Gas Systems Planning Technician

Description

Introduction

Location flexible across the NiSource footprint.  Preferred location within PA or OH operating territory.  Primary responsibilities related to the PA Central and PA North operating areas.

Purpose:

The Gas Systems Planning Technician independently creates, updates, maintains, validates, and calibrates gas distribution system hydraulic models and associated databases.  Performs and interprets typical system analyses for new business and replacement projects independently.  Performs analysis on gas distribution systems for typical operational and emergency situations and identifies options to prevent or minimize service disruption to customers independently.  Collaborates and supports the Gas Systems Planning Engineer for more complex operational and emergency situations to prevent or minimize service disruption to customers.

Key Results:

• Accurate and current gas distribution system hydraulic models.
• Optimized gas distribution infrastructure.
• Reliable service to customers.
• Engineering support for operational and emergency situations
• Meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Meet or exceed Capital Program goals.

Responsibilities:

• Creates and updates the physical attributes of the hydraulic model from GIS and Work Management.
• Reviews unknown facility information and researches records for information concerning the unknown facility.
• Creates customer loading factors from customer information obtained from DIS/CIS.
• Interprets the customer loading factor results and revises customer loading as appropriate.
• Obtains spatial coordinates for customers and assign the customers to pipes/nodes via Synergi CMM.
• Validates system models performance of predicted results against actual systems flows.
• Identifies and investigates discrepancies between actual results and predicted values from hydraulic models.
• Assists in creating a plan to resolve discrepancies between model results and actual system results.
• Updates models with facility changes and changes in customers.
• QA/QC hydraulic models for system connectivity, customer locations and facility attributes.
• Provides engineering support by performing system analysis and interpreting results for typical projects.
• Provides engineering support for small operational and emergency situations by performing system analysis, interpreting results, and providing actionable options to minimize or prevent disruption of service to customers.
• Collaborates and assists Gas Systems Planning Engineer to provide engineering support for operational and emergency situations to minimize or prevent disruption of service to customers.
• Provides input to capacity betterment needs for the capital planning process.
• Provides information for critical valve zones using Synergi AIM.
• Provides input to the Winter Operations Plans and evaluates the system performance during peak demands.
• Provides input in the establishing of group goals, objectives, and priorities.
• Promotes safe working environment and public safety.

Qualifications

Education & Work Experience:

Required for Selection:

• 2 year Associate Degree in Engineering Technology (or other related technical degree) or demonstrated knowledge of gas distribution operations or gas distribution engineering.
• Experience with PC based applications, such as Microsoft Office, databases, or other spreadsheet applications.
• Ability to read and accurately interpret operating maps and records.
• Comprehension of gas systems and fundamentals of fluid mechanics.
• Proficient with PC based applications, such as Microsoft Office, databases, or other spreadsheet applications.
• Working knowledge of gas systems operations.
• Must possess a valid Driver's License

Preferred for Selection:

• Advanced education in Engineering, GIS, Information Technology, Math, or Science.
• 3 years of gas distribution operations or gas distribution engineering experience.
• Experience with GIS, AutoCAD, GPS and other related technologies
• Working knowledge of network modeling programs (Synergi).
• Proven knowledge of gas systems planning.
• Proven knowledge of applicable GIS specifications and software.
• Experience with records and applications specific to Columbia Distribution Companies.

This position will be filled based off of the skillset of the candidate and will be filled as:

• Gas Systems Planning Technician ($50,900 - $71,200)
• Senior Gas Systems Planning Technician (58,400.00 - $81,900.00)

This position can be located anywhere within the NiSource service territory

Relocation assistance will not be provided for the position

Disclaimer

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position.

Inclusion & Diversity 
Value inclusion within your day to day responsibilities by respecting others perspectives/convictions, engaging others opinions, creating a safe environment where people, ideas, and opinions are valued within your Team/Customers and external partners.

Respect and take into consideration diversity within your Team/Customers and external work partners by valuing different world views, challenges, and cultures that represent all walks of life and all backgrounds.

Treat others with respect and consideration. Actively participate in creating and contributing to a positive work environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity 
NiSource is committed to providing equal employment opportunities in each of its companies to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, veteran status, disability, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any protected group status as defined by law. Each employee is expected to abide by this principle.

By applying, you may be considered for other job opportunities. 

Salary Range:

Posting Start Date:

Posting End Date (if applicable):