troubleshoot, maintain, and operate gas control equipment such as RTU's, Chromatographs, regulators, valves and meters; calibrate, use and maintain test equipment; establish cooperative working relationships with others; communicate effectively orally and in writing; keep accurate and organized documentation.

Desirable Qualifications

• Certifications such as Operator Qualifications (OQ), apprenticeships, journeyman certification, relevant coursework or degree.
• Three (3) years' experience working on transmission high-pressure natural gas pipelines
• Three (3) years' experience with SCADA systems and control technologies
• Three (3) years' experience applying pipeline transition integrity management programThree (3) years working with ultrasonic measurement systems, gas chromatography, analytic equipment, and flow computational devices.
• Three (3) years' experience installing, operating, and maintaining over pressure protection systems, pressure regulation, and valve actuation equipment.

Required Licenses/Certificates

• Valid California Driver's License which must meet SMUD's driving standard of not having more than two (2) moving violations within the last two (2) years; and possession of, or the ability to obtain, operator qualifications to perform tasks per CFR 49, Part 192, Subpart N.

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are

As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers. Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.

An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform “substantially similar work,” when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.

SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.

Why Sacramento, California?

The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.

On-site Work

This role will be an on-site role that will require being in person at one of SMUD's campuses daily to complete work tasks.

CalPERS

SMUD is a CalPERS agency. As a member of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), SMUD offers eligible employees access to a defined benefit pension plan along with other valuable retirement and health benefits. This program helps provide financial security both during your career and after retirement. To learn more about CalPERS and the benefits it offers, please visit www.calpers.ca.gov .

SMUD provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. SMUD complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

SMUD expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SMUD employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

SMUD expresses prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SMUD employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

SMUD expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SMUD employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.