Control Room Operator Trainee Jobs in Houston, TX

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Summit Midstream Corporation (NYSE: SMC) is a value-driven corporation focused on developing, owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets that are strategically located in unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations, in the continental United States.

We currently operate natural gas, crude oil and produced water gathering systems in four unconventional resource basins:

• the Williston Basin in North Dakota, which includes the Bakken and Three Forks shale formations;
• the Denver-Julesburg Basin, which includes the Niobrara and Codell shale formations in Colorado and Wyoming;
• the Fort Worth Basin in Texas, which includes the Barnett Shale formation; and
• the Piceance Basin in Colorado, which includes the liquids-rich Mesaverde formation as well as the emerging Mancos and Niobrara Shale formations.

Our systems and the basins they serve are as follows:

• the Polar & Divide system, which serves the Williston Basin;
• the DFW Midstream system, which serves the Fort Worth Basin;
• the Grand River system, which serves the Piceance Basin; and
• the Niobrara G&P system, which serves the DJ Basin.

SMC has an equity investment in and operates Double E Pipeline, LLC, which is natural gas transmission infrastructure that provides transportation service from multiple receipt points in the Delaware Basin to various delivery points in and around the Waha Hub in Texas.
We generate a substantial majority of our revenue under primarily long-term and fee-based gathering agreements with our customers. The majority of our gathering agreements are underpinned by areas of mutual interest (“AMIs”) and minimum volume commitments (“MVCs”). Our AMIs provide that any production drilled by our customers within the AMIs will be shipped on our gathering systems. The MVCs are designed to ensure that we will generate a minimum amount of gathering revenue over the life of each respective gathering agreement. The fee-based nature of the majority of the gathering agreements enhances the stability of our cash flows and limits our direct commodity price exposure.
Since our formation in 2009, our management team has established a track record of executing this strategy through the acquisition and subsequent development of DFW Midstream, Grand River, Polar & Divide, Niobrara G&P, and Double E Pipeline.

Summit Midstream is proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Relocation: No Relocation assistance provided.

Schedule: 12-hour rotating shifts (days/nights)
Coverage: 24/7 Operations (Overtime, off-day coverage, travel, and emergency relocation required)

Work Sponsorship: Summit Midstream will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. Any offer of employment is contingent upon the Company receiving satisfactory results from a pre-employment drug screening, a criminal background check, and reference checks and your satisfaction of all other applicable fitness for duty requirements.

Summary

The Pipeline Controller is responsible for the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of natural gas and liquid pipeline systems, including crude oil, butane, and other NGLs. This role supports continuous 24/7 control room operations and requires strict adherence to PHMSA Control Room Management (CRM) regulations, applicable DOT requirements, API standards, and company operating procedures.

This position requires flexibility to support emergency operations, disaster recovery, cross-training, and business continuity, including travel and temporary relocation when required.

Principle Duties & Responsibilities:

• Monitor and control pipeline systems transporting natural gas, crude oil, butane, and other liquid hydrocarbons using SCADA and related systems.
• Monitor and maintain pipeline pressures within design criteria and monitor gas quality at various points in the system.
• Operate pipelines in compliance with PHMSA Control Room Management (CRM) requirements, DOT regulations, API standards, and company procedures.
• Apply Control Room Management (CRM) principles to ensure effective communication, situational awareness, and decision-making.
• Respond to alarms, abnormal conditions, and emergencies in accordance with established procedures.
• Coordinate with field operations, on-call personnel, and management to resolve system issues safely and efficiently.
• Maintain accurate and timely control room logs documenting system conditions, communications, and actions taken.
• Follow operating limits, special instructions, and directives communicated via procedures, emails, and shift turnover.
• Conduct thorough shift handovers, ensuring critical system conditions and constraints are clearly communicated and understood.
• Identify developing trends and take proactive action to prevent deviations or incidents.
• Provide operational coverage across two or more consoles as assigned and maintain cross-console proficiency.
• Train and mentor other Controllers as needed.
• Participate in a structured training and qualification program designed to develop Controller competency and understanding of OQ-covered tasks essential to daily responsibilities.
• Work 12-hour Modified DuPont rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, holidays, and schedule changes on short notice.
• Controllers may be contacted outside of their scheduled shifts, including on scheduled days off, and are expected to respond and provide operational support as required to maintain 24/7 operations.
• Work overtime as operationally required.
• Travel as needed for disaster recovery drills, site-specific training, audits, and operational support.
• May be required to temporarily relocate, including self and family, to the designated Austin relocation site due to natural disasters or business continuity events.
• May be required to stay in hotels near corporate headquarters during extreme local weather or emergency events.
• Ability to work from an alternate Control Center location during emergencies or continuity events.

Compliance, Safety, and Training

• Maintain compliance with PHMSA Control Room Management regulations and applicable DOT requirements.
• Support regulatory audits, emergency drills, and disaster recovery exercises.
• Immediately escalate safety concerns, abnormal conditions, or procedural deviations.
• Support incident, near-miss, and corrective action documentation and follow-up.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Prior experience as a Pipeline Controller, Control Room Operator, or similar role in pipeline or energy operations preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of:
  • CRM (Control Room Management)
  • PHMSA and DOT regulations
  • API standards
  • SCADA-based pipeline control systems
• Familiarity with personal computer applications, including:
  • Microsoft Excel, Word, and Project
  • Flow and pressure simulation tools
• Proven multitasking, analytical, and judgment skills with strong attention to detail.
• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel, relocate temporarily, and work overtime as required.
• Ability to live within one hour of the control room.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Work is primarily performed in a control room environment requiring prolonged sitting and continuous screen monitoring.
• Occasional work in industrial or manufacturing environments, which may include:
  • Hazardous materials or chemicals
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Loud machinery
  • Required use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Company will cover all required travel expenses, as applicable.

Summit Midstream offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Company Paid Holidays
• Discretionary Performance Bonus
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Flexible Benefit Plan
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Voluntary Term Life and AD&D Insurance
• Employer Short & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
• Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness and Accident Insurance
• Wellness Incentive Program
• 6% Retirement Plan Match

Notice

Summit Midstream Corporation will not pay a fee of any kind to any third party agency without a valid Summit Midstream Corporation’ Master Service Agreement (MSA) authorized and signed by Human Resources. Any resume, application or other form of candidate submission to any employee of Summit Midstream Corporation, without a valid MSA on file, will be considered property of Summit Midstream Corporation and no fee will be paid.

Are you ready to join a fast-paced, growth oriented midstream company, then apply today!

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