Mechanical Technician I

plains; Eunice (NM); On-site; USD 45,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Plains is seeking a Junior Mechanical Technician to perform field-based maintenance on pumps, valves, engines, tank mixers, and related equipment across stations, pipelines and terminals. This role requires working in extreme heat or cold, wearing protective gear, and responding to callouts.

You will maintain records, read technical drawings and manuals, and use Excel and Maximo for inspections. The position emphasizes safety, rigorous maintenance practices, and the ability to work in a team

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 1st year of a related trades apprenticeship program.
• Relevant work experience preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, schematics and manuals.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate in English.

Responsibilities

• Performs maintenance, upkeep and cleaning of stations, pipelines and terminals including repairs on valves, engines, motors, and piping.
• Performs routine scheduled and non-scheduled equipment maintenance with guidance from maintenance personnel.
• Serves and lubricates all mechanical equipment including tank mixers, pumps, motors, valves.
• Performs lockouts on company facilities.
• Conducts preventative maintenance on pumps and drives per vendor guidelines.
• Maintains installation and alignment records; ensures equipment reliability.
• Maintains process piping per engineering requirements.
• Supports CMMS Maximo records and inspections.
• Demonstrates safety practices and hazard awareness.
• Assists with other pipeline related duties as assigned.

Skills

English proficiency

Teamwork

Troubleshooting

Mechanical repair

Reading schematics

Communication

Education

High school diploma

First-year trades apprenticeship

Tools

Excel

Maximo CMMS

Microsoft Office

Calipers

Micrometers

Job description

Job Type: Regular

Plains is an industry-leading transportation and midstream provider specializing in transportation, storage, processing and marketing solutions for crude oil. We own an extensive network of pipeline transportation, terminalling, storage and gathering assets in key oil producing basins and transportation corridors and at major market hubs in the United States and Canada. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

We’re on the lookout for passionate self‑starters who thrive in fast‑moving, collaborative, and innovative environments.

The Junior Mechanical Technician role performs required scheduled and unscheduled mechanical maintenance on pumps, valves, engines, tank mixers, etc., and performs pump to motor alignments. They maintain maintenance records and evaluates wear and repair needs and trends of pipeline equipment, and maintain the assigned tools required to perform their job duties.

This is a field‑based role with frequent work in open environments with extremes of heat and cold, often in proximity to high voltage and/or chemicals, which requires safety accommodations such as protective clothing and equipment. This role is subject to callouts for work associated with Plains field operations and/or emergency response.

Job Responsibilities:

• Performs maintenance, upkeep and cleaning of station, pipeline and terminal facilities including but not limited to preventative maintenance and major/minor repairs as required to valves, engines, motors, mixers, piping, control panels, fencing, office, shop, and storage buildings associated with tanks, pipeline, trucking, barge and ship terminals, and related facilities.
• Performs routine scheduled and non‑scheduled equipment maintenance either with assistance or guidance from other maintenance personnel.
• Services and lubricates all mechanical equipment including tank mixers, pumps, motors, valves etc.
• Performs lockouts on company facilities.
• Conducts required preventative maintenance tasks on positive displacement pumps referencing vendor manual guidelines (e.g., changes gear lubes; checks rod clearances; adjusts clearances where applicable; makes determination on replacement or repair of parts; maintains fluid end packing and rods as required).
• Conducts required preventative maintenance tasks on centrifugal pumps referencing vendor manual guidelines (e.g., checks and changes oil in pumps; monitors bearings and oil temperatures; maintains coupling alignment records; monitors and repairs mechanical seals; makes major repairs to pump bearings and rotating element).
• Conducts required preventative maintenance tasks on small engine drive pumps referencing vendor manual guidelines (e.g., changes oil and lubricates; checks and maintains ignition and fuel systems; determines need for major/minor repairs (e.g., cylinder head, electrical system) and major overhaul when required).
• Maintains tank mixers (e.g., services and lubricates gearboxes; determines need for major/minor repairs (e.g., mechanical seal, shaft wear, overhaul) when required).
• Conducts valve maintenance (e.g., conducts required regulatory inspections, performs periodic maintenance as required by manufacturer, performs basic maintenance functions as needed).
• Installs and maintains process piping per engineering requirements.
• Assists in ensuring operating equipment inspections are performed and records are maintained within company CMMS (Maximo)
• Demonstrates safe work practices following Plains' safety policies and procedures.
• Accountable to inform senior personnel of hazard identification and near misses.
• Assists with any other pipeline related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Will be entering or have completed the 1st year of a related trades apprenticeship program.
• Relevant work experience preferred.
• Ability to speak, read, and write English and the ability to perform basic math.
• Ability to read and interpret facility drawings, technical schematics, and operational and service manuals.
• Ability to work in a team‑based work environment, with strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to trouble shoot and make mechanical repairs to company equipment.
• Working knowledge of precision measurement instruments such as micrometers, calipers, and alignment devices.
• Must have good computer skills, experience using Microsoft Office suite with strong emphasis on Excel and/or other spreadsheet applications and be able to effectively use the company CMMS (Maximo).
• Must be familiar with federal, provincial, and industry regulations as well as Plains operating procedures.
• Must be O.Q. qualified to perform all Level I tasks.
• Must have an outstanding safety record.
• Ability to successfully complete company Haz‑Mat training, required DOT operator qualifications to perform pipeline mechanical operations, and mandatory safety training.
• Ability to work in moderate to heavy physically demanding working cond