About the Company
Centric Services (“Centric”) delivers industry-leading natural gas transmission and distribution services through its Hooks and UniGas divisions. Centric serves ground-up commercial and residential developments, as well as master-planned communities in all major metropolitan markets across Texas. Centric is rapidly expanding due to its commercial and operational agility and is dedicated to bridging infrastructure gaps through strategic value creation and continuous innovation. Centric strives to create a caring and open culture where employees can grow and develop alongside the business.
About the Role
The Lead Engineer is responsible for providing technical leadership and oversight for large and small natural gas projects. The Lead Engineer will be responsible for the management, design, hydraulic modeling, and permitting of assigned natural gas projects, working under the overall direction of the Senior Manager of Engineering. The Lead Engineer will also be responsible for reviewing engineering designs, calculations, and project deliverables to ensure quality, accuracy, and compliance with applicable regulations and Centric engineering standards.
General:
- Upholds and advocates for Centric’s core values and behaviors as outlined in the Centric Values and Leadership Framework.
- Ensures that all engineering activities are conducted safely and in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Fosters a culture of always doing things the right way: the Centric Way, with an emphasis on safety, openness, integrity, and attention to detail.
- Collaborate closely with Engineering, Design, Construction, Project Management, Regulatory, and other internal teams to ensure project requirements, technical requirements, schedules, and commitments are clearly understood and effectively executed.
- Communicates effectively with clients, developers, regulatory agencies, municipalities, utilities, and other external stakeholders as necessary to advance projects and resolve engineering, permitting, and technical issues.
Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions:
- Manage assigned engineering projects from initial planning and project handoff through design, permitting, construction support, and project closeout.
- Plan, design, and oversee engineering projects for natural gas facilities, including on-site and off-site distribution systems, pipelines, services, regulation, metering, and related infrastructure.
- Develop and/or direct the preparation of engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, hydraulic models, cost estimates, and other project deliverables necessary for successful project execution.
- Prepare, coordinate, and manage permitting and regulatory submittals, including TxDOT, county, municipal, utility, and other applicable agencies, and serve as a point of contact for agency reviewers.
- Coordinate project requirements related to right-of-way, easements, utility conflicts, and site development, working with clients, developers, utilities, municipalities, and other stakeholders as necessary.
- Coordinate with the Engineering, Design, Construction, Operations, Project Management, and Regulatory teams to ensure projects are technically sound, constructible, and completed in accordance with project requirements and schedules.
- Review engineering designs, calculations, drawings, and other technical deliverables to ensure quality, accuracy, regulatory compliance, and conformance with Centric engineering standards.
- Provide technical direction and mentorship to engineers and designers and support the Senior Manager of Engineering in the development and implementation of engineering standards and practices.
- Provide engineering support during construction, including occasional site visits to evaluate field conditions, address design-related issues, and review as-built information as needed.
Requirements
Education / Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in civil, mechanical, or related engineering fields.
- 5+ years of relevant engineering experience, preferably in utility, infrastructure, land development, transportation, or natural gas projects.
- Professional Engineering (PE) License, preferably in Texas.
- Demonstrated experience managing engineering projects from planning through design, permitting, and construction support.
- Experience preparing and coordinating engineering plans and permitting packages for utility, right-of-way, and/or site-development projects.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Strong proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D and/or Bentley MicroStation, with the ability to develop, review, modify, and coordinate engineering drawings and design documents. Strong understanding of utility coordination, right-of-way, easements, site development, and permitting requirements.
- Working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including Texas Railroad Commission requirements and 49 CFR Part 192, and the ability to apply these requirements to engineering design and permitting activities.
- Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, schedules, and deadlines.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard engineering/document management software, including Bluebeam Revu and/or Adobe Acrobat.
- Strong engineering judgment and ability to develop technically complete designs, calculations, specifications, and other engineering deliverables.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Travel > 20% to client meetings, permitting activities, and project sites.
Preferred Requirements:
- Experience with ArcGIS or other GIS platforms.
- Experience in the natural gas/LDC industry, including distribution system planning, pipeline design, hydraulic analysis/modeling, station and M&R design, and related gas engineering activities.
- Experience with DNV Synergi Gas or similar natural gas hydraulic modeling software.
- Experience designing and permitting natural gas utility infrastructure for residential, commercial, industrial, or master-planned development projects.
- Experience using Monday.com or similar project management platforms.
Benefits
- Competitive base pay + bonus
- Great benefits (medical, dental, vision, and more)
- Generous PTO policy, in addition to annual sick leave and volunteer time off (VTO)
- 10 company paid holidays
- 401(k) plan with 5% company match
