Sr Pipeline Technician (North Branch, MN)

NV Energy; Minnesota; On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

NV Energy is looking for a dedicated Pipeline Technician to join our team. This role involves performing technical work on the largest interstate natural gas pipeline system in the U.S. Candidates should have an Associate of Applied Science in a technical specialization or equivalent experience and be prepared for a dynamic work environment with on-call duties.

The ideal candidate will work on maintaining pipeline integrity and operate complex equipment while adhering to safety and environmental standards. Join us and contribute to our commitment to excellence in natural gas transportation.

Qualifications

• An Associate of Applied Science in technical specialization preferred.
• Four to six years of related, progressive work experience needed without education requirements.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Assist in performing scheduled preventative maintenance.
• Recognize abnormal operating conditions.
• Support emergency response.

Skills

Controls – Install, maintain and troubleshoot equipment

Measurement – Operate and troubleshoot gas measurement equipment

Corrosion – Install and maintain corrosion protection equipment

Mechanical – Overhaul and repair compression equipment

Liquefied Natural Gas Operations

Underground Storage Operations

Compressor Station Operations

Pipeline – Perform pipeline maintenance

Equipment Operation – Operate heavy equipment

Welding – Qualified in API 1104 and ASME standards

Environmental – Maintain environmental standards

Education

Associate of Applied Science in a technical specialization

Comparable degree with technical certification

Job description

Pipeline Technician

Northern Natural Gas offers a knowledge‑based compensation program called Skill-Based Pay. The Pay system rewards employees for acquiring, demonstrating and maintaining work skills and includes an annual discretionary incentive bonus of up to 10.5% based on individual and company performance.

The goal of Skill-Based Pay is to ensure Northern Natural Gas has a qualified, versatile workforce that produces a competitive product across various business, regulatory, and operational climates. Employees are paid according to the skills demonstrated and the tasks performed.

In this system, Northern Natural Gas rewards personal initiative and pays for skills rather than seniority. A broader base of skills allows employees to tackle new problems better and faster, and to fully understand the impact of their decisions at their work sites and across the company.

Pipeline technicians are multi‑skilled employees who perform highly technical work within a geographical area on the largest interstate natural gas pipeline system in the United States. Positions specialize in one or more of the following technical skills:

• Controls – Install, maintain and troubleshoot programmable logic controllers, human‑machine interfaces, motor control centers, and medium‑ and low‑voltage power distribution and pneumatic control devices used in pipeline operations.
• Measurement – Program, maintain, operate and troubleshoot gas measurement equipment including gas meters, control valves, relief valves, regulators, and associated software, as well as monitoring gas and quality‑control equipment.
• Corrosion – Install, maintain and troubleshoot corrosion protection equipment to ensure pipeline integrity. NACE CP1 Tester certification is preferred.
• Mechanical – Install, maintain, troubleshoot, overhaul and repair rotating and reciprocating compression equipment.
• Liquefied Natural Gas Operations – Ensure reliable operation and maintenance of processes required to make liquefied natural gas.
• Underground Storage Operations – Ensure reliable operation and maintenance of processes required to store and deliver natural gas from underground reservoirs.
• Compressor Station Operations – Ensure reliable operation of compressor station equipment.
• Pipeline – Perform pigging operations, damage prevention measures and pipeline right‑of‑way maintenance.
• Equipment Operation – Transport, inspect, maintain and operate various mobile heavy equipment including backhoes, boom trucks, semi‑trucks, dump trucks, excavators, skid loaders, etc. Additional endorsements for hazmat and liquefied natural gas transportation are available.
• Welding – Pipeline welders must be qualified in API 1104 and ASME standards to weld on natural gas pipelines. Structural welders must be qualified in AWS standards.
• Environmental – Maintain environmental standards, environmental activities and regulatory compliance for assigned locations.

BHE Pipeline Group consists of Berkshire Hathaway Energy’s interstate natural gas pipeline companies, BHE GT&S, Kern River Gas Transmission Company, and Northern Natural Gas Company. The group operates approximately 21,200 miles of pipeline with a design capacity of about 21.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, owns assets in 27 states, and leads in natural gas transportation and storage. Northern Natural Gas is an equal‑opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, gender (including gender identity and expression), sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, familial or parental status, marital status or any other category protected by applicable local, state or U.S. federal law. Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without an accommodation.

Key qualifications and requirements:

• An Associate of Applied Science degree in a technical specialization is preferred. Ideal degrees include Associate of Applied Science in aviation maintenance, diesel, natural gas, compression, instrumentation, controls, electrical, electro‑mechanical or corrosion.
• A comparable undergraduate degree with a technical specialization certification is applicable. Typically four to six years of related, progressive work experience would be needed for candidates applying for this position who do not possess the education requirements.
• Successful completion of Pipeline Technician Academy and/or achievement of at least one skill‑block.
• Must have a valid driver’s license. Work schedules may vary with some positions requiring overtime and overnight stays away from home, on‑call and rotating schedules and availability for emergency response call out 24 hours per day.

Key responsibilities:

• Assist in performing scheduled preventative maintenance on operational equipment at assigned facility.
• Recognize abnormal operating conditions.
• Support emergency response.
• Locate pipelines and oversee third‑party excavation and line crossings. Install and inspect pipeline markers.
• Operate work equipment including but not limited to power tools, hand tools, and specialized instruments used in pipeline operations, maintenance, and repair of facilities.
• Maintain and operate facilities in compliance with specifications, codes, safety and environmental standards/records and company operating procedures.
• Assist in maintaining records pursuant to required state, federal, and company procedures.
• Review work assignments with the team to ensure work is completed with established safe work practices and reporting.
• Contribute to a team‑centric work environment based on mutual respect and integrity.
• Support the Company’s CHAMPION culture, which centers around personal responsibility, continuous improvement and delivering quality for our customers.

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without an accommodation.