Senior Pipeline Hydraulic Engineer

• Location: Calgary, Alberta
• Type: Direct Hire
• Job #13364
• Salary: CA$170,000 Per Hour

Reporting to the Manager, System Planning & Reliability, this position is responsible for delivering high-quality steady-state and transient hydraulic analysis, developing and applying hydraulic models and strategies, and ensuring hydraulic work is appropriately integrated into operational, commercial, and project decisions. This role does not include people management but requires strong informal leadership and mentorship capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the senior technical authority for liquid pipeline hydraulics, with deep expertise in steady-state and transient (surge) analysis.
• Develop, maintain, and validate pipeline simulation models to accurately represent operational conditions.
• Mentor junior engineers and represent the hydraulics function in cross-functional and enterprise initiatives.
• Perform hydraulic benchmarking using operational data and consider commercial volume commitments, crude specifications, and temperature effects.
• Design and optimize overpressure protection strategies, including surge relief, shutdown protocols, valve operations, and control system logic.
• Engineer and maintain pressure restriction compliance and station setpoints in collaboration with pipeline integrity and operations teams.
• Manage pump station shutdown setpoints, documentation, and revision processes.
• Troubleshoot hydraulic performance and control logic issues related to pump stations, terminals, and line operations.
• Provide subject matter expertise on Drag Reducing Agents (DRA), including injection logic and impact on throughput and hydraulic modeling.
• Conduct hydraulic assessments to support pipeline expansions and new construction, including line sizing and pump station siting.
• Determine fit-for-purpose analysis approaches based on project maturity and risk.
• Review, authenticate, and stamp engineering work to ensure quality and compliance.
• Manage external hydraulic consultants as needed.
• Identify and prioritize gaps in hydraulic model coverage and fidelity.
• Champion improvements in hydraulic modeling practices to enhance quality, accuracy, and safety.
• Develop and maintain model standards, workflows, documentation, and validation protocols.
• Ensure strong model hygiene including version control and configuration management.
• Promote hydraulic literacy by creating accessible tools and materials for non-specialists.

Education, Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, or Process preferred).
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) registration.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in pipeline engineering, with at least 5 years specializing in hydrocarbon liquid pipeline hydraulics.
• Strong proficiency with pipeline simulation tools (e.g., SPS/Synergi Pipeline Simulator). Experience with AFT Fathom/Impulse, PipeSim, or equivalents is a plus.
• Ability to interpret SCADA data for troubleshooting and model validation.
• Working knowledge of relevant pipeline standards such as CSA Z662 and ASME.
• Competency with a range of hydraulic tools including simulation software and system curve analysis.

Candidate Profile:

• A strong technical subject matter expert in hydraulics with experience in both field operations and design.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and able to mentor junior engineers.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative, growth-oriented team environment without direct people management responsibilities.
• SPS experience is preferred but not mandatory for the right candidate.

For more current job opportunities, Follow MatchBox at linkedin.com/company/matchbox-recruitment/

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About MatchBox

Headquartered in downtown Vancouver and serving clients nationally, MatchBox is one of the leading recruitment and solutions firms that specializes in the fields of IT & Technology, Engineering & Technical, Real Estate & Construction, and Accounting & Finance. We offer unrivaled expertise with our team's extensive experience in the recruitment and professional services industry. We are dedicated to building great connections and creating strong opportunities within the workforce and the labor market.

Equal Opportunities

MatchBox is committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including members of minority groups such as racialized individuals, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and Indigenous peoples. It is a priority for us that all candidates are treated fairly and without discrimination. Our recruitment teams receive ongoing training on using objective criteria for evaluating candidates and other related topics to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.

Work Permits

Please note that we require all interested candidates to obtain the necessary work permits from the Government of Canada prior to submitting an application. This position is open exclusively to individuals residing in Canada and legally authorized to work in Canada. Applications not meeting these criteria will not be considered.

Further Consideration

We receive a high volume of applications and are only able to contact candidates who are selected for further consideration.

Find out more at www.matchboxhr.com