Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer - EPC

Mc Dermott; Dubai; On-site; AED 558,000 - 781,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Exposure to major energy infrastructure

Opportunities for mentoring engineering teams

Job summary

Mc Dermott is seeking a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer in Dubai. This role involves leading mechanical engineering efforts for major Oil & Energy projects, ensuring compliance with all engineering standards. The candidate must have a strong background in conceptual design and project execution, and will manage engineering deliverables while mentoring junior engineers.

The position offers an estimated salary range of 50,000-70,000. This is a full-time role requiring extensive experience in the field.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in mechanical engineering for major Oil & Energy projects, preferably within EPC.
• Proven ability to act as Lead Engineer on complex mechanical engineering scopes.
• Strong background in project specifications, design codes, and engineering standards.

Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed mechanical engineering analyses and design.
• Lead mechanical discipline design execution for assigned project areas.
• Manage engineering deliverables and ensure compliance with project specifications.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

EPC project execution

Conceptual design

FEED engineering

Detailed engineering

Communication skills

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

3D modeling software

P&ID software

Job description

Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer – EPC (Full‑time)

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Oil & Energy | Function: Mechanical Engineering | Experience: Senior principal level

Salary: 50,000-70,000 (estimated, confirm with employer)

Gender: Any | Candidate Nationality: Any

Overview

Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer – EPC in Dubai is an entry for an experienced mechanical engineering specialist with strong capability in conceptual design, FEED, detailed engineering, technical leadership, vendor coordination, offshore site support, and complex EPC project execution. The role is suited for a high‑level engineering professional who can solve critical technical problems, lead large discipline teams, manage engineering deliverables, and support safe, efficient, and cost‑effective project delivery across major energy projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed mechanical engineering analyses and design in line with design basis, project specifications, engineering codes, and applicable standards.
• Develop reliable, practical, and cost‑effective engineering solutions for complex mechanical design and execution challenges.
• Apply specialist mechanical engineering expertise to high‑impact project issues that affect schedule, budget, technical quality, and project delivery.
• Manage assigned engineering tasks, priorities, and deliverables while forecasting resource needs when acting in a lead capacity.
• Communicate complex technical ideas clearly and influence outcomes during engineering discussions, client meetings, reviews, and internal decision‑making.
• Lead mechanical discipline design execution for assigned project areas, ensuring work is completed within approved schedule, budget, standards, MOR requirements, and project‑specific procedures.
• Plan, organize, and direct discipline scope, deliverables, schedule, engineering resources, and manpower allocations in coordination with the Discipline Manager.
• Confirm that discipline interfaces, design inputs, deliverables, and project dependencies are clearly identified and properly managed.
• Monitor engineering progress and productivity, identify deviations, and recommend corrective actions to improve discipline performance.
• Represent the mechanical discipline in meetings with project teams, customer discipline leads, certifying authorities, auditors, third parties, and other agencies.
• Review project scope, specifications, schedules, construction sequence, fabrication milestones, and inter‑discipline requirements to identify concerns early.
• Interpret contractual requirements related to mechanical engineering execution and support proper compliance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Identify changes in scope, raise change notifications, prepare supporting documentation, and assist with variation order requirements.
• Coordinate with all engineering disciplines to support clash‑free design and timely receipt of required design inputs.
• Maintain close alignment with planning, procurement, project management, fabrication, and other project teams.
• Document substantive technical communications that result in major decisions or assigned actions and share them with discipline leadership.
• Prepare bid proposal inputs including technical query reviews, execution statements, manhour estimates, software requirements, and project‑specific engineering assumptions.
• Raise technical queries to clarify missing information, work scope, preferred procedures, standards, practices, and operational requirements.
• Prepare, review, and approve mechanical engineering design basis documents, philosophies, technical specifications, design reports, and procedures.
• Finalize discipline deliverable lists and ensure completed documents meet project specifications and functional integrity requirements.
• Attend project kickoff meetings, design review meetings, vendor meetings, engineering meetings, offshore site surveys, and technical workshops as required.
• Provide technical direction to designers and review mechanical engineering outputs for quality, accuracy, and compliance.
• Support procurement activities by preparing and reviewing requisitions, technical quotation evaluations, queries, bid tabulations, purchase requisitions, and vendor document reviews.
• Review vendor and subcontractor submittals to confirm compliance with project specifications and provide clear technical comments.
• Update weight reports, electrical load lists, P & IDs, and equipment lists based on vendor information when required.
• Review and approve design verification through single‑discipline checks and inter‑discipline checks.
• Provide technical support for fabrication queries, construction interfaces, installation requirements, pre‑commissioning support, and commissioning‑related vendor assistance.
• Check final vendor and subcontractor data manuals to ensure all requested documentation has been received and approved.
• Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing for assigned mechanical equipment and project items.
• Participate in HAZOP meetings, 3D model reviews, project audits, technical quality audits, and design reviews as required.
• Capture lessons learned and enter them into the applicable McDermott lessons learned system.
• Provide leadership, mentoring, technical guidance, and performance input for engineers and designers within the discipline.
• Assign tasks based on engineer capability, monitor discipline costs, evaluate solution costs, and support continuous improvement of technical guidelines.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of global procedures, software, engineering standards, and departmental technical capability.
• Represent the company as a mechanical engineering subject matter expert in forums, technical discussions, seminars, or knowledge‑sharing sessions.
• Review and approve mechanical equipment lists, spare parts lists, special tools lists, equipment specifications, datasheets, handling philosophy reports, noise reports, lubrication schedules, and related mechanical deliverables.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Extensive experience in mechanical engineering for major Oil & Energy projects, preferably within EPC, offshore, subsea, onshore, or large industrial energy environments.
• Strong background in conceptual design, FEED, detailed engineering, equipment specification, technical documentation, and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Proven ability to act as Lead Engineer or senior discipline authority on complex mechanical engineering scopes.
• Strong knowledge of project specifications, design codes, engineering standards, MOR procedures, technical quality requirements, and project execution workflows.
• Experience preparing and approving mechanical design basis documents, philosophies, specifications, datasheets, reports, requisitions, technical evaluations, and vendor documentation.
• Practical understanding of procurement support, bid evaluations, fabrication support, construction queries, vendor coordination, FAT participation, pre‑commissioning, and commissioning interface requirements.
• Ability to lead large engineering teams, assign tasks, monitor productivity, control manpower budgets, and resolve technical or schedule‑related issues.
• Experience with 3D model reviews, HAZOP participation, IDC reviews, technical audits, client reviews, offshore site surveys, and project execution meetings.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to explain technical issues clearly to clients, project teams, discipline leads, vendors, auditors, and certifying authorities.
• Ability to anticipate project engineering needs, identify risks early, and plan corrective actions in a dynamic project environment.
• Strong mentoring mindset with the ability to guide engineers, develop technical capability, and support discipline leadership.

