Lead Technical Specialist

Aqua America, Inc.; Apollo (Armstrong County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Essential Utilities is seeking a Lead Technical Specialist to direct engine and compressor operations in the Western Pennsylvania region. The role focuses on emissions testing, maintenance oversight, and supervising teams across multiple engine and dehydration units.

The position requires strong leadership, technical expertise in engine systems, and the ability to train operators and crews while ensuring compliance with air permits and company standards.

Qualifications

• Experience conducting engine and compressor emissions and load tests.
• Ability to supervise engine/compressor maintenance programs and schedules.
• Skilled in testing, balancing, and troubleshooting engines and compressors.
• Experience training operators and repair crews in maintenance tasks.

Responsibilities

• Direct operators and repair crews to run, tune, and service engines to meet emission standards.
• Oversee the maintenance program for 45 engines, 10 gas dehydration units.
• Lead the engine and compressor maintenance to meet manufacturers' specifications.
• Provide technical expertise for engine repairs and major overhauls.
• Recommend proper maintenance intervals and train new operators.
• Coordinate installation supervision of new ignitions, fuel systems, and control panels.
• Ensure emissions testing and annual/permitting testing schedules are met.

Skills

Emissions testing

Engine maintenance

Maintenance scheduling

Team leadership

Troubleshooting

Tools

Ignition systems

Fuel systems

Control panels

Job description

Peoples, an Essential Utilities company, has been proudly serving Western Pennsylvania for over 130 years, offering talented individuals the opportunity to serve more than 700,000 customers in the region. Peoples is more than your average natural gas utility. We have a vision to: Provide valuable services to our customers Encourage economic growth for businesses in our region Improve the quality of life for our communities Ensure that we are protecting our environment Support our employees and partners Join our team and make a difference!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.

• competitive and comprehensive benefits package
• career growth opportunities

The new Lead Technical Specialist reports directly to the Manager, Compressor Operations.

• Conducts engine and compressor emissions and load tests to optimize engine performance to meet air permit requirements, calculate emissions rates, determine percent of horsepower utilization for engines and compressors, listens for abnormal noises to identify potential problems (troubleshooting), and balances engines.
• Works on special projects, including supervising installation of new engine ignitions, fuel systems, and control panels.
• Has training for 2-stroke and 4-stroke low and high-speed engine and compressor operations and repairs, oil sample monitoring to find engine issues, and engine and compressor service intervals.
• Will direct the overall engine and compressor maintenance program in conjunction with the bargaining unit work group leaders.
• This position provides management direction and oversight of the following activities:
• Direct operators and repair crews to properly run, tune, and service engines to meet emissions standards for permit-required testing, which is increasing in frequency as air permits are renewed and quarterly testing replaces annual testing.
• Conducts in-house emissions testing and performance analysis of engines and compressors.
• Oversee annual trailer emissions tests conducted by contractors.
• Lead the Compression Group maintenance program to meet engine and compressor manufacturer's specifications for scheduled services.
• Provide technical expertise for engine and compressor repairs and major overhauls.
• Recommend proper intervals for both.
• Help train new compressor operators and repair crew members.
• Ensure recommended services are completed on the company's 45 engines, compressors and 10 gas dehydration units.

34 of the compressors are driven by natural gas engines, and 11 of them by electric motors. Of these, 20 are high-speed Caterpillar engines coupled to separate Ariel compressors, 3 are low-speed Waukesha engines coupled to separate Joy compressors, and 11 are slow-speed Ingersoll-Rand, Cooper, and Ajax integral units with the engine and compressor in the same frame. These compressors have different maintenance tasks and schedules that directly affect run time, unit reliability, maintenance costs, and overhaul intervals and costs.

Oil and filter changes, oil sampling, head valve adjustments, fuel valve adjustments, spark plug changes, engine balancing, air filter changes, and compressor valve repairs are some of the scheduled maintenance tasks required to keep the units healthy.

The gas dehydration units operated by the group use heated glycol to strip water vapor from the gas stream. These units require filter changes, pump maintenance, and glycol testing at regularly scheduled intervals also.

Peoples, an Essential Utilities company, is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law. Peoples is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).

To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to: Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship Family members cannot work in the same department.

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.