Maintenance Senior Technician, Instrumentation
Next Decade
Brownsville, TX, USA
Posted on Nov 15, 2025
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
Maintenance Senior Technician, Instrumentation, provides guidance, mentoring and oversight of instrumentation maintenance execution activities including personnel, with the objective of ensuring safe, quality work practices while maximizing availability of equipment across the facility. The Senior Technician is part of the electrical extended leadership team and will have to provide coverage and support to the Supervisor during times of absence or high volume.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Demonstrate proactive safety principles to the Maintenance team.
- Guidance of safety and wellbeing of execution team members leads by example to set and maintain a positive safety culture of compliance and continuous improvement.
- Mentor and assist Maintenance team members in technical aspects of the role.
- Provide communication and assistance to all maintenance disciplines as required, not just the Instrumentation team, including Electrical, Mechanical, Plant Services, Specialist Vendors and Contractors upholding the One-Team approach
- Stakeholder in the execution KPIs and provide ongoing support of the Integrated Activity Planning & Scheduling process for RGLNG.
- Assist the Supervisor to lead the execution activities for all SCE, Statutory, and Federal Regulations and manage associated compliance processes including deferrals, backlog etc.
- Assist the Supervisor in managing instrumentation maintenance execution activities of all breakdowns, corrective and preventative maintenance in the facility
- Lead Instrumentation teams in the execution of the Major Maintenance of plant and unit shutdowns
- Responsible in assisting Supervisor to safely complete all planned activities on the locked schedule, maximizing tool time and minimizing cost & deferrals.
- Stakeholder in the review of materials and parts optimization
- Demonstrate continuous improvement, value adding programmes and cost saving initiatives
- Provide coverage for the Maintenance Supervisor as required.
- Participate in maintenance execution meetings, including HSSE meetings, pre-starts, work allocation tasks, toolboxes etc.
- Complete safety audits and quality workmanship inspections.
Minimum Requirements:
- High school diploma or GED.
- 10+ years Hydrocarbon/Petrochemical facility experience in an Instrument maintenance execution role.
- Current Instrument Qualification in Texas
- Competent at interpreting engineering drawings and documentation i.e. P&ID, ISO, GA, Logic, Control Narratives, Cause & Effect, Loop & Wiring, etc.
- Subject Matter Expert (SME) for all Instrumentation Maintenance activities.
- Competent at interpreting Engineering Drawings and Documentation i.e. P&ID, ISO, GA, Logic, Control Narratives, Cause & Effect, Loop & Wiring, etc
- Must have experience with critical function testing and inspection of Safety Critical Elements (SCE) to meet Statutory and Federal Regulatory compliance.
- Experience and working knowledge of CMMS systems (SAP or Similar)
- Ability to lead red-lining and reviewing critical Maintenance procedures.
- Knowledge of a Management of Change (MOC) process.
- Experience in leading maintenance teams during Turnarounds.
- Relevant LNG control system experience including Integrated Control & Safety Systems (DCS / SIS), PLC’s, etc
- Relevant LNG instrumentation maintenance experience including Flow Computers, analyzers, gas turbines, fire & gas detection systems, control valves, anti surge control, and field instrumentation is a must.
- Knowledge of communication network protocols such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus RTU or TCP, OPC, HART, etc
- Computer literate in word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
- Must have a “hands-on” method of working.
- Ability to get Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC).
- Participate as a member of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) to support on-site emergencies
Preferred Qualifications:
- Technical degree in Instrumentation or similar and NCCER preferred.
- Hold NFPA 70E qualifications
Work Environment & Physical Demands (with or without reasonable accommodations):
- Operates in a complex construction environment.
- Work is conducted both in a controlled indoor environment using computer systems such as DCS, and outdoors in the field, often under challenging weather conditions for extended periods.
- Must be able to wear all mandatory/necessary PPE equipment to perform job functions.
- Ability to move throughout all areas of the facility, including being physically capable of traveling to a designated muster point during emergency situations.
- Must be able to clearly communicate, in the English language, with others via radio, phone, and verbal methods.
- Exposure to indoor and outdoor weather conditions.
- Not necessarily protected from weather and temperature changes. Exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid, or windy weather conditions.
- Exposure to moving mechanical parts. Physical Requirements: Must be able to lift upto 40 pounds unassisted and push/pull with up to 50 pounds of force.
- Required to grip objects with up to 50 pounds of force.
- Frequent standing, walking, and balancing, including climbing stairs and ladders.
- Regular reaching, bending, stooping, handling, and spinal twisting.
- Use of hands, arms, and legs to lift, push, and pull machinery and mechanical components.
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 recruiting@next-decade.com.
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.