Natural Gas Compression Subject Matter Expert (SME) - Remote

AECOM is seeking a Natural Gas Compression Subject Matter Expert (SME) to join our multi-disciplinary design team in support of a major gas transmission projects. This role is a remote position and the selected candidate as the opportunity to work a remote schedule.

In this role, the selected individual will serve as the firm’s lead technical authority for compression stations, establishing overall compression philosophy, equipment selection criteria (reciprocating vs. centrifugal compressors), driver selection (gas turbines, electric motors), and station layout standardization.

This position serves as the primary technical authority for gas compression process and equipment selection, providing top-level engineering direction, technical governance, and oversight across all compression station designs.

For this role, AECOM offers the freedom and flexibility to work remotely and/or be located at a variety of Industrial and Power Generation offices across the United States. Primary locations are Houston, TX, Austin, TX, Denver, CO, and New Orleans, LA.

The job responsibilities of the position will include but are not limited to

• Define over-pressure protection systems, relief valves, and blowdown system strategies in strict accordance with API, ASME, and CFR.
• Lead and review complex thermodynamic and gas hydraulic calculations, including multi-stage compressor sizing, intercooling/aftercooling design, fuel gas system conditioning, and transient gas flow behavior.
• Direct and review specialized dynamic analysis, including pulsation/acoustic studies (API 618/API 688), torsional vibration analysis, and pipe stress/surge analysis (ASME B31.8 / AFT Impulse) to ensure system integrity across operating envelopes.
• Author and review critical technical specifications and data sheet packages for major rotating equipment (compressor packages, gas turbines, engines, coolers, scrubbers, gas filtration).
• Lead high-level Technical Bid Evaluations (TBEs), vendor package integration, factory acceptance testing (FAT) witness points, and technical alignment across major OEM suppliers.
• Drive standardization to streamline engineering, procurement, and constructability while adapting to site-specific pressure ratios, flow regimes, and gas compositions.
• Review critical project deliverables, including Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), compressor building layouts, ESD (Emergency Shut-Down) system logic, and hazard mitigation plans.
• Support proposal development with technical write-ups, compression strategy narratives, engineering hour estimations, and client presentation support.
• Interface directly with client leadership, regulatory bodies, and operations teams as AECOM's key technical representative for gas compression strategy.
• Conduct high-level technical reviews and check engineering calculations produced by design teams.
• Mentor senior and mid-level mechanical engineers on pipeline dynamics, rotating equipment specifications, and industry best practices.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• BA/BS in Mechanical Engineering or related field + 8 years of related experience or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education.
• 8 years of experience in mechanical design engineering within the natural gas, pipeline midstream, or energy infrastructure sectors.
• Professional Engineer (PE) License.
• Proven track record as a Lead Engineer or SME on large-scale natural gas compression station projects (greenfield or major brownfield expansions).
• Understanding of design, industrial process and energy projects.
• Experience in industrial and/or energy-related fields.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Extensive experience with major compressor technologies (large reciprocating compressor packages and/or gas-turbine-driven centrifugal units) and associated auxiliary systems (lube oil, seal gas, fuel gas, glycol/cooling water, wash systems).
• Expert-level knowledge of ASME B31.8 (Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems), 49 CFR Part 192, API 618 (Reciprocating Compressors), API 617 (Centrifugal Compressors), API 619, API 692 (Dry Gas Seals), API 520/521, and ASME Section VIII Div 1/2.
• Hands-on expertise or oversight capabilities with gas hydraulic and compressor performance tools (e.g., AFT Arrow, AFT Impulse, Synergy, HYSYS/UniSim, Pipe-Flo, CAESAR II, or proprietary OEM compressor sizing tools like Ariel Performance / Solar Compressors).
• Strong working understanding of environmental, air quality, and acoustic compliance constraints related to compressor station noise and emissions control (NOx, methane slip, turbine exhaust).