Principal Engineer – Pipeline, Instrumentation & Controls

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California.

📋 Description

• Engage directly with clients, project managers, operations staff, and various stakeholders to determine project requirements, outline design specifications, and facilitate effective project execution.

• Create project scoping documents, design guidelines, engineering work plans, technical memoranda, proposals, and estimates for cost and scheduling.

• Assist in the design and enhancement of natural gas transmission and distribution systems, encompassing pipelines, distribution regulator stations, pressure control mechanisms, metering facilities, and associated infrastructure.

• Formulate engineering designs for the deployment of gas control, automation, and real-time remote monitoring systems at both existing and new facilities across Southern California.

• Draft designs that incorporate pressure, flow, and temperature transmitters; gas detection systems; remote control valves; control valves; flow meters; pressure regulators; programmable logic controllers; remote terminal units; control panels; and communication equipment.

• Aid in the design of electrical power, conduits, cabling, grounding, communications, and control infrastructure linked to instrumentation and automation enhancements.

• Generate and examine pipeline routing, station configurations, piping alterations, equipment layouts, valve arrangements, tie-in details, and related mechanical design documentation.

• Conduct process and hydraulic computations, pressure-drop assessments, equipment sizing, valve sizing, relief-system evaluations, and additional engineering calculations.

• Assess the current conditions of facilities and identify necessary modifications to integrate new equipment, instrumentation, controls, piping, electrical systems, and communication infrastructure.

• Prepare and review engineering drawings and documentation, including: Process Flow Diagrams, Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams, plot plans and equipment layouts, pipeline alignment and profile drawings, instrument loop diagrams, control schematics and wiring diagrams, cause-and-effect matrices, control narratives and philosophies, shutdown and alarm philosophies, instrument indexes and I/O lists, as well as equipment, valve, and line lists, demolition and construction drawings.

• Develop control narratives, alarm setpoints, shutdown logic, interlocks, and operating sequences in collaboration with operations, gas control, SCADA, and automation teams.

• Oversee SCADA integration needs, communications architecture, point mapping, alarm setups, and data transfer between field devices and remote monitoring systems.

• Facilitate point-to-point verification, loop checks, functional testing, factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, startup, commissioning, and performance evaluations.

• Participate in field investigations, site inspections, constructability assessments, design reviews, and project meetings.

• Review existing drawings, records, survey data, inspection reports, and field conditions to validate design assumptions and identify potential project limitations.

• Collaborate with civil, structural, electrical, mechanical, pipeline, corrosion, survey, environmental, permitting, land, right-of-way, construction, and operations teams.

• Prepare requests for quotations, assess vendor proposals, address technical clarifications, and create technical bid evaluations and equipment recommendations.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field from an accredited institution.

• Over 10 years of engineering experience in support of natural gas utilities, pipelines, process facilities, instrumentation and controls, automation, or similar energy infrastructure.

• A California Professional Mechanical Engineer license is mandatory.

• Familiarity with natural gas transmission or distribution systems, regulator stations, metering facilities, process piping, or pipeline facility design.

• Experience in preparing or reviewing engineering calculations, drawings, specifications, data sheets, and technical reports.

• Working knowledge of relevant codes and standards, which may include ASME B31.8, ASME B31.3, API, ANSI, ISA, NFPA, NEC, and applicable federal, state, and local pipeline safety regulations.

• Comprehension of engineering design development from initial scoping and field investigation to detailed design, construction support, startup, and project closure.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and other standard business applications.

• Willingness to travel to project sites, client locations, and attend in-person meetings as required by project demands.

• A valid driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record.

🏝️ Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance.

• 401(k) with employer matching.

• Paid time off.