Senior Pipeline Safety Technical Advisor

State of New Mexico; New Mexico; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

State of New Mexico is seeking a Senior Pipeline Safety Technical Advisor to provide advanced technical guidance and program support for pipeline safety regulations and inspections.

The role includes developing internal training, QA/QC of reports, supporting experts, and participating in inspections to ensure compliance with federal and state requirements.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent and 8–10 years’ experience in pipeline safety, engineering, or regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR Parts 190–199).
• Experience developing and delivering technical training.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and technical writing abilities.
• Experience inspecting pipelines or conducting audits in a regulatory environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain internal training programs on pipeline safety regulations and inspection methods.
• Conduct QA/QC reviews of technical reports and enforcement recommendations.
• Participate in inspections, audits, and field activities with real-time technical support.
• Lead program improvement, tool development, and evaluation criteria for inspections.
• Represent the agency in meetings and stakeholder discussions as needed.

Skills

Regulatory knowledge

Training delivery

Analytical writing

Mentoring staff

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Position Purpose

Under limited supervision, the Senior Pipeline Safety Technical Advisor provides advanced technical guidance, oversight, and program support to ensure the effective implementation of pipeline safety regulations and inspection activities. Work includes complex analytical tasks, such as developing and delivering internal training, conducting quality assurance and quality control reviews of technical reports, supporting the development of subject matter experts, and participating in inspection activities to ensure compliance with federal and state pipeline safety requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Training and Staff Development

• Develop, implement, and maintain standardized internal training programs related to pipeline safety regulations, inspection methodologies, reporting requirements, and technical competencies.
• Evaluate training needs and recommend strategies to improve staff knowledge and performance.
• Mentor and support staff in becoming subject matter experts within key regulatory and technical areas.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

• Conduct QA/QC reviews of technical reports, inspection documentation, enforcement recommendations, and engineering analyses to ensure accuracy, clarity, consistency, and compliance with federal and state requirements. Provide feedback and corrective guidance to staff to improve reporting quality and regulatory adherence.
• Assist in updating templates, standards, and SOPs to support quality improvement.

Inspection Participation and Regulatory Oversight

• Participate in and observe pipeline safety inspections, audits, investigations, and related field activities.
• Provide real-time technical assistance and coaching to inspection personnel.
• Interpret and apply state and federal pipeline safety regulations and recommend corrective actions where deficiencies are identified.
• Assist in the development and refinement of inspection tools, processes, and evaluation criteria.

Program Support and Technical Leadership

• Serve as a technical advisor on complex or high-risk pipeline safety issues, engineering evaluations, and regulatory matters.
• Analyze inspection data, program trends, and technical documentation to support program improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with leadership to enhance pipeline safety oversight, operational efficiency, and policy development.
• Represent the agency in meetings, briefings, and stakeholder discussions as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent plus a minimum of 8-10 years of professional experience in pipeline safety, pipeline engineering, regulatory compliance, or a related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR Parts 190–199).
• Experience developing and delivering technical training.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and technical writing abilities.
• Experience conducting pipeline inspections or audits in a regulatory environment.
• Experience mentoring technical staff or overseeing technical program elements.
• Knowledge of pipeline integrity management, risk assessment, and engineering evaluation methods.