Commissioning Engineer - Start-up and Systems

Mc Dermott; Dubai; On-site; AED 179,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

McDermott International, Ltd is seeking a Commissioning Engineer - Start-up and Systems in Dubai to support pre-commissioning, system testing, start-up preparation, and performance verification for oil and gas facilities. The role bridges mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation disciplines from home-office preparation through field execution.

Role involves coordinating with project teams, reviewing documents, and ensuring safe testing, operational readiness, and timely handover to start-up

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required.
• 3-8 years of relevant experience in oil & gas projects.
• Experience in commissioning, start-up and system testing preferred.
• Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical and instrumentation interfaces.

Responsibilities

• Support preparation and execution of commissioning activities across assigned project systems and disciplines.
• Report to the Commissioning Manager and assist with home-office deliverables.
• Review drawings, equipment data, and project specifications relevant to commissioning.
• Assist with preparation of commissioning schedules, activity lists and system priorities.
• Coordinate punch list and closure across disciplines and project teams.
• Verify systems are sufficiently complete before testing and commissioning.

Skills

Commissioning engineering

Pre-commissioning

Start-up

System commissioning

Performance testing

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Visio

Job description

Commissioning Engineer - Start-up and Systems Job Snapshot Role: Commissioning Engineer - Start-up and Systems Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Industry: Oil and Energy Function: Engineering General Experience: 3-8 years Job Type: Full-time

Commissioning Engineer - Start-up and Systems in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is an Oil and Energy opportunity focused on pre-commissioning, system testing, start-up preparation, performance testing, punch listing, troubleshooting, and multidisciplinary commissioning support. McDermott International, Ltd is hiring an experienced commissioning professional to support mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems from home-office preparation through site execution, helping ensure facilities are safely tested, operationally ready, and transitioned efficiently into start-up and operation.

Job Details Country: United Arab Emirates City: Dubai Industry: Oil and Energy Function: Engineering General Salary: 16000-26000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer. Gender: Any Candidate Nationality: Any Job Type: Full-time

