Senior Principal Engineer - Structural

Mc Dermott; Dubai; On-site; AED 391,000 - 558,000; Full time

Job summary

McDermott International, Ltd is seeking a Senior Principal Engineer - Structural in Dubai to lead complex design across offshore and onshore structures. You will direct discipline resources, ensure technical integrity, and guide EPC project execution from concept through fabrication.

The ideal candidate brings 20+ years in oil and gas, expert knowledge of structural standards, and proven leadership of multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering.
• Minimum 20 years of oil and gas industry experience.
• Extensive detailed-design experience with a major contractor or engineering consultant.
• Professional Engineer registration or membership preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed structural analyses and designs.
• Ensure engineering work complies with design bases, project specifications, codes, and standards.
• Prepare calculations, design reports, specifications, procedures and engineering guides.
• Lead medium and large structural engineering teams as Lead Engineer.
• Define scope, deliverables, schedules, and resource allocations.
• Provide mentoring and conduct engineering checks.

Skills

Structural engineering

FEED design

Detailed engineering

Offshore structures

Topsides

Jackets

Fatigue analysis

Seismic analysis

Hydrodynamic analysis

Weight control

Center-of-gravity analysis

EPC project leadership

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering

Job description

Senior Principal Engineer - Structural

Job Snapshot

Position Overview

The Senior Principal Engineer - Structural position in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is an expert-level engineering opportunity within the Oil and Energy industry. McDermott International seeks a structural engineering specialist to solve complex design challenges, lead major EPC projects, direct discipline resources, and maintain the technical integrity of offshore and onshore structures.

Job Details

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• City: Dubai
• Industry: Oil and Energy
• Function: Structural
• Salary: AED 35000-50000 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 Senior Principal Structural Engineer serves as a discipline authority whose decisions influence project direction, resource allocation, technical standards, and business performance. The position combines specialist structural analysis with engineering leadership across conceptual design, FEED, detailed engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, and project controls.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed structural analyses and designs.
• Ensure engineering work complies with the design basis, project specifications, codes, and standards.
• Prepare accurate calculations, design reports, specifications, procedures, and engineering guides.
• Resolve complex and nonstandard structural engineering problems.
• Develop innovative solutions for technically challenging project requirements.
• Lead medium and large structural engineering teams when assigned as Lead Engineer.
• Plan discipline scope, deliverables, schedules, workforce requirements, and resource allocations.
• Manage engineering work within approved schedules, budgets, and project procedures.
• Monitor progress and productivity and implement corrective measures when required.
• Represent the structural discipline in meetings with project teams, clients, auditors, certifying authorities, and third parties.
• Coordinate engineering interfaces and obtain required information from other disciplines.
• Support multi-office project execution teams and monitor assigned engineering activities.
• Supervise Structural Engineers, Senior Engineers, and Designers.
• Mentor personnel and provide specialist technical guidance.
• Conduct technical peer reviews and engineering checks.
• Verify drafting work and calculations prepared by other discipline personnel.
• Perform single-discipline design checks and support interdisciplinary reviews.
• Prepare structural material take-offs.
• Define engineering, construction, and fabrication-yard scopes of work.
• Prepare technical specifications, subcontract documentation, and bid evaluations.
• Review vendor information and supplier deliverables.
• Develop project bids using preliminary information and engineering experience.
• Prepare structural analyses for topsides, jackets, FPSOs, complex structures, and architectural elements.
• Support underground piping layouts and related structural requirements.
• Produce weight-control and center-of-gravity reports.
• Perform or review geotechnical, steel, concrete, dynamic, fatigue, seismic, blast, hydrodynamic, and finite-element analyses.
• Apply relevant international design codes, including EC, ACI, AISC, API, and GOST.
• Review designs for operability, constructability, and maintainability.
• Set up engineering computer systems required for project execution.
• Assist project management with deliverable control, schedules, progress reports, and estimates.
• Prepare manhour and capital-expenditure estimates.
• Manage structural design subcontracts.
• Identify, document, and control changes in project scope.
• Maintain complete engineering records and filing.
• Provide engineering support to construction sites and fabrication yards.
• Contribute to departmental procedures, systems, knowledge, and continuous improvement.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor 's or Master 's degree in Engineering.
• Minimum 20 years of oil and gas industry experience.
• Extensive detailed-design experience with a major contractor or engineering consultant.
• Professional Engineer registration or membership in an applicable professional society is preferred.
• Expert knowledge of structural engineering standards and specifications.
• Strong technical experience with offshore and onshore structures.
• Proficiency in relevant structural analysis and engineering software.
• Able to work independently and make high-impact technical decisions.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and major EPC projects.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of fabrication and construction requirements.
• Effective organizer, supervisor, mentor, and technical communicator.
• Good written and spoken English.
• Committed to HSE, total quality management, technical quality, and cost control.
• Flexible regarding assignments to other offices, departments, construction sites, and fabrication yards.

Skills Set

• Structural engineering
• Conceptual and FEED design
• Detailed engineering
• Offshore structures
• Topsides
• Jackets
• FPSO structures
• Steel structures
• Concrete structures
• Geotechnical engineering
• Finite-element analysis
• Dynamic calculations
• Fatigue analysis
• Seismic analysis
• Blast analysis
• Hydrodynamic analysis
• Weight control
• Center-of-gravity analysis
• ACI codes
• AISC codes
• API codes
• European codes
• GOST standards
• Material take-offs
• Technical bid evaluations
• Design verification
• Constructability reviews
• EPC project leadership
• Resource planning
• Cost and schedule control
• Team mentoring

Why Join Us

This position offers the opportunity to shape structural-engineering decisions across technically demanding energy projects. The successful candidate will act as a discipline authority, guide major EPC execution, mentor engineering teams, and develop solutions for complex offshore and onshore structures throughout the project lifecycle.

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.