Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer

McDermott International, Ltd; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 450,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Career development opportunities

Job summary

A leading engineering company in Dubai is seeking a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer passionate about solving complex engineering issues in oil and gas. This role demands over 20 years of experience and a strong background in developing innovative solutions while leading teams. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering and proven expertise in project management, ensuring compliance with specifications and codes throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in mechanical engineering design for oil and gas.
• Leadership in managing engineering teams and projects.
• Strong understanding of engineering standards and codes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage mechanical engineering teams.
• Develop innovative engineering solutions.
• Ensure compliance with project specifications and timelines.

Skills

Problem-solving

Team leadership

Innovative design

Project management

Engineering analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in Engineering

20+ years of experience in oil and gas

Tools

Engineering software

Job description

Job Overview

The Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer is tasked with solving unique and complex problems that broadly impact the business. They must proactively identify and solve the most complex problems that impact the Management and direction of the business. The Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer is considered a specialist in the field of Mechanical (Eng) and offers a broad base of knowledge about the Engineering Function. They impact the direction and resource allocation of programs and projects in their discipline and work within general functional areas.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed analyses and design as per design basis, project specifications, design codes, and standards
• Develop creative and innovative solutions that are reliable and cost‑effective for problems and challenges when they arise
• Apply expertise to the most complex problems
• Manage own time to meet objectives and, as Lead Engineer, forecast and plan resource requirements
• Develop and manage plans to achieve business objectives
• Clearly communicate and explain highly complex ideas and anticipate potential objections, influencing outcomes
• When acting as Lead Engineer:
  • Direct large Mechanical Engineering teams
  • Lead the discipline engineering design of the assigned work area and complete it within the planned schedule and budget
  • Plan, organize, and direct all aspects of discipline execution on the assigned project, including scope, deliverables, schedule, and workforce resources
  • Ensure interfaces and deliverables are clearly identified
  • Maintain responsibility for progress and productivity, identifying corrective action when needed
  • Act as project representative for the discipline during meetings with the Project Team, Customer discipline lead, and relevant agencies
• Become fully familiar with the project scope of work, specifications, schedule, and all inter‑discipline requirements
• Interpret contractual requirements as they relate to engineering execution
• Identify changes to scope and promptly raise change notifications, providing supporting documentation and estimates
• Provide similar support for Variation Orders
• Interface with all disciplines to develop clash‑free designs
• Interface with other departments to obtain input for discipline designs and drawings
• Maintain close coordination with other engineering disciplines, Planning, and Project Management Team as required
• Document substantive communications and forward copies to Discipline Lead Engineer and Discipline Manager
• Prepare estimates for bid proposals, including technical query reviews, execution statements, and man‑hour estimates
• Raise technical queries to obtain missing information, clarify work scope, and maintain preferred procedures, specifications, and standards
• Prepare, review, and, as Lead Engineer, approve discipline engineering design basis, philosophies, and technical specifications
• Participate in finalizing deliverables lists and deliverables, ensuring compliance with specifications and functional integrity
• Review project schedule and fabrication schedule in relation to construction sequence, milestones, and engineering scope
• Attend project kickoff and review meetings, vendor meetings, engineering meetings, and offshore site surveys as required
• Provide technical direction and review of designers producing products related to Mechanical Engineering
• Prepare, review, and, as Lead Engineer, approve design reports and procedures
• Assist in providing necessary design inputs to other disciplines to enable them to proceed with their deliverables
• Assist procurement personnel in procuring discipline equipment, materials, and services, ensuring compliance with customer objectives and procedures
• Assist in updating weight reports based on receipt of vendor information
• Review and approve vendor and subcontractor submittals, checking for compliance with project specifications
• Review and approve design verification through single‑discipline check / inter‑discipline check (IDC)
• Provide technical support to fabrication queries
• Keep the Discipline Manager and Project Management Team apprised of all activities and concerns, technical, budgetary, and workforce‑related
