**Principal Operations Engineer - Natural Gas Utility** Job Type: **Engineering/Engineering Support** Pay Range **$151,553 to $178,297** Location **Colorado Springs, CO** Date First Posted **1/30/25** Applications are being accepted through: 2/14/25 _*If no date is displayed, applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis; however, this job posting may close at any time after a minimum of 5 days of being posted._ **Principal Operations Engineer – Natural Gas Utility** *This job is eligible for relocation assistance to aid with the costs associated with moving to the Colorado Springs area Colorado Springs Utilities is hiring a highly motivated and experienced Engineer V to provide technical expertise, leadership, and guidance to maintain the operability and safety of Utilities’ natural gas distribution system. **Why should you apply to this role?** As the Principal Operations Engineer, you will join and help manage a talented team of engineers responsible for providing operational support, engineering, and planning services for Colorado Springs Utilities' natural gas distribution infrastructure. Utilities’ distribution system comprises more than 5,000 miles of gas mains and services and serves over 200,000 customers. Your work will directly impact the current and future safety and reliability of Colorado Springs’ natural gas infrastructure. This position will be the Principal Engineer for the Gas Operations Engineering Group, Operations team. This individual will be the lead engineer for the operations half of the Gas Operations Engineering Group. You will be the primary contact for operations questions from Gas Operations, Gas Construction, Field Engineering, Regulatory & Compliance, and Field Services. You will work closely with field personnel to accurately capture necessary data and ensure crews and newer engineers are properly trained and supported. **Key Areas of Focus:** + Writing and contributing to new and existing Operations & Maintenance Manuals & Procedures + Ensuring compliance with Title 49 CFR Part 192 and other relevant standards + Advising operations and construction teams on best practices and material standards + Valve selection and isolation plans + Gas measurement and regulation + Troubleshooting regulators and other distribution system equipment + Investigating abnormal operations & determining remediation plans + Conducting equipment research and recommendations + Conducting load analysis of customer downstream piping when needed + Conducting natural gas composition analysis, including Wobbe, and the effects of different natural gas mixtures on appliances and equipment + Assisting with the installation and commissioning of City Gate stations, District Regulator sets, and large meter sets + Conducting and coordinating training for operations, construction, and other engineers + Support emergency response operations in the field and conduct training exercises + Monitor system status/health and communicate vulnerabilities during cold weather or other high-usage events + Review critical designs to ensure operability **Who You Are…** A self-reliant engineer who enjoys problem-solving, improving processes, and working with a variety of stakeholders from management to field personnel. In addition to the technical aspects of this job, you excel at taking initiative and driving projects forward, communicating and sharing information effectively and appropriately, and documenting procedures & work processes. You also possess sound critical thinking and decision-making ability, and strong interpersonal skills that will allow you to establish effective relationships with internal and external customers. **Qualifications:** + A Bachelor’s Degree in an engineering discipline is required + 7+ years of engineering experience with 5+ years of experience in the gas utility industry or natural gas operations + Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) or Master’s Degree in an engineering discipline is highly valued but not required + Experience with gas regulation, valving, instrumentation, and gas pipeline materials + Demonstrated problem-solving skills and capacity to make decisions among various alternatives and communicate to all stakeholders, including during emergencies + Demonstrated proficiency in analyzing data with software applications such as Excel, ArcMap, SCADA, Synergi, Power BI, and/or similar applications **Extensive knowledge of industry best practices in:** + Strong understanding of multiple codes including, but not limited to PHMSA Part 192, ANSI, API, ASTM, NFPA, and IFGC + Corrosion-AMP certification desired + Gas pipeline material specifications, MAOP, and TVC principles + Leak investigation, classification, and gas mitigation + Welding procedures and processes + Construction practices and process + Valve isolation plans + Distribution Integrity Management and Cathodic Protection + City gate, regulator set, and meter set design, installation, and commissioning **A firm understanding of all aspects of gas measurement and regulation:** + Have experience with troubleshooting regulators and investigating abnormal operations + Able to perform calculations regulator station calculations for proper capacity and OPP adequacy + Experience with conducting load analysis of customer downstream piping when needed + Experience in City gate, DRS, and meter set design, installation, and commissioning **A firm understanding of the Interchangeability of Natural gas:** + Wobbe and the effects of different natural gas mixtures on appliances and equipment + Capable of conducting experiments on different gas mixtures to identify hazards **Who We Are...** + One of the largest four-service public utilities in the nation (over 500,000 customers) + A national leader in reliability (power on an average of 99.991% of the time) + Diamond Designation recipient from the American Public Power Association – a utility sector leader in reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvements + Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains in the most desired city to live in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, 2022) **Our Commitment to Our Employees…** Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities. They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving. We do not just say people are important – we prove it! That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program. + Time Off – Because everybody needs time off to recharge + Vacation – New employees accrue 13 days of paid time off to start, while our more tenured employees accrue 24 days per year + Personal Leave –3 days per year of personal leave + Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year + Sick Leave – Accrue 12 days of sick leave annually for those days when you or a family member is feeling under the weather + Vacation Buy – Purchase up to 40 hours of additional vacation time + Pension Plan – Looking forward to a comfortable lifestyle once you’re done working? The Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) provides you with retirement benefits and peace of mind when you retire + Medical – Select from three comprehensive medical plans, starting at $10.00 a month. Employees also enjoy access to a Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) + Wellness Program – Voluntary wellness program that allows you and your spouse to each earn up to $500 to use towards healthcare expenses, $100 in Visa gift cards, and up to $400 in gym membership reimbursements + Dental – Select from two dental plans, with in-network PPO preventive care covered at 100% and access to orthodontia coverage + Vision – Voluntary plan that covers full vision care services and discounts on LASIK eye surgery + Retirement Saving Programs – Supplement your pension plan with voluntary retirement programs such as the PERAPlus 401(k) and MissionSquare’s Roth IRA and 457 plans + Disability Coverage – Short-Term (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance available for purchase + Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Makes the going a little easier by aiding with mental health, stress management, work-life balance, financial and legal matters, and much more + Long-Term Care Insurance (LTC) – Whether it's due to an accident or a serious illness, LTC insurance is available for purchase to help you and your loved ones + Life Insurance – Company-paid life insurance and supplemental coverage available + Tuition Reimbursement – Employees are eligible to receive up to $5,250 annually for Tuition Reimbursement + Qualifying Public Service Employer – Payments made towards student loans may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program **_ATTENTION_** **_:_** + _All positions will be posted for a minimum of 5 calendar days._ + _Starting pay will be determined within the posted pay range based on the experience, education, and training of the successful candidate; if there is a single pay rate posted, the job starts at that rate._ + _Colorado Springs Utilities does not sponsor work visas of any kind (including but not limited to H-1B, TN, or F-1 student visas with an OPT extension)._ **_Eligible applicants must be authorized to work in the United States._** **Colorado Springs Utilities is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.** Our differences make us richer. Learning and growing from one another makes us more than what we were. We want our workforce to be as diverse as our business and recognize the limitless benefits of this commitment. Our desire is to have the organization reflect the diversity of the Pikes Peak Region. As an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, it is our commitment that no person shall be unlawfully discriminated against because of race, color, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, religious convictions, veteran status, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Affirmative Action is Colorado Springs Utilities’ effort to ensure positive steps are taken to have a representative workforce reflective of the relevant available labor force. For more information regarding applicant rights, visit https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm **Accessibility Accommodations** . If you are an individual with a disability or disabled veteran who is unable to use our online tools to search and apply for jobs, you may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting us at accessibility@csu.org or by calling 719-668-7500. This option is reserved for individuals who are unable to use or require assistance with the online tools as the result of a disability and is not intended for other purposes. **E-Verify and Right to Work Notice** . Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. Colorado Springs Utilities participates in E-Verify. For more information on your rights and responsibilities as an applicant, please visit: http://coloradospringsutilities.jobs/applicants-rights-and-responsibilities/ . If you have a legal right to work in the United States, there are laws to protect you against discrimination in the workplace. You should know that no employer can deny you a job or fire you because of your national origin. Unless mandated by law or government contract, employers cannot require you to be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident or refuse any legally acceptable documents. If any of these things have happened to you, you may have a valid charge of discrimination that can be filed with the OSC. Contact the OSC for assistance in your own language. Call 1-800-255-7688. TDD for the hearing impaired is 1-800-237-2515. In the Washington, D.C., area, please call 202-616-5594, TDD 202-616-5525 Or write to: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel NYA 950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20530. **Have a question?** If you have a question about a position or need assistance from a recruiter, email us at csurecruiting@csu.org or call 719-668-7500. Job Type: Engineering/Engineering Support