Independent Contractor Electrical Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

ABOUT NEXTDECADE CORPORATION
NextDecade is committed to providing the world access to reliable, lower-carbon energy. We are focused on delivering secure and cost-effective energy through the safe and efficient development and operation of natural gas liquefaction capacity at Rio Grande LNG. Through our subsidiaries, we are developing and constructing the Rio Grande LNG natural gas liquefaction and export facility near Brownsville, Texas, with approximately 48 MTPA of potential liquefaction capacity currently under construction or in development, sufficient space at the site for up to 10 liquefaction trains, and a potential carbon capture and storage project. NextDecade's common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol "NEXT." NextDecade is headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information, please visit www.next-decade.com.
SUMMARY OF THE ROLE
NextDecade is seeking a full-time Electrical Engineer to support the long-term operations and maintenance of the Rio Grande LNG facility located near Brownsville, Texas. The successful candidate will serve as a technical subject matter expert (SME) in electrical engineering, with a strong focus on medium and low voltage power distribution systems, electrical protection and coordination, and reliability engineering for critical infrastructure.
The incumbent will report to the Sr. Manager of Instrumentation, Controls & Electrical Engineering within the Operations Department, under the leadership of the Director of Facilities Engineering, the Sr. Director of Engineering, and the Vice President of Operations.
While the role has no direct reports, it may involve supervising contractor electrical engineers and mentoring maintenance electricians and technicians. Peer-level personnel will include other engineers across all facilities disciplines, including instrumentation, mechanical, process, and civil/structural engineering.
This position is located in Brownsville, TX. Check out our RGV Spotlight Videoto learn more about Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley!
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide Electrical Systems and Power Distribution Engineering Support for the RGLNG facility, delivering critical support to both day-to-day operations and long-term system reliability initiatives.
• Primary Engineering Support for power distribution systems, including microprocessor-based protective relays, medium/low voltage switchgear, large variable frequency drives (VFDs), motor control centers (MCCs), and associated protective equipment.
• Provide technical leadership for electrical protection schemes, load management, and coordination studies to ensure power system integrity and operational resilience.
• Maintain comprehensive arc flash studies in compliance with NFPA 70E and IEEE 1584 standards to ensure electrical safety and regulatory compliance at oil and gas facilities.
• Provide engineering support to ECMS and Alarm Management.
• Assist in management of the area classification program to ensure accurate zoning, compliance with safety and regulatory standards, and alignment with operational risk management strategies.
• Deliver frontline engineering support for troubleshooting control logic issues, electrical protection trips, and power equipment malfunctions, driving rapid root cause analysis and minimizing downtime.
• Track and report KPIs focused on electrical system performance, reliability, safety, and maintenance effectiveness.
• Lead and mentor technicians in advanced diagnostic methods, including the use of centralized control and electrical monitoring systems.
• Collaborate with rotating equipment engineers, I&C engineers, and OEM contractors to ensure reliable refrigeration package performance.
• Participate in PHA, HAZOP, assessments and other formal risk reviews-bringing electrical engineering insights into safety and reliability evaluations.
• Ensure full MOC compliance across electrical and control system changes, including software revision tracking and documentation control.
• Establish and enforce engineering discipline standards and procedures related to power distribution.
• Monitor critical safety and power system barriers, ensuring impairments are addressed and risks are managed to ALARP.
• Work cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, PSM, HSSE, OT, and other engineering disciplines to ensure plant-wide alignment.
• Contribute to long-term facilities engineering and budget planning with a focus on power system modernization and reliability improvements.
• Provide electrical support for brownfield modifications and tie-ins, ensuring safety and system compatibility.
• Provide electrical support for turnaround planning and execution.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• B.S. in electrical engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of Power Distribution engineering experience.
• 5+ years of Power Distribution engineering experience in an operating process facility.
• A Professional Engineering License or eligibility for registration.
• Willingness to travel, domestically & internationally, as needed (approximately 10-15%)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters in electrical engineering.
• 5+ years of electrical engineering experience in an LNG or similar heavy industrial operating facility.
• Advanced skills in:
• Troubleshooting and resolving power distribution system issues, including support during facility trips and restoration of electrical systems.
• Medium and low voltage power distribution systems (up to 138kV).
• Protective relaying, coordination studies, and arc flash analysis.
• Electrical equipment such as switchgear, MCCs, transformers, UPS systems, and motor drives.
• Power system modeling and analysis using tools such as ETAP or SKM.
• Intermediate skills in:
• Application of industry standards and codes (e.g., NEC, IEEE, NFPA 70E, API RP 500/505).
• Electrical system design, commissioning, and maintenance best practices.
• Integration of electrical systems with Electrical Control Management System (ECMS)
• Familiarity with ABB or GE electrical control systems.
• Operational Technology (OT) cybersecurity and electrical system monitoring.
• Basic/Beginner skills in the following areas:
• Process Safety Management (PSM) and operational risk management
• Management of Change (MOC)
• Root cause investigations
• Managing interfaces and working closely with Project and Operations teams during detailed design, construction, commissioning, startup, and post-startup operations.

Job Site Work Environment
• Must be able to wear all necessary PPE equipment to perform job functions.
• Operates in a complex construction environment.
• Exposure to indoor and outdoor weather conditions.
• Not necessarily protected from weather and temperature changes. Possible exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid, or windy weather conditions.
• Exposure to moving mechanical parts and electrical circuits.
• Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds of a pitch level sufficient to cause marked distraction.
• Routinely uses standard office and field communications equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers w/scanner and fax, and radios.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to support individuals with ADA-recognized disabilities to perform the essential functions for the job.
• Ability to drive to other Company work locations as required.
• Ability to move throughout all areas of the facility, including being physically capable of traveling to a designed muster point during emergency situations.
• Stand and/or sit continuously and perform job functions for a full shift.
• The incumbent is required to have fully mechanical motion and usage of all extremities.
• Physically able to walk, stand, bend, stoop, kneel, reach, twist, lift, push, pull, climb, balance, crouch, handle, and lift items weighing up to 20 lbs. without assistance.
• Visual acuity corrected to perform job functions. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Must be able to clearly communicate with others via radio, phone, and verbal methods.
• May be required to enter confined spaces.
• May be required to work at elevated heights and access elevated structures without assistance.
If you require accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at [email protected].
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
*In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.
NEXTDECADE VALUES
• Safety - We make safety a priority. Everything we do relies on the safety of our people and the communities around us.
• Integrity - We do the right thing, and are open, ethical, and fair. We hold ourselves to the highest standards in all that we do.
• Honesty - We value truth and honesty in ourselves and others. We honor our commitments and take responsibility for our actions.
• Respect - We listen, and respect people, the environment, and the communities in which we live and work.
• Transparency - Transparency builds trust. We promote open communication with our people, our customers, and all our stakeholders.
• Diversity - We value diversity of experiences and thoughts. It takes people with different strengths and backgrounds to make our company succeed.
NextDecade provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. NextDecade complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.