Hydraulic Engineer Jobs

Primary purpose for Hydraulics CO2 Engineer:

As a member of the Operations Control & Systems Engineering team, this position is responsible for technically evaluating the natural gas, and CO2 pipeline systems from a hydraulic standpoint utilizing the following software packages: DNV’s Synergi (SPS), Gregg Engineering’s NextGen, OLGA, Multiflash, and Pipesem for steady state and transient flow states in both single phase and multiphase flow regimes. This position will be responsible for all hydraulic modeling including surge analysis (relief systems and valve timing), capacity optimization, and commercial/business development scenario modeling.

Additionally, this role will assist and mentor other operations engineers within the group in the areas of peer review, modeling (CO2 and natural gas), and other engineering functions as identified. There will be frequent interaction with commercial/business development teams to evaluate potential expansion and/or acquisition opportunities which will require an ability to deliver, and clearly communicate, any technical analysis in a professional and timely manner, often on a short timeline.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Supports, configures, and maintains hydraulic models for CO2 and natural gas pipelines in Synergi, NextGen, OLGA, Multiflash, and Pipesem software.

• Perform surge analysis on existing and proposed pipelines to determine if surge relief systems are adequate for current and projected operational needs and identify solutions to address any potential insufficiencies.

• Provides expert consultation in areas of design, development, and implementation of hydraulic analysis and surge analysis for CO2 pipelines, pumps, and compressors in single phase and multi-phase flow regimes.

• Provides consultation and project support for hydraulic applications and real-time computer-based computational monitoring.

• Guiding high-level technical decisions, influencing architectural choices, and providing solutions to intricate problems.

• Collaborate with key staff engineers and lead cross-functional teams, working closely with other departments to ensure technical alignments with overall business objectives.

• Utilize a deep technical expertise and a holistic understanding of the organizations’ technical landscape and proactively drive innovation.

• Have a broad impact on the company’s technical direction, playing a crucial role in shaping high-level architecture and strategy.

• Drive innovation, introduce best practices, and ensure the long-term sustainability of technical solutions.

• Serve as a beacon of technical excellence, inspiring and guiding others across the organization.

• Evaluates model performance against actual pipeline performance to identify and execute improvement opportunities.

• Train pipeline controllers to better understand hydraulics and operational issues.

• Evaluates pipeline performance opportunities for the control center (hydraulic analysis, etc.) and provides input into operational philosophies/improvements.

• Assist Commercial/Business development by modeling potential acquisition and/or expansion projects to help them better understand the hydraulic limitations and/or design needs.

• Coordinates efforts at all levels with other departments.

• Demonstrates leadership in work groups through knowledge of hydraulic analysis and design.

• Assist Leak Detection Engineer as needed to align hydraulic models used for RTTM/CPM leak detection and transient hydraulic models (SPS, NextGen, and OLGA).

• Support Field Engineering teams regarding surge relief design/settings and automated shutdown logic.

• Support Automation teams regarding valve timing and automated shutdown/slowdown logic.

• Assist Integrity Engineering teams with ILI tool runs and any potential pressure reductions as it relates to throughput impacts.

• Participate in front-end hydraulic analysis for all projects.

• Assists operations engineers/system design engineers via peer review for various modeling efforts.

• Participates in incident investigations.

• Participates in the Management of Change (MOC) process and documents Best Practices.

• Ability to communicate technical information in a manner that can be understood by non-technical personnel and high-level management.

• Deal with a wide variety of people with tact, courtesy, and professionalism.

• Speak clearly, both in person and by telephone, using an elevated level of verbal skills and listen carefully.

• Helps management set technical objectives.

• Maintain a regular, dependable attendance and a consistently elevated level of performance.

• Will work non-traditional hours as needed.

• Maintain a high regard for personal safety, for the safety of company assets and employees, and the general public.

• Other daily, weekly, monthly, or special project duties as identified and defined.

• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Minimum requirements: Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Engineering (Mechanical, Civil, Petroleum, or Chemical).

• A minimum of 15 years of related pipeline experience.

• Professional Engineer license in US or Canada.

Experience/Specific Knowledge:

• Must possess a subject matter expert level of knowledge and application of OLGA software.

• Expertise in pipeline surge analysis.

• Knowledge in hydraulics, automation, leak detection technologies, modeling, statistical analysis, measurement/instrumentation, and SCADA and how to configure, tune and maintain advanced leak detection systems in a dynamic Control Center environment.

• Recognized industry technical expert in hydraulic simulations and design.

• Possesses a thorough knowledge of general Engineering principles and theories.

• Ability to work in a regulated environment that may include handling sensitive company and customer information.

• Ability to communicate with management, peers, and across disciplines and companies.

• In-depth knowledge fluid dynamics and mechanics.

• Familiar with DOT, EPA, OSHA, and other applicable pipeline safety and environmental regulations.

Certifications, Licenses & Registrations:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and a driving record satisfactory to the company and its insurers (for travel).

Competencies, Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.

• Proficiency in basic engineering skills.

• Can successfully plan and deliver complex, multi-team or system, long-term projects, including ones with external dependencies. Independently scopes, designs, and delivers solutions for large, complex challenges.

• Assesses the feasibility of proposed Engineering evaluation tests or products, when necessary, data is insufficient.

• Works toward solutions and applications that work for the entire system.

• Must be able to perform all essential and marginal functions of the job.

• Must be able to collaborate with a team, take direction from management, adhere to required work schedules, focus attention on details, and follow work rules.

• Ability to successfully perform multiple tasks with strict deadlines.

• Ability to organize and prioritize daily work.

• Ability to communicate goals in solution or project terms.

• Leads by example and inspires others.

• Ability to de-escalate conflicts and build consensus between team members concerning technical matters.

• Job level commensurate with experience and skill sets; position will be filled depending on qualifications, experience and skill sets of the successful candidate.

Physical Demands:

• All of the physical requirements listed below are those that may be necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting; standing; walking or moving throughout facility; driving; talking; seeing (specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus); hearing; feeling; bending or stooping; squatting or crouching; reaching; kneeling; pushing; pulling; lifting up to 25 lbs.

• Minimal safety hazards; general office working conditions.

• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time.

• The employee is regularly required to use hands to type, touch, handle, or feel. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk and climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

• Field activities may include walking to and amidst work and/or construction sites, climbing in and out of trenches, working around heavy equipment, negotiating rough terrain, areas of loose rock and working in confined spaces.

Working Conditions:

• Occasional overtime may be required.

• Most of the typical workday is spent in an office environment, though this may change depending upon the location assignment. For work performed out of doors, weather conditions vary and can be extreme, depending upon location assignment and may include severe seasonal changes which are primarily influenced by geographic location.

• Must be able to work in all weather conditions.

• Must be able to communicate effectively with fellow workers and demonstrate adherence to established safety policies and procedures.

• Required to carry a cell phone and be available to respond during working and non-working hours.

• The successful candidate will be required to clear a drug screen and a complete background check, including credit report for certain positions, after an offer has been extended and prior to being employed.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• None

PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES, SKILLS, & ABILITIES: Above the minimum requirements; not required but advantageous in this position:

• Advanced computer skills.

• Knowledge and/or application experience with industry standards (DOT 49CFR192, API, ASME, ANSI, NACE, NEC, etc.).