Principal Mechanical Engineer - Equipment Design

Mc Dermott; Dubai; On-site; AED 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

McDermott International, Ltd in Dubai invites applications for a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer – Equipment Design. You will lead FEED and detailed mechanical design activities, guide equipment specifications, and support procurement and fabrication across oil and energy projects in the United Arab Emirates.

The role demands 15–20 years of experience, strong leadership, and proficiency in coordinating cross‑discipline work with vendors and project teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering is required.
• 15 to 20 years of oil and gas experience with detailed mechanical design.
• Strong background in offshore/onshore mechanical engineering projects.

Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed mechanical engineering analyses and design work per project basis.
• Prepare design calculations, technical analyses, reports, and procedures.
• Lead small or medium mechanical engineering teams and coordinate discipline execution.
• Plan, organize, and direct discipline activities including schedules and budgets.
• Coordinate with vendors, review submittals, and support procurement and fabrication.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Equipment design

FEED engineering

Detailed design

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering

Job description

Principal Mechanical Engineer – Equipment Design (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

Job Snapshot

• Role: Principal Mechanical Engineer – Equipment Design
• Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Industry: Oil and Energy
• Function: Mechanical Engineering
• Experience: 15 to 20 years
• Job Type: Full-time

Overview

Senior opportunity for an experienced mechanical engineering specialist with strong FEED, detailed design, equipment specifications, procurement support, vendor coordination, fabrication assistance, and discipline leadership expertise. The role supports conceptual design, FEED, detailed engineering, equipment selection, procurement, vendor review, fabrication queries, technical audits, and project execution planning.

Job Details

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• City: Dubai
• Industry: Oil and Energy
• Function: Mechanical Engineering
• Salary: 55,000–75,000 (estimated; confirm final offer with employer)
• Gender: Any
• Candidate Nationality: Any
• Job Type: Full-time

Key Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed mechanical engineering analyses and design work in accordance with project design basis, specifications, codes, and standards.
• Prepare clear and accurate design calculations, technical analyses, design reports, engineering procedures, and mechanical deliverables.
• Apply specialist mechanical engineering knowledge to resolve complex technical problems, nonstandard situations, and project execution challenges.
• Manage assigned engineering activities within agreed objectives, schedules, budgets, and resource plans.
• Lead small or medium mechanical engineering teams when acting as Lead Engineer, ensuring work is completed to a high professional standard.
• Plan, organize, and direct discipline execution for assigned scope, deliverables, schedules, manhour budgets, and workforce requirements.
• Ensure discipline interfaces, deliverables, design responsibilities, and review requirements are clearly identified and controlled.
• Monitor engineering progress, productivity, performance, cost impact, and corrective actions across assigned work areas.
• Represent the mechanical discipline in meetings with project teams, customer discipline leads, certifying authorities, auditors, vendors, subcontractors, and third parties.
• Review project scope, specifications, schedule, contractual requirements, and inter‑discipline inputs to identify concerns early.
• Raise change notifications and support variation orders with required documentation, technical estimates, and impact assessments.
• Coordinate with engineering disciplines to support clash‑free designs and aligned project deliverables.
• Interface with planning, project management, safety, document control, procurement, cost control, quality, certification, fabrication, vendors, subcontractors, and customers.
• Prepare estimates for bid proposals, including technical query reviews, execution statements, manhour estimates, software requirements, and project‑specific needs.
• Raise technical queries to clarify missing information, confirm work scope, and maintain McDermott procedures, specifications, standards, practices, and operational requirements.
• Prepare, review, and approve mechanical design basis documents, engineering philosophies, technical specifications, and discipline deliverables when acting as Lead Engineer.
• Finalize deliverable lists and ensure mechanical deliverables comply with specifications, functional requirements, and engineering integrity expectations.
• Review project schedules and fabrication schedules against construction sequence, milestones, engineering scope, and vendor data requirements.
• Attend project kickoff meetings, design reviews, vendor meetings, engineering meetings, technical audits, HAZOP sessions, 3D model reviews, and site surveys when required.
• Provide technical direction and review support for designers producing mechanical engineering deliverables.
• Provide design inputs to other disciplines so their deliverables can progress accurately and on schedule.
• Support procurement activities by preparing and reviewing requisitions, technical quotation evaluations, technical queries, bid tabulations, purchase requisitions, and vendor document expediting requirements.
• Review vendor and subcontractor submittals for compliance with project specifications and provide clear technical comments.
• Update weight reports, electrical load lists, P and IDs, and equipment lists based on approved vendor information.
• Review and approve design verification through single‑discipline checks and inter‑discipline checks.
• Provide technical support for fabrication queries, including equipment installation concerns, mechanical clarifications, and field‑related technical issues.
• Check final subcontractor and vendor data manuals to confirm that required information has been received and approved.
• Present technical issues to customers in a timely manner and support resolution in line with project and company requirements.
• Perform technical quality audit reviews according to MDR Global Procedures when required.
• Capture lessons learned and enter relevant findings into the MDR Lessons Learned system.
• Guide less experienced engineers on discipline procedures, standards, design calculations, software, requisitions, technical bid evaluations, technical queries, and engineering workflows.
• Supervise assigned engineers and coordinate with project Lead Designers for mechanical engineering and design deliverables.
• Support departmental technical guideline maintenance, global procedure development, software improvement, and engineering standards updates.
• Identify staff training needs in specific techniques, engineering tools, or proprietary software.
• Support discipline management with employee performance feedback, workforce planning, quarterly forecasts, and applicant interviews.
• Prepare, check, and approve mechanical equipment lists, spare parts lists, special tools lists, lubrication schedules, and spare parts schedules.
• Prepare and review mechanical equipment specifications, equipment datasheets, mechanical handling philosophy reports, and requisitions for handling equipment.
• Review consultant noise reports to ensure compliance with project requirements.
• Assist with equipment inspection and testing, including participation in Factory Acceptance Testing as assigned.
• Identify vendor support required for installation, pre‑commissioning, and commissioning activities.
• Provide mechanical package and equipment supplier data inputs to piping design and other related disciplines.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor's degree or Master's degree in Engineering is required.
• 15 to 20 years of oil and gas experience with a major contractor or consultant, mainly in detailed mechanical design.
• Strong background in mechanical engineering for offshore, onshore, fabrication, equipment, package, and energy infrastructure projects.
• Detailed knowledge of mechanical design techniques, engineering analysis methods, project specifications, codes, standards, and technical guidelines.
• Experience preparing and reviewing mechanical equipment specifications, datasheets, equipment lists, spare parts lists, special tools lists, lubrication schedules, and handling philosophy reports.
• Strong understanding of procurement support, vendor document review, technical bid evaluation, requisitions, FAT participation, and vendor coordination.
• Capable of leading mechanical engineering teams, assigning work, reviewing deliverables, monitoring progress, and managing discipline priorities.
• Preferably Registered Professional Engineer or member of a recognized professional engineering society.
• Seasoned structural knowledge with the ability to coordinate effectively with structural, piping, electrical, instrumentation, safety, procurement, quality, and project teams.
• Very good organizer, motivator, and supervisor with the ability to solve technical problems without close assistance.
• Strong focus on improving work effectiveness, engineering quality, project performance, and team capability.
• HSE, TQM, and cost‑conscious approach to engineering decisions.
• Fluent English communication skills, both written and spoken.
• Able to understand and support company goals, project procedures, and work processes.
• Flexible to support reassignment to other McDermott offices, coverage for colleagues, heavy project workloads, and new working methods or software applications.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to explain complex technical matters clearly to customers, project teams, and discipline stakeholders.

