Electronics Technician - ILI Systems & Equipment. Houston-Based.

Pipecare Group•Houston, TX

26d•Onsite

About The Position

The Electronics Technician - ILI Systems & Equipment is responsible for the full lifecycle of PIPECARE Western Hemisphere’s electronics assets. This includes bench-level preparation, testing, calibration, repair, and reliability support for the region’s inspection technologies (Caliper, MFL, UTWM/UTCD, and EMAT), as well as the tracking and locating equipment used in every mobilization (AGM units, tool-mounted transmitters, and pig locators). The role also involves managing the electronics store, tool inventory, consumables, and component requisitioning. This is a single-incumbent role designed to cover both functions due to the size of the tool fleet and annual prep volume. While reporting to the Shop Supervisor, the technician ensures all tasks for the Western Hemisphere are executed according to plan, corporate standards, and policy.

Requirements

College education in Electronics, or equivalent hands-on/apprenticeship experience
Minimum 3–5 years of relevant work experience
Solid knowledge of electronic instrumentation and measurement.
Good experience in soldering, calibration, and testing of electronic PCBs and equipment.
Working knowledge of inventory/stock management; experience maintaining stock records or running a parts store is a plus
Comfortable handling basic procurement/requisitioning tasks: obtaining quotations, raising requisitions, and tracking deliveries.
Proficient in Microsoft Excel; comfortable learning the company’s ERP/inventory-tracking system.
Attention to detail, quality focus.
Ability to work effectively under time pressure and changing mobilization priorities while maintaining quality and safety standards.
Self-motivated, creative, critical, and curious – genuinely engaged with the work, not just executing instructions.
Valid driver’s license (local supplier pickups / parts runs).
Ability to handle inspection-tool components within company-defined limits; work in a workshop environment; stand/walk for extended periods; use required PPE; and work safely around machinery, batteries, and electrical/electronic equipment.

Nice To Haves

Prior exposure to in-line inspection (ILI) tools (Caliper, MFL, UTWM/UTCD, EMAT) is a strong plus.
Formal supply-chain credentials are not required at this store’s scale.
Familiarity with pipeline pig tracking/locating equipment (EM/acoustic transmitters, AGM units, handheld locators) is a plus – not required to start, but expected to be picked up quickly.

Responsibilities

Follow approved written instructions, schematics, and design specifications to assemble and prepare Caliper, MFL, UTWM/UTCD, and EMAT tools, using test equipment, hand tools, and precision soldering techniques.
Perform electronic assembly, soldering, rework, and inspection in accordance with approved workmanship procedures, ESD-control requirements, and applicable IPC standards.
Perform bench and pull-rig/test-loop calibration of sensors, magnetizers, transducers, odometer wheels, and IMUs against reference standards ahead of every mobilization, in accordance with approved procedures and calibration requirements.
Execute dry-run and pull-test acceptance procedures; a tool is not released until every acceptance criterion is met and signed off.
Conduct pressure testing of external electronics and containers.
Perform final check, calibration, and sign-off on tools prior to mobilization.
Assemble experimental circuitry or prototype builds per engineering instructions for R&D and internal projects.
Build, test, and capacity-verify battery packs against run-duration requirements, with margin for delays.
Rebuild, rewire, and replace battery packs and individual cells only in accordance with approved procedures, applicable safety requirements, and authorized competency limits.
Monitor pack health and flag batteries approaching end-of-life before they cause a field failure.
Ensure battery packs are handled, packaged, labeled, and documented correctly for every shipment, domestic and cross-border, in accordance with applicable DOT/IATA lithium battery transportation requirements and company procedures.
Prepare, install, and battery-test tool-mounted tracking transmitters (electromagnetic, acoustic, or magnetic) ahead of every mobilization, confirming signal strength and battery life cover the full expected run duration.
Maintain and pre-run test Above Ground Marker (AGM) units: battery and solar power systems, antenna and geophone accessories, GPS time synchronization, and onboard data storage.
Maintain and battery-test handheld and vehicle-mounted pig locators/receivers used by field crews to track tool progress and pinpoint a stopped or stuck tool.
Maintain pig signallers and passing indicators at launch, receive, and key trap locations, including mechanical trigger, battery, and alarm function checks.
Retrieve and back up AGM passage data after each run and provide it promptly to the Data Analysis team in the required format for odometer/IMU correlation.
Troubleshoot and repair faulty tracking equipment returned from the field; hold any unit that fails pre-run acceptance out of service until repaired and re-tested.
Maintain a dedicated inventory of spare transmitters, AGM units, locators, batteries, and antennas sized to WH’s mobilization schedule, so a failed unit never delays a launch.
Test, troubleshoot, and repair completed tools, field returns, and incoming PCBs in accordance with approved procedures and electronic workmanship requirements.
Perform component-level fault diagnosis using multimeter, oscilloscope, and related diagnostic equipment.
Operate drills and other machine tools to fabricate or repair tool components (flaps, connectors, etc.).
Lead or support root-cause analysis on any tool that underperforms or fails in the field, and close out the resulting corrective actions.
Proactively propose improvements to tool-prep processes, test procedures, and store operations.
Maintain failure, repair, and component-replacement history for critical electronic assemblies and use recurring failure data to support preventive maintenance and reliability improvements.
Own the electronics store: components, spares, consumables, tool accessories, small tools, and tracking/locating equipment (transmitters, AGM units, locators).
Receive, inspect, and verify incoming components and materials against purchase orders and packing lists.
Maintain accurate, current inventory records in the company’s ERP or an equivalent tracking system sized to the store.
Organize, label, and store all inventory in a safe, systematic, and easily auditable manner.
Set and monitor minimum/maximum stock levels sized to WH’s actual tool-prep volume, avoiding both stockouts and excess/obsolete stock.
Conduct periodic physical counts and reconcile discrepancies.
Perform cycle counts at the frequency established by company inventory procedures and reconcile discrepancies promptly.
Maintain serial/lot traceability and shelf-life or expiry controls where applicable, and classify critical spares according to their potential impact on mobilization readiness.
Issue components and consumables against tool-prep and repair jobs.
Identify slow-moving, obsolete, or damaged stock and recommend disposition.
Identify component, material, and consumable needs proactively – ahead of tool-prep schedules, not reactively.
Source suppliers and obtain quotations for components, spares, and consumables.
Prepare and submit purchase requisitions in line with PIPECARE procurement policy and approved budget; the position does not have independent purchasing or supplier-approval authority unless formally delegated.
Track order status and coordinate delivery timing against tool-prep and mobilization schedules.
Maintain basic supplier records and flag recurring quality, pricing, or lead-time issues.
Enter daily activity into the ERP / Tool Prep Report / Activity Register the same day.
Maintain calibration certificates and measurement-traceability records for tools, sensors, reference standards, and test instruments; identify and quarantine equipment that is overdue or out of tolerance and escalate any potential impact on completed work in accordance with the applicable procedure.
Download, verify, and back up tool data promptly after every run.
Maintain work areas in a neat, tidy, and HSE-compliant manner.
Execute other reasonable tasks in support of Shop/Workshop priorities as they arise.