Sr. Engineer, Rotating Equipment (Ref ID: 316a)

ABOUT NEXTDECADE

NextDecade Corporation is an energy company accelerating the path to a net-zero future. Leading innovation in more sustainable LNG and carbon capture solutions, NextDecade is committed to providing the world access to cleaner energy. Through our subsidiaries Rio Grande LNG and NEXT Carbon Solutions, we are developing a 27 MTPA LNG export facility in South Texas and have proposed a carbon capture and storage project at the site. We remain committed to advancing and lowering the cost of utilizing carbon capture and storage and helping companies reduce their facility emissions and achieving their clean energy goals. 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 Sr. Rotating Machinery Engineer to support long-term operations for the Rio Grande LNG facility located near Brownsville, Texas. The position will require work from Houston during early job phases before relocating to Brownsville, Texas prior to commissioning and startup.

• The incumbent will report to the Facilities Manager in the Operations Department, under the leadership of the Sr. Director of Engineering.
• Peer level personnel will include the Ready for Operations team, Sr. Electrical Engineer, Sr. Facilities Integrity Engineer, Sr. Process Control Systems Engineer, Sr. Reliability Engineer, Sr. Process Engineer, Laboratory Supervisor, MOC Coordinator, Brownfield Project Engineers, and Equipment Warranty Engineer.
• The Sr. Rotating Machinery Engineer will mentor and help develop a minimum of two less experienced Rotating Machinery Engineers.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor, analyze, and provide rotating machinery subject matter expertise to establish and ensure continued safe, stable, reliable, and efficient performance.
• Provide technical support & troubleshooting as necessary.
• Track and report equipment & system Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Coordinate and/or support Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) as necessary.
• Support Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) activities.
• Coordinate with Maintenance Department regarding Preventive Maintenance (PM) requirements and scheduling.
• Coordinate and conduct gas fired turbine inspections (hot gas path, combustion section, Borescope, minor and major overhauls, etc.)
• Coordinate with the Reliability Engineering team to monitor & inspect compressors, expanders, pumps, and associated seals, couplings, gear boxes and auxiliaries.
• Manage and coordinate rotating machinery alignment and associated measurements.
• Review project PHA and HAZOP results associated with rotating machinery and champion and/or participate in PHA, HAZOP and MOCs for ongoing operations.
• Ensure gas fired turbine Dry Low NOx (DLN) tuning provides efficient operation and meets with regulatory compliance requirements.
• Participate in Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) of major rotating machinery and turbine/compressor string tests as required.
• Coordinate with the Reliability Engineering team regarding conditioning monitoring requirements, evaluations and assist with managing technical aspects of related contracts.
• Maintain rotating machinery related “bad actors” and “opportunistic maintenance” lists. Coordinate corrections and improvements during planned maintenance intervals and as practical during unplanned outages.
• Manage and coordinate rotating machinery equipment and component repairs and replacements as required.
• Manage rotating machinery engineering effort for improvements, debottlenecking, and expansion studies, including reviewing, revising, and/or developing specifications and providing oversight for Scope of Work (SOW) documents, cost estimates, Approval for Expenditures (AFEs), evaluating consultants, HAZOPs, bid development and support for brownfield project construction tender documents.
• Serve as Technical Authority (TA) for rotating machinery management level decisions.
• Establish and maintain equipment specifications, design and reliability standards and procedures.
• Prepare, execute, and maintain facilities engineering related software licensing contracts and service agreements.
• Manage core rotating machinery engineering and technical proficiencies for the team. Identify and oversee associated training and development.
• Deliver on rotating machinery assigned activities of the Operations Management System (OMS) obligations during the FEED and detailed engineering project phases.
• Provide integral interaction and support for other intercompany teams, such as Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Quality, Process Safety Management (PSM), and Health, Safety, Security and Environmental (HSSE).
• Assist in selection of capital and operating spares and parts.
• Provide input into developing and managing Long Term Service Agreements (LTSAs)

EDUCATION, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, & COMPETENCIES

Minimum requirements:

• B.S. or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and/or demonstrated work experience
• 10+ years of senior rotating machinery engineering experience
• 5+ years in rotating machinery experience in an LNG operating facility
• 15+ years within the oil & gas industry
• Significant experience with gas fired turbine and associated auxiliary systems operation and maintenance
• Knowledge of applicable industry codes, standards & regulations
• Knowledge of compressor performance & anti-surge controls
• Knowledge and experience with aerodynamic & rotodynamic principles & analysis
• Experience with both gas & liquid expanders
• Experience with submerged & non-submerged pumps
• Experience with Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) & vibrational analysis
• Experience with Condition Monitoring & Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM)
• Experience with Process Safety Management (PSM) and Management of Change (MOC) requirements
• Experience in leading and motivating less experienced rotating machinery engineers with proven ability to guide, mentor, and inspire
• Demonstrated troubleshooting, problem solving, and analytical skills
• Substantial experience with implementing and managing Preventive Maintenance (PM) and Condition Monitoring programs
• Experience with Process Safety Management (PSM) and Management of Change (MOC) processes
• Experience with Hazard Identification studies (HAZIDs), Process Hazards Analyses (PHAs), and Hazard and Operability studies (HAZOPs)
• Knowledge and experience with applicable industry standards, regulatory codes, and API Recommended Practices
• Proven experience with managing interfaces and working closely with Project and Operations teams during FEED, detailed design, construction, commissioning, startup and post-startup operations
• Demonstrated experience with identifying and managing critical success factors and risks
• Demonstrated commitment to safety and environmental guidelines and experience leading by example and working within intercompany HSSE standards

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience with Baker Hughes Frame 7EA Gas Turbines w/ starter/helper motors
• Experience with Mark VI gas fired turbine control systems
• Experience with Allen Bradley Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
• APCI liquefaction facility design and operations experience
• Professional Engineer, TX (or equivalent)

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.