Role Context The Commissioning Engineer will support the Project Commissioning Manager and Principal Commissioning Engineer throughout the preparation and execution of commissioning activities for oil and gas facilities. The role bridges engineering, construction, fabrication, operations, maintenance, and commissioning teams. It combines office-based preparation with field execution and requires a practical understanding of how individual mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems are verified, tested, started, and transferred into reliable operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Support preparation and execution of commissioning activities across assigned project systems and disciplines.
• Report to the Commissioning Manager and support the Principal Commissioning Engineer with home-office commissioning deliverables.
• Review engineering information, system boundaries, drawings, equipment data, and project specifications relevant to commissioning.
• Assist with preparation of commissioning schedules, activity lists, and system priorities.
• Support development of commissioning documentation before site execution begins.
• Participate in field walk-down inspections with Construction, Engineering, and Commissioning personnel.
• Identify incomplete work, deficiencies, and outstanding items during system walk-downs.
• Prepare and maintain punch list records for mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems.
• Coordinate punch item closure with responsible project teams.
• Verify that systems are sufficiently complete before testing or commissioning activities proceed.
• Participate in equipment and system testing during pre-commissioning and commissioning.
• Troubleshoot mechanical equipment issues encountered during testing.
• Support diagnosis of electrical system problems during energization and functional checks.
• Assist with instrumentation troubleshooting and verification of instrument functionality.
• Coordinate technical resolution with discipline engineers when complex issues arise.
• Work closely with Client representatives to maintain clear communication and productive working relationships.
• Support development of Operations and Maintenance Manuals.
• Coordinate technical inputs required from vendors, engineering disciplines, and project teams.
• Review manual content for commissioning and operational relevance.
• Develop commissioning and start-up spare parts requirements.
• Identify critical spares needed during commissioning, initial operation, and start-up.
• Support development of First Fills and consumables requirements.
• Coordinate lubricant, chemical, fluid, and consumable requirements with relevant disciplines.
• Prepare or support Commissioning and Start-Up Procedures.
• Ensure procedures clearly define sequence, responsibilities, safety requirements, prerequisites, and acceptance criteria.
• Participate in discipline equipment checks before functional testing.
• Verify that required inspections, tests, and documentation are complete.
• Conduct or support mechanical system functional tests.
• Participate in electrical system checks and functional testing.
• Support instrumentation loop checks, functional verification, and related commissioning activities.
• Participate in integrated system testing where multiple disciplines interact.
• Support Commissioning, Start-Up, and Performance Testing activities.
• Monitor equipment and system performance during start-up.
• Identify operating conditions that fall outside expected parameters.
• Assist in resolving operational problems encountered during commissioning.
• Support resolution of maintenance-related issues that become evident during system testing.
• Coordinate technical assistance from vendors where specialist intervention is required.
• Document commissioning test results and maintain traceable records.
• Support preparation of commissioning reports and system status updates.
• Supervise craft personnel assigned to pre-commissioning and commissioning activities.
• Ensure field teams understand approved procedures and execution requirements.
• Coordinate daily activities with other Commissioning Engineers and discipline personnel.
• Sequence commissioning work to avoid conflicts between mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and construction activities.
• Maintain awareness of system dependencies and project start-up priorities.
• Coordinate with Construction and Fabrication teams to resolve incomplete work affecting commissioning readiness.
• Interface with Project Engineers and Discipline Lead Engineers on technical matters.
• Support safe execution of all commissioning activities in accordance with project requirements.
• Verify that appropriate permits, isolation requirements, and safety controls are in place before testing.
• Support system turnover from Construction into Commissioning.
• Assist with transition from Commissioning into Start-Up and Operations.
• Provide technical input during performance testing and acceptance activities.
• Maintain organized completion, commissioning, and test documentation.
• Support final handover and closeout of assigned systems.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor 's degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering.
• 3-8 years of relevant experience within oil and gas projects involving a major contractor, consultant, or operating environment.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a chemical, refinery, or oil and gas process facility.
• Preferably 2 or more years of direct commissioning and start-up experience.
• Good understanding of commissioning principles, system completion, and pre-commissioning activities.
• Familiarity with construction and Operations and Maintenance functions.
• Ability to support mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation commissioning activities.
• Experience participating in system walk-downs and punch listing.
• Practical understanding of equipment and system functional testing.
• Ability to troubleshoot straightforward commissioning problems using approved procedures and engineering judgment.
• Understanding of commissioning and start-up documentation requirements.
• Familiarity with Operations and Maintenance Manual preparation.
• Experience developing start-up spares, First Fills, or consumable requirements is beneficial.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documents.
• Strong communication skills for explaining technical issues to engineers and non-engineers.
• Ability to work effectively with Client personnel and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Good organizational capability when managing several commissioning activities simultaneously.
• Ability to adapt to changing project and discipline priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio.
• Strong English communication skills.
• Additional language capability is advantageous.
• Willingness to travel to construction sites and international project locations as required.

Skills Set

• Commissioning engineering
• Pre-commissioning
• Start-up
• System commissioning
• Performance testing
• Mechanical commissioning
• Electrical commissioning
• Instrumentation commissioning
• System walk-downs
• Punch listing
• Punch closure
• Functional testing
• Equipment testing
• Troubleshooting
• Operations and Maintenance Manuals
• Commissioning procedures
• Start-up procedures
• Commissioning spares
• Start-up spares
• First Fills
• Consumables planning
• System checks
• Mechanical systems
• Electrical systems
• Instrument systems
• System turnover
• Construction handover
• Commissioning handover
• Performance tests
• System completion
• Operational readiness
• Craft supervision
• Construction coordination
• Fabrication coordination
• Engineering coordination
• Client coordination
• Vendor coordination
• Technical documentation
• Commissioning reports
• Test records
• System status tracking
• Oil and gas facilities
• Chemical plants
• Refineries
• Process facilities
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Visio

Why Join Us

This role offers direct involvement in the stage where completed engineering and construction work is transformed into functioning process systems. It provides practical exposure to equipment testing, troubleshooting, system turnover, start-up preparation, and performance verification across multidisciplinary oil and gas facilities. For a Commissioning Engineer in Dubai, the position offers a strong opportunity to broaden expertise across mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems while developing experience in complex Oil and Energy projects. The role can support progression toward Senior Commissioning Engineer, Principal Commissioning Engineer, Commissioning Lead, or Commissioning Management responsibilities.

About the Company

McDermott International, Ltd delivers engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, installation, commissioning, and project execution services across the global energy sector. Its commissioning teams work closely with engineering and construction functions to verify system readiness, support safe start-up, and transition complex offshore and onshore facilities into reliable operation.