Lead Pipeline Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title
Lead Pipeline Engineer | $165,000–$195,000 | Baton Rouge, LA

About JH:
J H Operating Company, LLC (JH) is an engineering, procurement, and construction firm serving the upstream and midstream oil and gas industry. JH delivers practical, buildable solutions for oil, natural gas, and water pipeline systems and associated facilities.

 

Position Summary:

JH is looking for an experienced pipeline engineer to join our growing midstream engineering team. This is a hands-on technical role with significant project ownership—without the expectation of business development or account management.

The Lead Pipeline Engineer leads and executes pipeline engineering work from early concept and route evaluation through detailed design, procurement support, construction, commissioning, and handover. The role is responsible for the technical quality, code compliance, constructability, cost awareness, and schedule performance of multiple projects in various geographies, with typical total installed costs ranging from $2 million to $50 million.

 

This is primarily an engineering delivery role—not a client-account or business-development role. Occasional client interaction may be required for technical coordination, requirements clarification, design reviews, and project handover, but client engagement is not a primary responsibility.

 

Primary Responsibilities:

The role’s primary responsibilities are as follows:

 

·        Lead and/or participate in the design, specification, procurement, and execution of pipeline projects and associated facilities from concept through commissioning.

·        Develop and review project requirements, design bases, cost estimates, AFEs, preconstruction schedules, specifications, datasheets, material requisitions, and other engineering deliverables.

·        Evaluate pipeline routes, crossings, construction feasibility, hydraulics, operability, reliability, maintainability, capital cost, and operating cost when developing design recommendations.

·        Perform or review pipeline stress checks and related design calculations; identify loads, restraints, support needs, and other conditions that may affect pipeline integrity or constructability.

·        Prepare P&ID sketches, design markups, and technical direction for the drafting/design team; review P&IDs, alignment sheets, isometrics, 3D models, layouts, and civil drawings for accuracy and interdisciplinary coordination.

·        Develop, review, and apply pipe specifications, material requirements, valve and fitting requirements, joining requirements, and testing criteria appropriate to the service and governing code.

·        Incorporate operational requirements for pigging, launching and receiving facilities, isolation, blowdown or drain provisions, maintenance access, and safe commissioning.

·        Coordinate and review requirements for pipe supports, anchors, guides, cathodic protection, coatings, corrosion control, and pipeline interfaces with civil, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and process disciplines.

·        Apply applicable federal and state pipeline regulations, including relevant requirements of 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195, together with governing industry codes, standards, and recommended practices.

·        Serve as an internal technical resource for ASME B31.4, ASME B31.8, API 1104, and other applicable ASME, ANSI, and API requirements.

·        Participate in hazard reviews, safety evaluations, constructability reviews, quality reviews, and other formal design assurance activities.

·        Support procurement through bid evaluations, vendor-document review, technical clarifications, expediting priorities, and coordination of construction logistics.

·        Provide technical leadership to engineers, designers, consultants, and vendors; reinforce quality-control and document-control requirements and ensure timely completion of assigned work.

·        Support field execution and commissioning activities, including site walkdowns, resolution of technical questions, pre-startup safety reviews (PSSRs), testing, startup, turnover, and closeout.

·        Review invoices and progress information as assigned and communicate technical, cost, schedule, quality, and execution risks to project leadership.

·        Protect the confidentiality of JH and customer information and contribute to a professional, accountable, team-oriented culture.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

·        Bachelor's degree in engineering; a degree in mechanical, civil, petroleum, or a closely related engineering discipline is preferred.

·        Five or more years of relevant pipeline, piping, facilities, or midstream engineering experience, including responsibility for independent technical decisions.

·        Demonstrated experience supporting or leading small to large capital projects

·        Working knowledge of applicable Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) requirements and pipeline codes, including 49 CFR Parts 192 and/or 195, ASME B31.4, ASME B31.8, and API 1104, as applicable to prior work.

·        Ability to evaluate and balance safety, code compliance, operability, reliability, constructability, schedule, capital cost, and operating cost.

·        Ability to travel domestically approximately 10-15%, including visits to project sites, fabrication facilities, vendors, outside engineering firms, and customer locations.

·        Authorization to work and remain in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.

·        Ability to satisfy applicable background-check and drug-screening requirements.

Preferred:

·        Experience with Autodesk design tools, ProMax or comparable process-simulation tools, and the review of CAD-produced pipeline deliverables.

·        Familiarity with pipeline stress checks, civil drawing review, pipe supports, pigging operations and facilities, cathodic protection, corrosion control, and pipe specifications.

·        Experience coordinating civil, mechanical, process, electrical, instrumentation, and corrosion-control interfaces while mentoring engineers and designers or leading multidisciplinary technical work packages.

·        Strong technical writing, documentation, coordination, and internal team-leadership skills.

·        Field experience with pipeline construction, hydrostatic testing, pigging, commissioning, and startup

Employment Details

Full-time, exempt  |  Baton Rouge, Louisiana  |  Approximately 10-15% domestic travel

 

Benefits Summary

 

JH offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:

 

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-paid life insurance
• 401(k) with 5:1 company match
• Paid holidays and paid time off
• Professional development opportunities
• Long-term career growth with a growing engineering consulting firm
• Flexible work schedules

Equal Employment Opportunity

JH provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Company Description

J H Operating Company offers engineers, designers, and project professionals the opportunity to work on real oil and gas facility projects with direct impact. JH operates as an owner-focused EPCm firm, meaning teams are involved early, make practical decisions, and see projects through from concept to construction and commissioning.

Employees at JH work in small, highly capable teams where individual contributions matter. The company emphasises technical competence, accountability, and transparency, giving team members visibility into how projects are planned, executed, and delivered.

JH supports professional growth by exposing employees to multiple disciplines, project phases, and client interactions. The organization values efficiency, problem-solving, and ownership, creating an environment where people who want responsibility and hands-on experience can grow quickly.

Company Description

J H Operating Company offers engineers, designers, and project professionals the opportunity to work on real oil and gas facility projects with direct impact. JH operates as an owner-focused EPCm firm, meaning teams are involved early, make practical decisions, and see projects through from concept to construction and commissioning.\r\rEmployees at JH work in small, highly capable teams where individual contributions matter. The company emphasises technical competence, accountability, and transparency, giving team members visibility into how projects are planned, executed, and delivered.\r\rJH supports professional growth by exposing employees to multiple disciplines, project phases, and client interactions. The organization values efficiency, problem-solving, and ownership, creating an environment where people who want responsibility and hands-on experience can grow quickly.