• Assist in providing inputs for actual, planning, and forecasting progress reports, including associated productivity
• Check final subcontractor and vendor data manuals to ensure all requested data has been received and approved
• Present issues and problems to customers in a timely manner and assist the Lead Engineer in negotiating resolution in accordance with project and company requirements
• Perform (as required) Technical Quality Audit reviews in accordance with global procedures
• Assist Lead Engineer with responses to customers and other agencies on their review and approval
• Capture lessons learned and enter into the lessons learned system
• Provide leadership, mentoring, and guidance to other engineers
• Supervise and guide assigned engineers and coordinate with project Lead Designers for discipline engineering and design deliverables
• Assign personnel to analyze and design tasks based on knowledge of their strengths and capabilities
• Monitor costs of own work processes and evaluate costs associated with products and solutions
• Assist in the maintenance of departmental technical guidelines and participate in the development of global procedures, software, and standards
• Incorporate approved lessons learned into engineering procedures as applicable
• Participate in standards development committees or task groups
• Present design solutions or topics at lunch‑and‑learns and other professional events
• Assist the Department Manager in identifying departmental needs, including development of personnel and technical capabilities
• Represent the company as a subject‑matter expert in internal forums
• Provide information on employee performance to the Discipline Manager and assist in interviewing job applicants
• Participate in factory acceptance testing of various items as assigned
• Identify vendor assistance for installation, pre‑commissioning, and commissioning purposes
• Update electrical load lists, PIDs, and equipment lists based on receipt of vendor information
• Participate in HAZOP meetings, 3D model reviews, and other technical meetings as required
• When acting as Lead Engineer, additionally:
• Act as project‑based discipline point of contact in communications and meetings with customer counterparts
• Ensure substantive communications are documented
• Prepare bids and the discipline engineering budget and execution plans, updating as required
• Identify project staff needs and provide requests to the discipline manager
• Plan, organize, and assign tasks, responsibilities, and man‑hour budgets to the discipline team, verifying completion within budgets
• Plan discipline level 4 detail deliverable schedule/ register compliant with the overall execution plan
• Prepare working forecasts identifying change management plans, corrective action, and real‑time schedule adjustments
• Provide discipline inputs for actual, planning, and forecasting progress reports, including associated productivity
• Alert the project team of any scope deviation or need for change order
• Monitor progress measurement results and take corrective action as necessary to improve discipline performance
• Coordinate with other discipline lead engineers and designers to ensure timely receipt of necessary design inputs
• Review and approve requisitions, technical quotation evaluations, and queries, and coordinate with procurement to expedite vendor documents
• Lead the discipline team during audits and design reviews, resolving customer and agency comments on documents and drawings
• Assist the discipline manager in preparing quarterly forecasts and workforce planning
• Anticipate project engineering needs and plan accordingly
• Coordinate with vendor for discipline‑managed/procured items
• Assist the discipline manager and project engineering manager in the performance evaluation of project team members
• Check and approve mechanical equipment list, spare parts list, and special tools list
• Check and participate in approval of detailed engineering documents/deliverables such as:
• Mechanical equipment specifications and datasheets
• Mechanical handling philosophy report and associated requisitioning for handling equipment
• Noise report prepared by a consultant to comply with project requirements
• Lubrication schedule and spare parts schedule

Reports To

Project Engineering Manager or Project Manager (Lead Engineer); Functional Supervisor or Department Manager.

Liaise With

All engineering disciplines, safety department, project management team, document control, project planner, project cost controller, QC and certification group, procurement group, subcontractors, vendors, and customers.

Supervises

Principal Mechanical Engineers, Senior Mechanical Engineers, and Mechanical Engineers.

Essential Qualifications and Education

• Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in Engineering
• 20+ years of experience in oil and gas with a major contractor or consulting firm, predominantly performing detail design
• Detailed knowledge of design techniques and analysis methods and of standards, codes, and guidelines applicable offshore
• Knowledgeable in project coordination and execution skills
• Recognized across the company as a key lead, highly innovative designer, or highly skilled analyst
• Preferably Registered Professional Engineer or member of a professional engineering society
• Seasoned knowledge of engineering standards and specifications
• Good knowledge of engineering software
• Good working knowledge of the English language
• HSE, TQM, and cost‑conscious orientation
• Good organizer, motivator, and supervisor
• Keen on improving work effectiveness
• Show flexibility and ensure proper hand‑over with regards to: