Project Manager – Industrial Automation, Control Systems & Field Deployment

MPH; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

MPH is seeking an experienced Project Manager specialized in industrial automation, control systems, and field deployment with a strong background in oil and gas project execution in the UAE.

You will lead end-to-end delivery including engineering coordination, procurement, vendor management, field mobilization, installation, testing, and handover, coordinating cross-functional teams to meet contractual requirements and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation & Control Engineering, Automation Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience, including managing industrial automation, control systems, or oil and gas projects.
• PM certifications such as PMP or PRINCE2 are preferred; strong scheduling, budgeting and risk management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end project management from initiation to handover in industrial automation projects.
• Coordinate engineering, procurement, logistics, field deployment, and commissioning activities.
• Manage multiple suppliers, subcontractors, and client stakeholders to ensure on-time delivery.
• Oversee FAT/SAT, testing, and commissioning activities with cross-functional teams.
• Maintain project documentation, risk registers, and weekly performance reports.
• Ensure compliance with site safety, quality standards, and contractual requirements.

Skills

Industrial automation

Control systems

Project management

Oil and gas

English communication

Team coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Instrumentation/Automation Engineering

Tools

Primavera P6

Microsoft Project

SAP

Job description

Project Manager – Industrial Automation, Control Systems & Field Deployment

Employment Type: Full-time

Experience: 8–15 years preferred

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager with a strong background in industrial automation, control systems, and oil and gas project execution, preferably with extensive experience delivering projects in the UAE.

The successful candidate will manage the end-to-end delivery of industrial digitalization, automation, and technology deployment projects, covering engineering coordination, procurement, supplier management, equipment logistics, field mobilization readiness, installation, integration, testing, commissioning, and final handover.

The role requires a Project Manager who combines technical understanding of industrial automation and control systems with practical knowledge of client project execution, procurement, vendor management, CICPA/​security permits, site access, and field deployment procedures.

The ideal candidate will have previously worked for an industrial automation vendor, control system integrator, EPC contractor, or engineering services company delivering projects to client.

This is a hands‑on project management position requiring the ability to independently coordinate engineering teams, suppliers, subcontractors, client stakeholders, and field personnel to ensure successful project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

1. End-to-End Project Management

• Manage the complete project lifecycle, including initiation, engineering, procurement, installation, integration, commissioning, and handover.
• Develop and maintain project execution plans, schedules, budgets, resource plans, and deliverable registers.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams covering engineering, IT/OT infrastructure, procurement, logistics, installation, and commissioning.
• Monitor project progress, identify execution risks, and implement mitigation and recovery plans.
• Manage project scope, technical changes, variations, dependencies, and stakeholder expectations.
• Lead project progress meetings with client stakeholders, suppliers, and subcontractors.
• Ensure project deliverables are completed in accordance with contractual requirements, quality standards, and agreed schedules.
• Maintain project documentation, progress reports, action registers, and risk registers.

2. Industrial Automation and Control Systems

• Manage projects involving industrial automation, instrumentation, control systems, and digital technology deployment.
• Understand the architecture and integration requirements of PLC, DCS, SCADA, RTU, industrial gateways, and field instrumentation.
• Coordinate engineering activities related to control panels, industrial networking, edge devices, communication systems, and field hardware.
• Understand common industrial communication protocols, including Modbus, OPC UA, and industrial Ethernet.
• Coordinate integration between field equipment, control systems, OT networks, and enterprise digital applications.
• Work with technical specialists to resolve engineering, integration, and installation challenges.
• Oversee technical design reviews, Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), and commissioning activities.
• Ensure technical activities are performed by appropriately qualified personnel and comply with approved engineering specifications.

3. Procurement and Supplier Management

• Manage procurement planning and coordination for project hardware, equipment, and services.
• Work with engineering teams to finalize technical specifications, equipment lists, and procurement requirements.
• Coordinate sourcing and purchasing of industrial automation equipment, control panels, sensors, networking devices, servers, edge gateways, and related hardware.
• Manage multiple equipment manufacturers, suppliers, subcontractors, and service providers.
• Review supplier quotations, technical submissions, delivery schedules, and commercial proposals.
• Monitor procurement progress and proactively resolve equipment delivery delays.
• Coordinate equipment inspections, FAT activities, shipping documentation, and material readiness.
• Manage supplier performance, contractual deliverables, and procurement‑related project risks.

4. Equipment Logistics and Field Mobilization Readiness

• Develop and maintain logistics and mobilization readiness plans for onshore and offshore projects.
• Coordinate the preparation, packing, documentation, transportation, and delivery of equipment and materials to designated client receiving points.
• Work with suppliers, freight forwarders, transportation contractors, warehouses, and client logistics representatives.
• Coordinate customs clearance, local transportation, material receiving, and storage requirements.
• Ensure equipment and materials are properly identified, inspected, documented, and ready for field deployment.
• Coordinate personnel readiness, including required documentation, qualifications, training, and access approvals.
• Align equipment delivery and personnel readiness with Client‑managed offshore transportation and site access arrangements.
• Track mobilization dependencies and proactively resolve issues that could delay field execution.
• Maintain equipment delivery records, material tracking registers, and mobilization readiness reports.

5. CICPA Permits, Security Clearances and Site Access

• Manage coordination of applicable CICPA/critical infrastructure security passes, Client site access approvals, and personnel mobilization requirements.
• Understand client security clearance procedures and requirements for employees, subcontractors, suppliers, and third‑party personnel.
• Coordinate with sponsoring companies, client security representatives, and relevant authorities to obtain required approvals.
• Oversee preparation and submission of personnel access documentation, vehicle permits, and equipment entry requirements.
• Monitor permit application status, validity periods, renewals, and potential access‑related delays.
• Ensure personnel and subcontractors meet applicable site induction, HSE training, and access requirements.
• Coordinate site work permits and operational approvals through authorized client representatives.
• Ensure field activities proceed only after required authorizations have been obtained.

6. Site Installation, Integration and Commissioning

• Develop installation and commissioning plans in coordination with engineering teams, suppliers, and client site representatives.
• Organize site surveys, installation readiness reviews, and field execution meetings.
• Coordinate the deployment of industrial hardware, control systems, instrumentation, and digital infrastructure.
• Manage subcontractors and field installation teams.
• Ensure installation activities comply with approved method statements, safety procedures, and site requirements.
• Coordinate IT/OT connectivity, system integration, testing, and commissioning activities with relevant technical specialists.
• Oversee SAT, punch‑list resolution, and operational handover.
• Coordinate preparation of as‑built documentation, commissioning records, and project closeout packages.

7. Stakeholder and Contractor Management

• Act as the primary project execution interface with client stakeholders.
• Maintain effective working relationships with client engineering, operations, maintenance, IT/OT, logistics, HSE, and security teams.
• Understand client project governance, technical approval processes, contractor requirements, and field execution procedures.
• Coordinate project activities involving multiple client departments, suppliers, and subcontractors.
• Manage stakeholder expectations and resolve execution issues through appropriate escalation channels.
• Support technical and operational approvals required to progress project activities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable client standards, procedures, and contractual obligations.

8. Project Cost, Schedule and Risk Management

• Develop and control project budgets, cost forecasts, and expenditure tracking.
• Monitor procurement costs, subcontractor costs, logistics expenses, and field execution costs.
• Manage project schedules, critical‑path activities, and resource utilization.
• Identify risks associated with equipment delivery, permits, site readiness, resource availability, and technical integration.
• Develop mitigation plans and recovery actions for schedule or cost deviations.
• Evaluate change requests and support contractual variation management.
• Provide management with regular project performance reports, forecasts, and escalation items.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation & Control Engineering, Automation Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years managing industrial automation, control systems, or oil and gas technology projects.
• Proven experience delivering projects or its operating companies is strongly preferred.
• Strong technical understanding of industrial automation, instrumentation, PLC, DCS, SCADA, industrial networking, and control systems integration.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects involving hardware procurement, engineering, installation, and commissioning.
• Practical understanding of field logistics, mobilization readiness, and site access requirements.
• Familiarity with CICPA/security pass coordination and onshore/offshore deployment procedures.
• Experience managing multiple suppliers, subcontractors, and multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Strong project planning, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Excellent English communication, negotiation, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to manage field execution activities independently and resolve operational challenges proactively.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Previous employment with an industrial automation or control systems company such as ABB, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Honeywell, Emerson, Yokogawa, or a comparable system integrator.
• Direct project delivery experience with Offshore or Onshore.
• Experience managing brownfield automation, instrumentation, control system upgrades, or industrial digitalization projects.
• Familiarity with industrial edge computing, IoT gateways, digital twins, and production monitoring solutions.
• Experience coordinating IT/OT integration and industrial cybersecurity requirements.
• Established familiarity with UAE‑based industrial equipment suppliers, installation contractors, and logistics providers.
• Experience coordinating equipment delivery and installation activities at offshore and onshore oil and gas facilities.
• PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification.
• Familiarity with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, SAP, or equivalent project management systems.
• Knowledge of applicable engineering standards, HSE procedures, and project documentation requirements.
• Valid UAE driving license.

The Project Manager will be accountable for preparing, maintaining, and coordinating the following project deliverables:

• Project execution plan, schedule, budget, and resource plan.
• Engineering and technical deliverables register.
• Procurement plan, vendor register, and equipment delivery tracker.
• Equipment logistics and field mobilization readiness plan.
• CICPA/security pass and site access readiness tracker.
• Equipment and personnel readiness documentation for coordinated field transportation.
• Installation and commissioning execution plan.
• Project risk register, issue log, and mitigation plan.
• Weekly project progress reports and management dashboards.
• FAT/SAT coordination records, commissioning documentation, and project handover package.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Our preferred candidate is an experienced Automation Project Manager, Control Systems Project Manager, or Industrial Systems Integration Project Manager who has successfully delivered multidisciplinary projects within operating environment.

The candidate should possess a strong combination of technical understanding, project management capability, commercial awareness, and practical field execution experience.

We are particularly interested in candidates who can manage the entire deployment process, from engineering and equipment procurement through supplier coordination, field readiness, site installation, integration, commissioning, and project closeout.

The successful candidate must be comfortable managing complex project dependencies and navigating engineering, operational, logistical, and security requirements.

Key Hiring Priority: A hands‑on Project Manager with an industrial automation/control systems background, proven project execution experience, and practical knowledge of procurement, field mobilization readiness, and onshore/offshore project delivery.