Sr Pipeline Technician (Waterloo, IA)

NV Energy; Waterloo (IA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Natural Gas is hiring a Pipeline Technician to perform highly technical work across a wide range of skills and locations. The role requires skilled maintenance, inspection and operation of pipeline facilities, with opportunities for advancement and endorsements.

Team-focused environment emphasizes safety, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement; a valid driver’s license is required and overtime may be necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor/technical degree preferred.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to overnight.
• Completion of Pipeline Technician Academy or skill-block.
• Ability to read technical drawings and follow safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assist in performing scheduled preventative maintenance on equipment at facility.
• Recognizes abnormal operating conditions.
• Supports emergency response.
• Locate pipelines and oversee third-party excavations and line crossings; install and inspect markers.
• Operate power tools and specialized instruments used in pipeline ops and maintenance.
• Maintain and operate facilities in line with codes and safety standards.
• Maintain records per required state, federal, and company procedures.
• Review work assignments with team to ensure safe practices.
• Contribute to a team-centric environment with integrity.
• Support CHAMPION culture: personal responsibility and continuous improvement.

Skills

PLC systems

Gas measurement

Corrosion control

Mechanical repair

Welding standards

Education

Associate degree or equivalent

Pipeline Technician Academy

Tools

SCADA

HMI software

AWS welding standards

Job description

Northern Natural Gas offers a knowledge-based compensation program called Skill-Based Pay. Skill-Based Pay is a system that rewards employees for acquiring, demonstrating and maintaining work skills. In addition, Northern Natural Gas offers an annual discretionary incentive bonus 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 an extremely competitive product where needed in varying business, regulatory and operational climates. Employees are paid according to the skills demonstrated as well as the tasks performed.

In this system, Northern Natural Gas rewards personal initiative and pays for skills, rather than seniority. With a broader base of skills, employees can tackle new problems better and faster. Employees develop a wider view of the work at Northern Natural Gas and more fully understands the impact their decisions have at their work sites and for the entire company.

Ready to learn more about the role of a Pipeline Technician?

Pipeline Techs 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 will 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 utilized 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.
• Liquified 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. Combined, BHE Pipeline Group operates approximately 21,200 miles of pipeline with a design capacity of approximately 21.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, owns assets in 27 states and is an industry leader in natural gas transportation. BHE Pipeline Group also operates 22 natural gas storage facilities with a total working gas capacity of 515.6 billion cubic feet and a liquefied natural gas export, import and storage facility. Northern Natural Gas is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (except as required by law), 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. BHE Pipeline Group has an exciting career opportunity available.

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

• Assist in performing scheduled preventative maintenance on operational equipment at assigned facility.
• Recognizes abnormal operating conditions.
• Supports 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.