Gilbert Jr Estrada
Houston
Summary
Seasoned Boilermaker and Field Supervisor with 13 years of progressive experience in refinery, petrochemical, and power-generation turnarounds. Expert in exchanger tear-downs, cooling-tower rebuilds, valve and flange maintenance, pressure tests, and critical-lift rigging. Proven history of leading multi-craft crews, administering permit systems, and driving zero-incident safety performance while meeting demanding shutdown schedules and budget targets.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Advance Rigger
Overland Construction
06.2025 - 02.2026
- Lifted and carried heavy equipment, moving machinery, structural steel piping components into place.
- Rigged cables and pipes in configurations to support loads and maintain crew safety.
- Attached loads using slings, chains, shackles, hooks, cables and other rigging equipment.
- Prepared and erected steel, torque and bolt-up connections.
- Consistently assumed additional responsibilities and worked extended hours to meet project deadlines.
- Communicated with equipment operators to accomplish smooth and efficient transports.
- Determined correct rigging requirements for equipment based on job specifications and environmental conditions.
- Gestured to crane operator when lifting heavy loads to provide directional and placement guidance.
- Utilized situational critical thinking skills to resolve and identify technical issues with equipment, eliminating injuries through pre-emptive risk management.
Boilermaker Foreman
LWL Inc.
02.2025 - 06.2025
- Led a 10-person boilermaker crew on a refinery turnaround; organized tools, consumables, and rigging gear to maintain > 95 % craft utilization.
- Secured and posted all confined-space, hot-work, and line-break permits; verified isolation points and field LOTO before shift start.
- Delivered daily safety meetings and toolbox topics, driving a record of zero recordable incidents across 18 000+ man-hours.
- Allocated labor hours by cost code, reconciled time sheets, and provided progress reports to the project manager, keeping the job on budget.
Pipefitter
LWL.Inc
03.2020 - 02.2025
- Performed tests to check quality of pipe and piping systems and make adjustments as necessary.
- Appropriately fitted pipes by identifying dimensions, sizes, and shapes needed to replace faulty pipes.
- Followed safe work practices, which included fall protection and personal protective equipment.
- Inspected and tested existing pipe systems to identify system defects and malfunctions.
- Read and interpreted blueprints, diagrams and other technical drawings to determine best installation methods.
- Fabricated and installed screw pipe, socket weld pipe, and stainless steel.
Supervisor – Cooling Tower Services
STAR Cooling Towers
06.2016 - 02.2020
- Oversaw up to 35 craft employees in inspecting, repairing, and rebuilding industrial cooling towers for chemical-plant and power-station clients.
- Performed comprehensive walk-downs, generated inspection reports, and scoped material take-offs for gearbox, fan, and fill-media replacements.
- Implemented a preventive-maintenance program that cut emergency repairs by 30 % and extended equipment life cycles.
- Coordinated cranes, rigging plans, and critical lifts for fan-deck and mechanical-equipment change-outs without incident or delay.
Boilermaker
Performance Contractors
09.2012 - 05.2016
- Disassembled and reassembled shell-and-tube exchangers; replaced trays in fractionation towers and columns.
- Installed blinds, performed line breaks, and executed hydro tests aligned with ASME code requirements.
- Used pneumatic torque wrenches to achieve precise flange tightness, eliminating leak-paths on start-up.
Education
Diploma -
Parkview High School
Skills
- Exchanger & Tower Maintenance (bolt-up, trays, blinding, hydros, torquing)
- Cooling-Tower Construction & Rebuilds (ground-up, mechanical upgrades)
- Rigging & Critical Lifts (API/OSHA compliant)
- Work-Permit & LOTO Administration
- Job Hazard Analysis & Daily Toolbox Talks
- Crew Scheduling & Time-Card Management
- Turnaround Planning & Materials Coordination
- Technical Report Writing & Client Interface
- Preventive / Predictive Maintenance (PM, inspections)
- Team Leadership & Skills Development
- Torque & Tensioning Systems
- Pneumatic/Hydraulic Rams
- Chain Falls & Come-Alongs
- Tube Bundle Pullers
- Cooling-Tower Gearboxes & Fans
- Valve Actuators
- Precision Measuring Devices
- Portable Steam/Hydro Blasters
- Fall protection
- Load calculation
Affiliations
- National Association of Construction Boilermakers (Member)
- Houston Area Safety Council (HASC)
Certification
- NCCER Boilermaker (Field) – ID/Verification available
- Rigging & Signal Person Qualification
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety
- Confined Space Entry & Rescue
- Current TWIC Card
Timeline
Advance Rigger
Overland Construction
06.2025 - 02.2026
Boilermaker Foreman
LWL Inc.
02.2025 - 06.2025
Pipefitter
LWL.Inc
03.2020 - 02.2025
Supervisor – Cooling Tower Services
STAR Cooling Towers
06.2016 - 02.2020
Boilermaker
Performance Contractors
09.2012 - 05.2016
Diploma -
Parkview High School