Skills Set

• Mechanical engineering
• Equipment design
• Oil and gas projects
• FEED engineering
• Detailed design
• Conceptual design
• Mechanical equipment specifications
• Mechanical datasheets
• Mechanical equipment lists
• Spare parts lists
• Special tools lists
• Lubrication schedules
• Mechanical handling philosophy
• Handling equipment requisitions
• Vendor document review
• Technical bid evaluation
• Procurement support
• Requisitions
• Bid tabulations
• Factory Acceptance Testing
• Equipment inspection
• Equipment testing
• Vendor coordination
• Installation support
• Pre‑commissioning support
• Commissioning support
• Fabrication queries
• Design calculations
• Design reports
• Engineering procedures
• Design basis
• Technical specifications
• IDC review
• 3D model reviews
• HAZOP participation
• P and ID updates
• Electrical load list updates
• Weight report updates
• Noise report review
• Project execution planning
• Manhour estimation
• Progress forecasting
• Technical quality audits
• Lessons learned
• Discipline leadership
• Engineering integrity
• Cost control awareness
• HSE awareness
• TQM

Why Join Us

This senior mechanical engineering opportunity offers exposure to detailed mechanical design, equipment engineering, procurement support, fabrication coordination, vendor management, technical audits, HAZOP participation, and commissioning readiness. It provides a strong platform to influence design quality, mentor technical teams, improve discipline performance, and contribute to safe, reliable, and high‑value energy infrastructure.

About the Company

McDermott International, Ltd is a global engineering, procurement, construction, and installation company delivering complex energy infrastructure projects across offshore, subsea, onshore, fabrication, and energy transition markets. With more than 100 years of experience, McDermott supports major Oil and Energy developments through engineering excellence, fabrication capability, marine operations, technical innovation, and integrated project execution. Its Dubai operations contribute to regional and international projects where mechanical engineering quality, equipment reliability, safety, and disciplined delivery are essential to successful project performance.