I&C Lead

NES Fircroft; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

NES Fircroft is seeking an Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Lead for a major LNG development in the UAE. The candidate will combine front-end I&C engineering expertise with LNG project delivery experience, representing the client and challenging EPC deliverables across FEED through commissioning.

The role requires senior leadership, contractor management, and deep knowledge of DCS, SIS, ESD, F&G systems, plus IEC/ISA/API standards and functional safety considerations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of instrumentation & control engineering experience in LNG/oil & gas or major process industries.
• Direct experience delivering major LNG developments across FEED to EPC, construction, commissioning & completion.
• Senior I&C leadership or technical authority with client/operator representation experience.
• Extensive knowledge of DCS, SIS, ESD, F&G and integrated control systems.
• Strong understanding of IEC/ISA/API standards and functional safety.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate all I&C engineering activities during FEED, directing engineering contractors.
• Develop and maintain I&C Design Basis, philosophies, technical specifications & discipline execution plans.
• Review and approve contractor deliverables for compliance with project requirements and standards.
• Oversee design and integration of DCS, SIS, ESD, F&G and associated automation systems.
• Define control architectures, safeguarding strategies and interfaces with process, electrical & mechanical disciplines.
• Review control narratives, cause-and-effect diagrams and instrument indexes.
• Provide technical assurance across FEED activities, identifying risks and ensuring safety & compliance.
• Participate in HAZOP, SIL, ALARP and multidisciplinary design reviews.
• Coordinate with EPC contractors, system vendors, integrators and consultants.
• Support procurement through technical evaluations and vendor reviews.
• Ensure cybersecurity, maintainability, operability and commissioning requirements are integrated.
• Support planning, cost estimation and transition from FEED to EPC execution.

Skills

Instrumentation & Control

Leadership

Contractor management

DCS/SIS/ESD/F&G

Functional safety standards

English fluent

Education

Engineering degree in Instrumentation/Control/Electronics/Automation

Tools

DCS systems

SIS/ESD/F&G tooling

Job description

Job description

Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Lead Major LNG Development | UAE | Client-Side Opportunity

The ideal candidate will combine strong front-end I&C engineering expertise with practical LNG project delivery experience, having worked across the full engineering and construction lifecycle. They will be comfortable representing the client, challenging EPC contractor deliverables, making technical decisions and ensuring control and safety systems are designed to meet project, operational and regulatory requirements. This is a senior technical leadership opportunity requiring a balance of engineering expertise, contractor management and major LNG project experience. This opportunity is particularly suited to an experienced I&C professional with a proven track record delivering major LNG projects from FEED through detailed engineering, EPC, construction, commissioning and project completion.

• Lead and coordinate all I&C engineering activities during the FEED phase, providing technical direction and oversight of engineering contractors.
• Develop and maintain the I&C Design Basis, engineering philosophies, technical specifications and discipline execution plans.
• Review and approve contractor engineering deliverables, ensuring compliance with project requirements, international standards and operational objectives.
• Oversee the design and integration of Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), Emergency Shutdown (ESD), Fire & Gas (F&G) and associated automation systems.
• Define control philosophies, safeguarding strategies, control system architectures and interfaces with process, electrical and mechanical disciplines.
• Review control narratives, cause-and-effect diagrams, instrument indexes, logic diagrams and associated engineering documentation.
• Provide technical assurance across FEED activities, identifying design risks and ensuring engineering quality, safety and compliance.
• Participate in HAZOP, SIL, ALARP and multidisciplinary design reviews, supporting functional safety and risk mitigation.
• Coordinate with EPC contractors, control system vendors, system integrators and specialist engineering consultants.
• Support procurement activities through technical evaluations, specifications and vendor documentation reviews.
• Ensure cybersecurity, maintainability, operability and commissioning requirements are considered throughout the engineering design.
• Support project planning, cost estimation, scheduling and the transition from FEED into EPC execution.
• Provide leadership and technical guidance to I&C and telecommunications engineering personnel.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential Requirements

• Minimum 15 years of relevant Instrumentation & Control engineering experience within the LNG, oil and gas or major process industries.
• Direct experience delivering major LNG developments, with demonstrable involvement across the project lifecycle from FEED through EPC, construction, commissioning and completion.
• Proven experience operating in a senior I&C leadership or technical authority capacity.
• Strong experience representing the client or operator, reviewing and overseeing engineering contractor activities.
• Extensive technical knowledge of DCS, SIS, ESD, F&G and integrated control and safety systems.
• Experience developing or reviewing control system architectures, engineering philosophies, technical specifications and safeguarding documentation.
• Strong understanding of international engineering and functional safety standards, including IEC, ISA and API.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams, vendors and external contractors.
• Engineering degree or equivalent qualification in Instrumentation, Control Systems, Electronics, Automation or a related discipline.
• Fluent English communication skills.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience with Technip Energies, Aker Solutions, Wood or other major international EPC engineering contractors.
• Experience working within an LNG operator, owner's engineering team or Project Management Consultancy (PMC).
• Knowledge of IEC 61511, SIL assessment, alarm management and industrial cybersecurity.
• Experience supporting major greenfield LNG developments and large-scale offshore or onshore processing facilities.
• Familiarity with FAT, SAT, commissioning preparation, systems integration and operational handover.