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Independent Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Engineer 3 will act as a technical Subject Matter Expert focused on value engineering, QA/QC, and independent technical judgment across utility-scale EPC projects. This role can be fully remote ...

The Engineer 3 will act as a technical Subject Matter Expert focused on value engineering, QA/QC, and independent technical judgment across utility-scale EPC projects. This role can be fully remote ...

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Independent Engineer information

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$101.8K

$137.5K

How much do independent engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for independent engineer in the United States is $101,752.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $84,000.00 and $116,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Independent Engineers when working with multiple clients simultaneously?

Independent Engineers often juggle several projects at once, which can present challenges in managing timelines, communication, and differing client expectations. Prioritizing tasks effectively and maintaining clear, consistent communication with each client is essential to avoid misunderstandings and ensure project milestones are met. Additionally, adapting to various technical requirements and organizational cultures for each client requires flexibility and strong problem-solving skills. Building a reliable workflow and utilizing project management tools can help streamline processes and improve client satisfaction.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Independent Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Independent Engineer, you need a solid engineering background, relevant degree or licensure (such as Professional Engineer status), and expertise in project evaluation and technical due diligence. Familiarity with project management software, CAD systems, and industry-specific standards or certifications like LEED is often required. Strong analytical thinking, effective communication, and problem-solving skills are crucial for building trust and delivering unbiased assessments. These competencies ensure accurate project evaluations, regulatory compliance, and successful client outcomes.

What is an Independent Engineer?

An Independent Engineer is a professional who provides impartial technical review and advice on engineering projects, often for lenders, investors, or regulatory bodies. Their role is to assess project feasibility, ensure compliance with standards, and monitor progress and performance without bias. Independent Engineers help to identify risks, verify project documentation, and confirm that contractual and technical requirements are being met. They are commonly involved in large infrastructure, energy, and construction projects, offering expertise throughout the project lifecycle.

What is the difference between Independent Engineer vs Project Engineer?

AspectIndependent EngineerProject Engineer
CredentialsEngineering degree, relevant certifications, sometimes licensingEngineering degree, project management certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentConsulting, independent review, site inspectionsOn-site project management, coordination with teams
Employer & IndustryConsulting firms, developers, EPC contractorsConstruction companies, engineering firms, project owners

While both roles require engineering expertise, an Independent Engineer primarily provides independent assessments, reviews, and oversight, often working as a consultant. A Project Engineer manages daily project activities, coordinating teams and ensuring project milestones are met. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or hiring the appropriate professional for your project needs.

More about Independent Engineer jobs
Senior Project Scheduler (Contract)

Senior Project Scheduler (Contract)

Net Power

Houston, TX โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Posted 12 hours ago


Job description

About Net Power
Passionate about making an impact? We are. At Net Power we are driven by our mission to make natural gas the lowest cost form of clean firm power. We're a well-capitalized, public, clean energy technology company based in Houston, Texas.
Our impact is transformational. - We aspire to improve the communities where we work and we're committed to pioneering advancements that redefine the energy landscape, ensuring a better future for generations to come.
Job Overview
Net Power is seeking a highly experienced Senior Project Scheduler to own the integrated project schedule for Project Permian, our first-of-a-kind utility-scale clean firm power facility planned for deployment outside of Midland, Texas, and future projects. Reporting to the Head of the Project Management Office, and working directly with the project manager, the Senior Project Scheduler will be the single accountable owner of the Integrated Project Schedule (IPS) and will lead the planning, integration, maintenance, analysis, and reporting of all schedule data across engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, permitting, interconnection, and commercial workstreams.
The successful candidate will bring deep critical path method (CPM) scheduling expertise on large capital power projects, hands-on mastery of Oracle Primavera Cloud (OPC) as the primary scheduling tool and demonstrated experience with Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project Web Access (PWA). They will partner closely with internal leadership and with third parties - the Owner's Engineer, EPC contractor, major equipment suppliers, Independent Engineer, and JDA / financing partners - to ensure a single, integrated, defensible schedule that supports critical project milestones and board-level reporting
This position is a contract role with the potential to convert to direct hire. While on contract, the selected candidate will be employed and paid through a staffing agency. The role is based at our Houston, TX office in the Energy Corridor. Periodic travel to project sites, partner facilities, and contractor offices may be required.
Net Power offers a hybrid work schedule: In-office Tuesday through Thursday.
Key Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To:
Schedule Ownership & Integration
  • Own, develop, and maintain the Project Permian Integrated Project Schedule (IPS) in Oracle Primavera Cloud, covering all phases from development through FID, EPC execution, commissioning, and commercial operation date (COD).
  • Integrate contractor, vendor, and partner schedules - including those from the EPC contractor, Owner's Engineer, long-lead equipment suppliers, grid interconnection workstreams, TCEQ and other permitting workstreams, and financing advisors - into a single coherent IPS with consistent calendars, codes, and WBS.
  • Establish, baseline, and govern schedule standards, naming conventions, activity coding, WBS structures, calendars, and progress measurement methodologies in line with industry best practice.
  • Maintain rigorous predecessor/successor logic and ensure all critical path and near-critical paths are clearly identified, traceable, and defensible to internal leadership, the Independent Engineer, lenders, and other key stakeholders.
  • Lead schedule integration of changes - scope, design, procurement, regulatory, or commercial - and quantify cascading impacts on downstream milestones, with a particular focus on FID and COD.

