Principal Process Engineer - Offshore

Mc Dermott; Dubai; On-site; AED 440,690 - 587,587; Full time

Job summary

Mc Dermott is seeking a Principal Process Engineer in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This senior role focuses on offshore and onshore oil and gas projects, requiring expertise in conceptual design and engineering execution.

The ideal candidate will have 15-20 years of industry experience and a strong background in process engineering, capable of leading technical teams and ensuring high-quality design outputs.

Qualifications

• 15-20 years of oil and gas experience with a major contractor or consultant.
• Strong background in offshore, onshore, subsea, or energy infrastructure projects.
• Detailed knowledge of process engineering design techniques and industry guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed process engineering design.
• Prepare and review process calculations and design documentation.
• Lead or support discipline engineering execution.

Skills

Process engineering

Oil and gas engineering

Offshore engineering

FEED

Detailed design

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree in Engineering

Job description

Role Overview

Principal Process Engineer - Offshore in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a senior engineering specialist role focused on conceptual design, FEED, detailed engineering, process simulations, PFDs, P and IDs, HAZOP support, flare studies, and offshore or onshore oil and gas project execution. The position is designed for an experienced professional who can lead technical delivery, solve complex engineering challenges, guide discipline teams, and ensure safe, compliant, and high-quality design outputs across major energy projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed process engineering design in line with project specifications, design basis, engineering codes, standards, and client requirements.
• Prepare and review process calculations, design reports, technical procedures, engineering philosophies, specifications, and supporting design documentation.
• Develop and verify key process deliverables including process simulations, heat and material balances, PFDs, pipe and instrument diagrams, equipment data, line data, and process datasheets.
• Carry out equipment sizing, line sizing, flare radiation studies, dispersion calculations, depressurization studies, flare network analysis, and process studies as required by project scope.
• Lead or support discipline engineering execution by managing scope, deliverables, schedule, resource requirements, budgets, and productivity targets.
• Provide technical direction to process engineers and designers while ensuring deliverables meet quality, safety, schedule, and project execution requirements.
• Coordinate closely with other engineering disciplines to provide process inputs for layout reviews, area classification, safety studies, electrical load lists, equipment datasheets, instrument datasheets, ESD logic, F and G logic, and control narratives.
• Participate in HAZAN, HAZID, HAZOP, safety, operability, reliability, and design review workshops, including follow‑up and closure of assigned action items.
• Review vendor and subcontractor submissions for technical compliance with project specifications and provide clear comments where corrections are required.
• Raise and respond to technical queries to clarify scope, obtain missing information, and maintain alignment with company procedures and project standards.
• Identify engineering scope changes early and prepare supporting documentation, estimates, and inputs for change notifications or variation orders.
• Represent the process discipline in project meetings with client representatives, certifying authorities, auditors, third parties, vendors, and internal project teams.
• Prepare engineering input for bid proposals, including technical query review, execution statements, work‑hour estimates, software requirements, and discipline budgets.
• Monitor discipline progress, cost, manpower utilization, productivity, and KPI performance, then initiate corrective actions when required.
• Document key technical communications, decisions, and assigned actions to maintain traceability and project control.
• Support procurement activities by reviewing requisitions, technical bid evaluations, purchase recommendations, vendor documents, and technical clarifications.
• Guide less experienced engineers on engineering standards, calculations, procedures, software tools, requisitions, bid evaluations, and process deliverable preparation.
• Maintain responsibility for the technical integrity of the assigned process engineering work area throughout project execution.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree in Engineering.
• 15-20 years of oil and gas experience with a major contractor or consultant, mainly in detailed design engineering.
• Strong background in offshore, onshore, subsea, or energy infrastructure projects.
• Detailed knowledge of process engineering design techniques, analysis methods, codes, standards, and industry guidelines.
• Experience preparing and reviewing process simulations, PFDs, P and IDs, equipment datasheets, process specifications, operating philosophies, and startup or operating manuals.
• Strong capability in flare studies, depressurization, equipment sizing, line sizing, process safety inputs, and engineering calculations.
• Ability to lead discipline engineering teams, allocate work, review deliverables, monitor progress, and manage engineering budgets.
• Experience interfacing with clients, vendors, certifying authorities, auditors, procurement teams, fabrication teams, and project management.
• Knowledge of technical audits, design reviews, HAZOP action closeout, change control, and engineering execution planning.
• Registered Professional Engineer status or membership in a professional engineering society is preferred where applicable.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to explain complex technical issues clearly.
• Good project coordination, planning, forecasting, and execution control skills.

Skill Set

• Process engineering
• Oil and gas engineering
• Offshore engineering
• FEED
• Detailed design
• Conceptual design
• Process simulations
• Heat and material balance
• Process flow diagrams
• P and ID review
• Equipment datasheets
• Instrument datasheets
• Process specifications
• Operating philosophy
• Startup manuals
• Equipment sizing
• Line sizing
• Flare radiation studies
• Dispersion calculations
• Depressurization studies
• Flare network analysis
• HAZOP
• HAZID
• HAZAN
• Safety studies
• Design reviews
• Technical audits
• Vendor document review
• Technical bid evaluations
• Engineering calculations
• Engineering design basis
• Change management
• Variation order support
• Resource planning
• Discipline leadership
• Procurement coordinationClient coordination
• Project engineering
• Interdiscipline coordination
• MDR procedures
• Engineering standards

Why Join Us

This role offers a high‑impact opportunity within Dubai's Oil and Energy sector for a principal‑level process engineer who wants to contribute to complex offshore, subsea, and energy infrastructure projects. The position provides technical ownership, exposure to major international projects, leadership of experienced engineering teams, and the chance to influence safe, efficient, and sustainable project delivery. It is well suited for an engineering specialist who wants to combine deep process expertise with discipline leadership in a global energy project environment.