After graduation Hussein joined Kuwait National Petroleum Company in February 1972 and worked there until April 1980. Then he began to work at Shuaiba refinery (1972-1974). Then he joined planning department in 1977 and his tenure at the department lasted until 1977. From 1977 to 1980 he worked at international marketing department. He served as the board chairman and managing director of the Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) from 1990 to 1995.
He held different posts at the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) including managing director for oil refining and local marketing and managing director for marketing. From 1998 to 2004 he was also board chairman and managing director of Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC). Hussein was made chief executive officer of the KPC in 2004 and he replaced Nader Sultan in the post. Hussein resigned from office in April 2007. In June 2007, then Prime Minister Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah appointed Hussein as his chief petroleum advisor.
Hussein was appointed oil minister to the cabinet led by Prime Minister Jaber Al Sabah on 24 February 2012, replacing Mohammad Busairi in the post. In a December 2012 cabinet reshuffle Hussein was reappointed to the post. However, he resigned from office on 26 May 2013 due to tensions with members of the Kuwaiti parliament. Finance Minister Mustafa Al Shamali was appointed as acting oil minister to succeed him, and on 4 August Shamali was appointed to full portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle.