Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Bechtel is looking to hire for more than 500 roles for the Port Arthur LNG construction project taking place in Sabine Pass.

To do so, Bechtel is hosting a hiring event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Bob Bowers Civic Center, 3401 Cultural Center Drive.

Jesse Kyle, recruitment supervisor, explained what organizers are looking for in an employee.

“We are looking for qualified candidates in all crafts; riggers, crane operators, ironworkers, mechanics, carpenters, concrete finishers, tank erectors, welders,” Kyle said.

Qualified candidates should have four or more years experience to go with the craft skill set, and NCCER (National Center for Construction Education & Research) certification in their craft is a plus.

The Port Arthur LNG project is currently in the early stages.

A second hiring event is planned from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Bechtel’s office, 3719 Twin City Highway in Port Arthur.

This hiring event is to find employees for all projects along the Gulf Coast, including Port Arthur, Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande project, Kyle said.

Kyle said the Saturday event is seeking qualified employees for the same positions as the Friday event.

In addition, Bechtel is offering a sign-on bonus up to $1,000 for journeyman-level craftsman holding NCCER.

Walk-in welcome. Appointments are not needed at either job fair.

The hiring will go through the month of May.

Bechtel promotes growth, development and long-term career goals and prioritizes safety, Kyle said.

Bechtel was recently recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration for its support of small businesses with this year’s Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence in Construction.

The award recognizes prime contractors who have demonstrated excellence in their utilization of small businesses as suppliers and contractors.

The award reflects Bechtel’s excellence, innovation and commitment to investing in small businesses in ways that benefit local communities and the broader economy.

Bechtel has worked with local school districts donating tools and more to prepare a new generation of workers.

In March, Bechtel presented equipment and systems for simulated welding learning opportunities to students to Memorial and Nederland high schools.

The donations support technical programs that teach high school students how to use welding tools on a construction site. The equipment and systems are crucial in helping students gain hands-on experience, prepare for exams and master the curriculum set by NCCER.