Sr. Engineer, Telecommunications

NextDecade Payroll Services, LLC; Brownsville (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

NextDecade is seeking a Senior Telecommunications Engineer to join our multi-discipline Engineering and Construction team, leading design, installation, commissioning and operation of telecom systems for the Rio Grande LNG and carbon capture ventures. You will oversee the EPC contractor’s activities from detailed design to start-up and operations.

The role requires extensive experience with telecom systems, regulatory codes (SOLAS/IMO/ISA/IEEE), and project leadership on major industrial

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Electronics, Computer Engineering, Information Technology or related field.
• 10+ years on major industrial development projects (EPC or client role).
• 8+ years in telecommunications, regulatory requirements, and international codes (SOLAS, IMO, ISA, IEEE).
• Expert knowledge of applicable codes and standards; ability to mitigate risk.
• Physical ability to lift, carry, and maneuver heavy equipment as described.

Responsibilities

• Serve as telecommunications SME across FEED, detailed design, procurement, construction, commissioning, start-up, and operation of Next Decade projects.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure safety and operation standards are met.
• Review EPC contractor data sheets, design bases, specifications, calculations, vendor documents, and scopes of work.
• Ensure projects align with safety standards, quality benchmarks, and cost/schedule targets.
• Develop and specify telecom equipment such as microwave, fiber, LAN, PABX, CCTV, and related systems.
• Participate in process hazard analyses, 3D model reviews, and constructability reviews.
• Facilitate telecom discussions with equipment suppliers, regulators, and technology partners.
• Oversee equipment monitoring and preservation programs for reliability.
• Oversee on-site installation to ensure compliance with telecom regulations and standards.
• Participate in commissioning walk-downs, inspections, and pre-start safety reviews.
• Supervise EPC contractor on-site to meet project standards and contractual terms.
• Contribute to bid evaluations, specifications, cable block diagrams, and test procedures.
• Participate in factory and site acceptance tests when required.

Skills

Telecom systems

Regulatory standards

Project oversight

Safety

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/ Electronics/ Computer Engineering or IT

Job description

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE

NextDecade is currently seeking a Senior Telecommunications Engineer to join our multi-discipline Engineering and Construction team which is responsible for executing the Rio Grande LNG (RGLNG) project and which supports our Next Carbon Solutions (NCS) carbon capture venture. This role is responsible for oversight of the design, specification, installation, commissioning, start up and operation of telecommunications systems for RGLNG and NCS projects. Position is responsible for oversight of the EPC contractor’s activities during project execution, initially in detailed design, through equipment installation on site, to startup and into operations. The Sr. Engineer, Telecommunications will act as subject matter expert, utilizing discipline knowledge and design experience to execute the design, engineering, construction, and commissioning of the telecommunication systems for the Rio Grande LNG project. Working as part of the Engineering & Construction team, the role oversees the EPC contractor in executing the RGLNG project, ensuring adherence to scope and schedule throughout detailed design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and startup.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as NextDecade’s telecommunications subject matter expert during FEED, detailed design, procurement, construction, commissioning, start-up, and operation of Next Decade projects.
• Collaborates with the Next Decade Engineering team to ensure that Next Decade facilities are designed to be safe, fit-for-purpose, and meet the specified operational standards.
• Reviews EPC contractor deliverables including data sheets, design bases, specifications, engineering calculations, vendor documents, engineering studies, reports, and scopes of work.
• Ensures projects align with the organization's safety standards, meet quality benchmarks, and are within cost and schedule.
• Contributes to the creation of data sheets, drawings, material requisitions, technical evaluations, and equipment specifications for telecommunications equipment such as microwave radio, fiber optical transmission network, structured cable systems, plant radio systems, GMDSS, UHF radio, VHF aeronautical radio, VHF marine radio, satellite communication, PABX, LAN, collision avoidance radar and racon, meteorological, PAGA, CCTV, and access control.
• Participates in technical evaluations, including process hazard analyses, 3D model reviews, and constructability reviews.
• Facilitates telecommunications systems related technical discussions with partners such as equipment suppliers, regulators, and technology partners.
• Oversees the creation of comprehensive equipment monitoring and preservation programs and ensures their successful implementation to ensure equipment performance and target facility reliability and availability.
• Oversees the on-site installation process to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and operational guidelines related to radio frequencies, telecommunications standards, and oversight authorities.
• Participates in commissioning activities such as walk-downs, inspections and pre start-up safety reviews.
• Supervises the EPC contractor on-site to ensure telecommunications systems are delivered and maintained in accordance with project standards and specifications, design, and contractual terms.
• Provides input to technical bid evaluation, project specifications, cable block diagrams, termination drawings, and test procedures.
• Participates in factory and site acceptance tests, if required.

EDUCATION, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, & COMPETENCIES

Basic Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or related
• 10+ years experience in a similar position on major industrial development projects, either in EPC or client position
• 8+ years of experience working with telecommunication systems, related regulatory requirements, and international codes such as SOLAS, IMO, ISA, IEEE, and other standards, codes, and requirements
• Expert knowledge of applicable codes and standards. Ability to think innovatively to offer practical solutions while achieving targeted risk profile.
• Must be able to lift up to 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, balancing, climbing stairs and ladders. Regular reaching, bending, stooping, handling and spinal twisting. Use of hands, arms and legs to lift. Ability to push and pull machinery and other mechanical components.

Site Working Conditions & Physical Expectations

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. Able to meet the following physical demands of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations: 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.

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, the customers, and all our stakeholders.
• Diversity – We value diversity of people and thought. It takes people with different strengths, ideas, and cultural 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.

NextDecade will deliver reliable, cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions. With approximately 48 million tonnes per annum of potential liquefaction capacity currently under construction and in development at its Rio Grande LNG site, NextDecade is positioned to be one of the largest LNG liquefaction and export companies in the world.

In addition, NextDecade through Rio Grande LNG, is creating thousands of jobs and driving economic growth in South Texas, supporting global energy security, and expanding U.S. energy dominance.

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.