Schedule Analysis & Reporting
  • Perform critical path analysis, total float and negative slack analysis, what-if scenario modeling, schedule risk analysis (SRA), and Time Impact Analyses (TIA) to evaluate the impact of proposed changes, delays, and recovery plans.
  • Produce periodic schedule updates, variance analyses, snapshot comparisons, trend reports, and look-ahead schedules (90-day, 30-day, weekly) for internal stakeholders and external partners.
  • Develop executive-ready schedule deliverables, including Gantt charts, milestone trackers, and dashboards that translate detailed schedule data into clear, board-level narratives.
  • Partner with the PMO to populate scorecards, board updates, and lender / IE reporting packages with accurate schedule data, ensuring all reported content traces strictly to source schedule artifacts.
  • Conduct regular schedule health checks (logic ties, open ends, constraints, lags, out-of-sequence progress, DCMA metrics) and drive corrective actions with workstream owners.

Third-Party Coordination
  • Serve as Net Power's primary schedule interface with third parties, including the EPC contractor, Owner's Engineer, Independent Engineer, financing advisor, long-lead equipment vendors, and interconnection / permitting authorities.
  • Review contractor-submitted baseline, monthly update, and recovery schedules; provide formal written comments; and ensure third-party schedules meet contractual requirements and integrate cleanly into the IPS.
  • Facilitate interactive planning sessions and schedule workshops with cross-functional and external stakeholders to align on sequencing, constraints, and resource needs.
  • Coordinate with Project Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Construction to ensure long-lead equipment procurement bid tab milestones, fabrication, delivery, and site mobilization are accurately reflected and sequenced in the IPS.
  • Identify schedule conflicts and ownership gaps across workstreams and escalate with proposed mitigations to the Project Manager and Head of PMO.

Tools, Systems & Continuous Improvement
  • Act as Net Power's subject matter expert and power user for Oracle Primavera Cloud, including configuration of workspaces, projects, codes, calendars, dashboards, scenarios, and reports.
  • Leverage Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project Web Access (PWA) experience to interface with partner and contractor environments, import/export schedules, reconcile data across platforms, and ensure cross-tool consistency.
  • Build and maintain schedule reporting workflows that connect OPC data to executive dashboards, Excel-based analyses, and PMO deliverables.
  • Identify and implement continuous improvements to scheduling procedures, templates, governance, and training across Net Power and its delivery partners.
  • Mentor project team members and external counterparts on scheduling best practices, CPM discipline, and Net Power's schedule standards.

Education and Experience:
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related technical field. Equivalent experience will be considered.
  • Minimum of 10 years of project scheduling experience on large capital projects, with at least 5 years in a senior or lead scheduler role on EPC-delivered power generation, oil & gas, or comparable heavy industrial projects.
  • Proactive, action-oriented mindset that thrives in a first-of-a-kind environment: able to navigate ambiguity, drive issues to resolution, and constructively force decisions across engineering, supply chain, construction, and third-party partners when the schedule demands it.
  • Demonstrated experience scheduling power plant projects - combined cycle, simple cycle, carbon capture, or other utility-scale generation - is strongly preferred.
  • Expert-level proficiency in Oracle Primavera Cloud (OPC) as the primary scheduling tool, including schedule development, scenario analysis, dashboards, and administration.
  • Strong working experience with Primavera P6 (EPPM and/or Professional) and Microsoft Project Web Access (PWA), including reconciling data and workflows across OPC, P6, and PWA environments.
  • Deep expertise in CPM scheduling, schedule risk analysis, earned value, Time Impact Analysis, and DCMA 14-Point schedule health assessments.
  • Demonstrated experience owning the integrated schedule for a major capital project through key stage gates, including FID, Notice to Proceed (NTP), mechanical completion, commissioning, and COD.
  • Experience integrating schedules from multiple third parties (EPC, Owner's Engineer, Independent Engineer, OEMs, interconnection / permitting authorities) into a single owner-controlled IPS.
  • Prior experience in a start-up, first-of-a-kind, or rapidly scaling capital project environment is strongly preferred, including comfort with ambiguity, evolving scope, and direct exposure to executive and board-level audiences.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex schedule data into clear narratives for executive, board, lender, and JV partner audiences.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary internal teams and external partners.
  • PMI-SP, AACE PSP, or equivalent professional scheduling certification preferred.

Additional Requirements
Candidates must be able to perform essential functions as outlined above, including but not limited to:
  • Work effectively in an office or plant / construction site environment, with occasional travel to project sites.
  • Operate at a computer and sit for long periods of time.
  • Repeat motions that may include the wrists, hands, or fingers.
  • Position is sedentary with occasional light lifting.

Net Power is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.
Unsolicited Third-Party Resumes Not Accepted. Net Power LLC is not responsible for any fee related to unsolicited resumes from 3rd party staffing and recruiting agencies (whether submitted through this website or sent directly to employees) unless a written agreement is in place between the agency and Net Power LLC ("Company") and an authorized Company representative makes a written request to the agency to assist with this requisition. Similarly, no fee will be paid for candidates who apply and claim to be represented by an agency. Any unsolicited resumes, CVs, or other candidate information submitted by an agency will become the property of Company, and no fee will be paid in the event such candidate is hired.
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JOB CODE: 1000053