Skills Set

• Mechanical engineering
• EPC project execution
• Conceptual design
• FEED engineering
• Detailed engineering
• Mechanical equipment design
• Mechanical equipment specifications
• Mechanical datasheets
• Mechanical handling philosophy
• Equipment lists
• Spare parts lists
• Special tools lists
• Vendor document review
• Technical bid evaluation
• Purchase requisitions
• Mechanical design basis
• Engineering philosophies
• Design reports
• Engineering procedures
• P & ID review
• Weight reports
• Electrical load list updates
• Fabrication support
• Construction technical queries
• Pre‑commissioning support
• Commissioning support
• Factory Acceptance Testing
• HAZOP
• 3D model review
• Inter‑discipline checks
• Technical quality audits
• Offshore site surveys
• Project schedule review
• Manhour forecasting
• Discipline budget control
• Engineering leadership
• Team mentoring
• Client technical coordination
• Vendor coordination
• Oil and Energy project delivery

Why Join Us

This opportunity is ideal for a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer – EPC who wants to contribute to technically demanding Oil and Energy projects from Dubai while taking ownership of complex mechanical engineering scopes. The role offers exposure to major energy infrastructure, advanced project execution, client‑facing technical leadership, vendor and fabrication interfaces, and opportunities to mentor engineering teams. It is a strong career move for a senior mechanical engineering professional who wants to influence project outcomes, support innovation, and contribute to safe and sustainable energy delivery.

About the Company

McDermott International, Ltd is a global engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and project delivery company serving the energy industry. With more than 100 years of experience, the company supports offshore, subsea, onshore, and energy transition projects through integrated engineering expertise, fabrication resources, marine capability, and disciplined project execution. Its teams work across international markets to deliver complex energy infrastructure safely, efficiently, and sustainably.