Lab Technician

About the role

NextDecade is seeking a full-time Laboratory Technician to support long-term operations for the Rio Grande LNG facility located near Brownsville, Texas. The position will be based in Brownsville. The incumbent will report to the Laboratory Manager in the Operations Engineering Department, under the leadership of the Director of Engineering.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead laboratory operations and advanced troubleshooting of analytical methods and instrumentation; act as SME for LNG quality
• Own method validation, investigations, and continuous improvement roadmaps; author/approve technical procedures and work instructions
• Lead implementation and ongoing compliance with ISO 9001 and ISO 17025; represent the lab during audits and technical reviews
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Reliability, PSM, Environmental, and Quality on complex technical issues and strategic initiatives
• Oversee laboratory training and competency programs; mentor technicians across levels and assess proficiency
• Establish and monitor laboratory KPIs (safety, quality, turnaround time, instrument uptime) and drive corrective actions
• Provide technical guidance to management on laboratory strategy, capability development, and performance

Minimum Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive laboratory experience in LNG, gas, or petrochemical industries
• Expert knowledge of analytical techniques, LNG quality requirements, and laboratory systems; deep familiarity with ISO/ASTM standards
• Demonstrated leadership within laboratory operations (mentoring, program ownership, quality and safety stewardship)
• Extensive experience supporting ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 compliance

Prior to the role

• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
• Master of Science in Chemistry
• 8+ years of progressive laboratory experience in LNG, gas, or petrochemical industries
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor or ISO 17025 Auditor certification

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
• Master of Science in Chemistry

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
• 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

Other Duties

• If you require accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at recruiting@next-decade.com.

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

Equal Employment Opportunity

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. We comply with applicable federal, 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. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans.