Pipeline Technician

Plains is an industry‑leading transportation and midstream provider specializing in transportation, storage, processing and marketing solutions for crude oil. We own an extensive network of pipeline transportation, terminalling, storage and gathering assets in key oil producing basins and transportation corridors and at major market hubs in the United States and Canada. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

We’re on the lookout for passionate self‑starters who thrive in fast‑moving, collaborative, and innovative environments.

The Intermediate Pipeline Technician role operates and maintains pipeline facilities including tanks, pipeline pumping stations, LACTs, and gathering facilities to ensure the accurate and protected transportation and storage of petroleum products.

Operators work within terminal facilities while Pipeline Operators normally work at facilities up and down pipeline and gathering systems. They will assist with petroleum product movements in and out of pipeline terminals and/or pump stations and are responsible for the storage of products and custody transfers activities with connecting carriers and customers. They will accurately assess the quantity and quality of crude oil and/or refined products and perform general facility maintenance in accordance with company mandates.

This is a field‑based role with frequent work in open environments with extremes of heat and cold, often in proximity to high voltage and/or chemicals, which requires safety accommodations such as protective clothing and equipment. This role is subject to callouts for work associated with Plains field operations and/or emergency response.

• Controls pipeline inlet and outlet product flows during normal operations and responds effectively to abnormal and emergency conditions.
• Completes pipeline and facility checks, reporting abnormal conditions and troubleshooting as necessary.
• Safely operates all facility rotating equipment and valves, LACT and metering systems, and hydrocarbon drain systems, reporting abnormal conditions and troubleshooting as necessary.
• Performs basic troubleshooting and repairs on pumps, motors, injectors, valves, meters and other associated pipeline and terminal equipment.
• Performs damage prevention activities (e.g., completes required documentation, completes 3rd party One Calls, conducts inspections and monitoring of 3rd party ground disturbance).
• Maintains the integrity of the pipeline, controlling the excavation and back filling of curried pipelines, selecting the appropriate pig for the pipeline and the work required, selecting the appropriate pipe coating, and responding to abnormal conditions (e.g., stuck pig, hydrates).
• Creates and uses Energy Isolation Plans to prepare equipment and piping and ensures zero energy before releasing equipment to maintenance; accepts equipment and piping at maintenance completion.
• Completes daily over / short reporting on assigned areas and identifies problems or signs of issues in bulk fuel; assists in product loss/gain investigations as needed.
• Responsible for assisting in the training of new employees.
• Responsible for identifying and preventing potential conflicts or operational problems, including reviewing operations schedules such as shift schedules, product movements, vessel movement, etc. to prevent conflicts.
• Directs and / or supervises company hired contractors and assists in conducting contractor safety tail gate meetings.
• Provides an active role within the Incident Command System during response planning, exercises, or incident response.
• Conducts effective shift turnovers.
• Responds to abnormal and emergency events.
• Accountable to inform senior personnel of hazard identification and near misses.
• Demonstrates safe work practices following Plains’ safety policies and procedures.
• Assists with any other pipeline / terminal related duties as assigned.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum two (2) years of relevant work experience at the prior level.
• Ability to speak, read, and write English and the ability to perform basic math.
• Ability to read and interpret pipeline maps,…