Principal Engineer - Mechanical Systems

Mc Dermott; Dubai; On-site; AED 335,000 - 502,000; Full time

Job summary

McDermott International, Ltd in Dubai seeks a Principal Engineer - Mechanical Systems to lead conceptual, FEED, and detailed mechanical design activities for major energy projects. You will manage discipline resources, procurement support, technical integrity, and project schedules and budgets.

The role requires 15–20 years of oil and gas engineering experience, a engineering degree, and strong leadership with fluency in English. This is a full-time position based in Dubai, UAE.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering.
• 15–20 years of oil & gas engineering experience.
• Professional Engineer registration or membership preferred.
• Fluent English (written and spoken).

Responsibilities

• Lead conceptual, FEED, and detailed mechanical design activities.
• Prepare design calculations, specs, and procedures.
• Ensure work complies with design basis, specs, codes, and standards.
• Lead discipline teams and manage resources, budget, and schedules.
• Coordinate with other disciplines and procurement for execution.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

FEED design

Design calculations

Team leadership

Project planning

Budget control

Vendor coordination

3D model reviews

HAZOP participation

Technical audits

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering

Job description

Principal Engineer - Mechanical Systems

Job Snapshot

Role: Principal Engineer - Mechanical Systems

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Oil and Energy

Function: Mechanical Engineering

Experience: 15-20 years

Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview

The Principal Engineer - Mechanical Systems position in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a senior technical leadership opportunity within the Oil and Energy industry. McDermott International seeks a mechanical engineering specialist to lead complex conceptual, FEED, and detailed design activities while managing discipline resources, procurement support, technical integrity, schedules, budgets, and multidisciplinary interfaces.

Job Details

Country: United Arab Emirates

City: Dubai

Industry: Oil and Energy

Function: Mechanical Engineering

Salary: AED 30000-45000 per month Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in Dubai; please confirm the final offer with the employer.

Gender: Any

Candidate Nationality: Any

Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

The Principal Mechanical Engineer works independently on complex and nonstandard engineering challenges and may lead small or medium discipline teams. The position carries responsibility for technical decisions, design quality, workforce planning, procurement coordination, project controls, vendor documentation, and mechanical deliverables throughout major energy projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed mechanical engineering analyses and designs.
• Prepare accurate design calculations, technical reports, specifications, philosophies, and procedures.
• Ensure engineering work complies with the design basis, project specifications, applicable codes, and company standards.
• Lead assigned mechanical engineering activities within approved scope, schedule, budget, and quality requirements.
• Plan discipline deliverables, workforce resources, task assignments, and manhour budgets.
• Forecast resource requirements and agree personnel allocations with the Discipline Manager.
• Monitor engineering progress, productivity, expenditure, and multidisciplinary interfaces.
• Identify deviations and implement corrective actions to maintain project performance.
• Interpret contractual requirements affecting engineering execution.
• Identify scope changes and prepare change notifications, supporting estimates, and variation-order documentation.
• Coordinate with other disciplines to develop technically sound and clash-free designs.
• Review construction and fabrication schedules against engineering milestones and sequencing.
• Attend project kickoff meetings, design reviews, vendor meetings, site surveys, and engineering meetings.
• Provide technical direction to engineers and designers producing mechanical deliverables.
• Prepare and review mechanical equipment lists, datasheets, specifications, spare-parts lists, and special-tools lists.
• Develop or review mechanical-handling philosophies, lubrication schedules, and noise reports.
• Support equipment inspection, testing, and Factory Acceptance Testing.
• Identify vendor-support requirements for installation, pre-commissioning, and commissioning.
• Update equipment lists, electrical-load information, and piping and instrumentation diagrams using approved vendor data.
• Participate in HAZOP sessions and 3D model reviews.
• Provide mechanical equipment and package data to piping and other engineering disciplines.
• Prepare technical content and estimates for bids and project proposals.
• Review technical quotations, bid tabulations, recommendations, requisitions, and purchase requests.
• Coordinate with Procurement to expedite equipment, materials, services, and vendor documents.
• Review vendor and subcontractor submissions for compliance with project specifications.
• Approve discipline checks and interdisciplinary design-verification reviews when authorized.
• Provide technical support for fabrication queries and construction-related issues.
• Verify that final vendor and subcontractor manuals contain all required and approved data.
• Represent the mechanical discipline in meetings with customers, auditors, certifying authorities, and third parties.
• Lead discipline participation in internal, customer, and third-party technical audits.
• Resolve review comments and guide the incorporation of required document revisions.
• Capture project lessons learned and support improvements to technical procedures, software, and standards.
• Mentor engineers in calculations, procedures, specifications, software, technical queries, and bid evaluations.
• Identify training requirements and provide performance feedback to the Discipline Manager.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment interviews, and employee performance evaluations.
• Document significant technical decisions, communications, and assigned actions.
• Present technical issues promptly and help negotiate solutions consistent with project requirements.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Engineering.
• Between 15 and 20 years of oil and gas engineering experience.
• Extensive experience with a major engineering contractor or consultant.
• Strong background in detailed mechanical design for complex energy projects.
• Professional Engineer registration or membership in an applicable engineering society is preferred.
• Broad mechanical engineering expertise with sound structural knowledge.
• Proven ability to lead engineering teams and resolve complex problems independently.
• Experienced in project planning, technical procurement, vendor coordination, and design assurance.
• Strong organizational, supervisory, motivational, and decision-making capabilities.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Committed to HSE, total quality management, technical integrity, and cost control.
• Flexible regarding assignments to other offices and support for additional projects.
• Willing to adopt developing engineering methods, procedures, and software.

Skills Set

• Mechanical engineering
• Conceptual and FEED design
• Detailed engineering
• Mechanical equipment specifications
• Equipment datasheets
• Engineering calculations
• Design basis development
• Mechanical handling systems
• Rotating and static equipment coordination
• Equipment inspection and testing
• Factory Acceptance Testing
• HAZOP participation
• 3D model reviews
• Piping and instrumentation diagrams
• Technical bid evaluations
• Procurement engineering
• Vendor document review
• Fabrication support
• Installation and commissioning support
• Design verification
• Project execution planning
• Schedule and budget control
• Workforce forecasting
• Change management
• Technical audits
• Team leadership
• Stakeholder communication
• Mentoring and training

Why Join Us

This opportunity provides technical authority and leadership across the full mechanical engineering lifecycle of major energy projects. The successful candidate will influence engineering standards, guide multidisciplinary execution, mentor developing professionals, and contribute to complex projects from early design and procurement through fabrication, installation, and commissioning.

About the Company

McDermott International, Ltd is a global engineering and construction company serving the energy industry. For more than 100 years, the company has transformed complex ideas into operational infrastructure, including subsea systems, offshore platforms, offshore wind facilities, and major onshore developments. With more than 30000 professionals across 54 countries, McDermott combines engineering expertise, technology, and project execution capabilities to support reliable energy delivery and the global energy transition.