Principal Piping Designer - 3D Plant Design

Mc Dermott

Dubai

On-site

AED 357,120 - 535,680

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Mc Dermott is looking for an experienced Principal Piping Designer in Dubai, UAE. The ideal candidate should have over 10 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, leading piping design teams and delivering high-quality outputs for major projects.

Key responsibilities include the development of 3D models, plant layouts, and ensuring design compliance with safety and operational requirements. Strong knowledge of E3D, SP3D, and AutoCAD is essential, along with leadership skills.

Qualifications

Minimum 10 years of experience with a major contractor or consultant in oil and gas piping design.
Strong experience performing Pre-FEED, FEED, and detailed design work for process facilities.
Detailed knowledge of 3D CAD systems, including E3D or SP3D.

Responsibilities

Perform piping design and engineering activities for process facilities during all design phases.
Develop 3D models, plant layouts, and related drawings as per project specifications.
Ensure clash-free 3D models by coordinating with various engineering disciplines.

Skills

Piping design

3D plant design

Plant layout

Oil and gas design

Pre-FEED

FEED

Detailed design

E3D

SP3D

AutoCAD

Education

High school graduate with a diploma in Mechanical Design or related discipline

Tools

E3D

AutoCAD

Job description

Principal Piping Designer – 3D Plant Design

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Oil and Energy
Function: CAD-Drafting
Experience: 10 years
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: 32000-48000

Position Overview: Principal Piping Designer – 3D Plant Design in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is an Oil and Energy opportunity for an experienced piping design professional with strong Pre‑FEED, FEED, detailed design, 3D modelling, plant layout, and engineering coordination expertise. This role is ideal for a senior designer who can lead piping design teams, develop clash‑free 3D models, support constructability reviews, coordinate multi‑discipline interfaces, and deliver high‑quality design outputs for major oil and gas projects.

Key Responsibilities

Perform piping design and engineering activities for process facilities during Pre‑FEED, FEED, and detailed design phases.
Develop plant layouts, piping arrangements, 3D models, and related drawings in accordance with project specifications, design procedures, and schedule requirements.
Ensure 3D models are clash‑free by coordinating with process, mechanical, structural, electrical, instrumentation, safety, and other engineering disciplines.
Review and approve piping drawings, plot plans, layouts, and design deliverables in line with project standards and McDermott procedures.
Consider constructability, maintainability, safety, cost efficiency, and operational requirements during all stages of piping design development.
Complete assigned design work while also facilitating the activities of other designers and discipline team members.
Set priorities, organize work, manage time effectively, and support resource forecasting when acting as Lead Designer.
Lead the piping design team to complete assigned deliverables within the planned schedule, budget, quality standards, and project‑specific procedures.
Act as the discipline point of contact for project teams, clients, vendors, suppliers, subcontractors, and internal engineering stakeholders.
Coordinate inter‑discipline design interfaces to ensure all piping deliverables are aligned with project requirements and other discipline inputs.
Support the Lead Piping Engineer in monitoring progress, productivity, work‑hour performance, and design completion status.
Coordinate 3D model reviews, capture review comments, follow up on actions, and ensure closure of model review observations.
Maintain strong familiarity with project scope, specifications, schedule, deliverables, design codes, and inter‑discipline requirements.
Provide input into the Plant Layout Narrative based on the agreed project scope of work and layout strategy.
Identify design issues early, follow up on corrective actions, and support resolution of technical or interface challenges.
Identify scope changes and raise change notifications through the Change Management System when required.
Assist the Lead Piping Engineer with technical queries, piping estimates, job scope changes, and design clarifications.
Attend kickoff meetings, review meetings, vendor meetings, model reviews, and project coordination discussions.
Lead or coordinate design teams in multi‑office project execution environments when assigned as Lead or Area Lead.
Support and guide less experienced designers by sharing technical knowledge, design practices, and project procedures.
Ensure all work follows client requirements, statutory design codes, industry standards, QA systems, and health and safety policies.
Support the Department Manager with designer appraisals and team performance feedback when required.
Use sound judgment, previous experience, and established design practices to solve complex design problems with limited precedent.
Communicate clearly and directly with team members, engineering leads, document control, IM groups, and client representatives.

Ideal Profile

High school graduate with a diploma in Mechanical Design, Drafting, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
Minimum 10 years of experience with a major contractor or consultant in oil and gas piping design.
Strong experience performing Pre‑FEED, FEED, and detailed design work for process facilities, offshore projects, onshore plants, or related energy infrastructure.
Detailed knowledge of 3D CAD systems, including E3D or SP3D.
Minimum one to two project assignments using E3D and/or S3D.
Strong working knowledge of AutoCAD and/or AutoLISP.
Capable of leading piping design teams and coordinating design work across project phases.
Familiar with local regulatory requirements, international standards, national industry codes, and project specifications.
General understanding of process equipment operation, maintenance access, layout requirements, and constructability principles.
Experience in plant design, 3D modelling, plot plan development, model review coordination, and piping layout optimization.
Programming, 3D modelling customization, menu development, or macro compilation skills would be an advantage.
Knowledge of QA systems and disciplined document control practices.
Strong communication skills with the ability to coordinate effectively with engineers, designers, clients, vendors, and project stakeholders.
Flexible to support business travel, project assignments, and multi‑office execution requirements when needed.
Able to lead with minimal supervision while maintaining design accuracy, schedule focus, safety awareness, and quality discipline.

Skills Set