Operations Technician - Instrumentation

Operations Technician - Instrumentation

Salary: £42,813 - £47,850 + benefits (including pension, bonus, and private healthcare)

Location - Avonbridge

About us

National Gas is securing Britain’s energy. We transport gas throughout Great Britain, repair and maintain gas pipelines, and manage the meters that allow millions of homes and businesses to access the energy they need. We are the national gas network, providing secure energy to power Britain, achieve net zero, and maintain our industrial competitiveness. 
 
Join us, and help be the energy behind the change. 

About the role

We’re looking for a skilled Operations Technician – Instrumentation to support the safe, reliable and compliant operation of our Terminal, Compressor Station, Pipeline and Above Ground Installation (AGI) assets across the National Transmission System.

In this instrumentation‑focused role, you will undertake installation, inspection, commissioning, operation, maintenance, fault diagnosis and repair of instrumentation systems and associated equipment, while also contributing to emergency response and operational safety activities within your competency framework.

What You’ll Be Doing

    • Carry out installation, commissioning, inspection, calibration, repair and routine maintenance of instrumentation equipment across Terminal, Compressor Station, Pipeline and AGI sites.
    • Undertake safe isolation and “safe setting to work” for yourself and others, issuing relevant permission documents in accordance with Safe Control of Operations (SCO) procedures.
    • Diagnose and rectify instrumentation faults efficiently to minimise downtime and ensure safe system operation.
    • Maintain accurate records of maintenance activities, asset data, and operational logs to meet policy, safety and regulatory requirements.
    • Ensure all work complies with National Grid policies, industry standards and relevant legislation.
    • Support the construction, installation and commissioning of new assets and instrumentation systems.
    • Identify requirements to replace or upgrade existing instrumentation equipment and contribute to minor modification designs.
    • Provide technical support on instrumentation issues within your competencies.
    • Take part in the development and review of emergency, operational and environmental procedures.
    • Perform the roles of Incident Controller or Site Main Controller during planned or emergency scenarios.
    • Participate in duty standby rotas and occasional shift working arrangements.
    • Assist in the protection of the high‑pressure pipeline system, including third‑party work monitoring, aerial sighting responses, cathodic protection monitoring and support for in‑line inspection   programmes.
    • Undertake competent person duties for routine and low‑complexity operational procedures.
    • Oversee and inspect contractor work to ensure technical integrity and adherence to safety standards.

Key requirements & experience

Essential

    • Time-served apprenticeship (or other recognised training scheme) in an electrical or instrumentation discipline
    • BTEC National Certificate (or equivalent City & Guilds, NVQ/SVQ Level 3) in an electrical or instrumentation discipline
    • Worked in industries including (but not limited to) FMCG, the broader utilities, military or aviation
    • Strong knowledge of ATEX regulations and hazardous area equipment
    • Strong knowledge of electrical and instrumentation systems, fault-finding and calibration
    • Familiarity with safety management systems and permit-to-work procedures
    • Full UK car driving licence
 
Desirable 

    • Compex EX01 - 04 Hazardous Equipment
    • C&G 2391 Inspection & Testing
    • C&G 2377 PAT Testing
    • BS7671 18th Edition Wiring Regulations
    • Appreciation of systems and equipment associated with other engineering disciplines within the oil and gas (or other similar process) industry
    • Knowledge of SCADA or control systems

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.
Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What we can offer

• Annual bonus based on personal and company performance
• 26 days’ holiday plus statutory holidays - option available to buy extra holiday days
• Generous double-match pension scheme - for every £1 you put in, we'll add £2 (max company contribution 12%)
• An optional flexible benefit scheme, including private healthcare, dental insurance, technology plans, travel insurance
• Death in service 10x your basic salary
• Financial protection if you're unable to work due to long term illness or injury
• Excellent family friendly provisions - maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental leave
• Professional development and career progression
• Employee assistance programme offering free confidential professional counselling 24 hours per day
• Financial support to help you cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions, relevant to your role

Inclusive recruitment

At National Gas, we are disability confident and we are signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve. We celebrate the different experiences our colleagues bring to our organisation, and strongly encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply. Please let us know of any reasonable adjustments you need to perform your best. 

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