Technical Safety & Architectural Lead Inspector (Offshore Substation Dubai)

Thehseleader; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Thehseleader is seeking an experienced Technical Safety & Architectural Lead Inspector for a 2 GW HVDC offshore platform project. You will act as Client/Owner's Representative, overseeing fire protection, safety, and architectural outfitting from verification through offshore handover.

The role covers on-site Dubai yard work, remote coordination, and international travel, with a start in December 2026 and a 12-month contract (+ extensions).

Qualifications

• Degree or certificate in fire protection / safety engineering, mechanical engineering or naval architecture.
• Minimum 8 years in QA/QC inspection of fire protection and safety systems and/or architectural outfitting, of which at least 5 years on offshore or marine projects.
• Proven experience inspecting passive fire protection and witnessing tests of fire protection systems.
• Proven experience leading a team of inspectors.
• Experience as Lead Inspector or Owner's Inspector on offshore substations or HVDC platforms.
• Fluent English, minimum C1.
• Valid work and travel permits for Europe and UAE; willingness to travel long-term to Dubai yard and offshore.

Responsibilities

• Review contractor evidence against Employer's Requirements and assess compliance.
• Comment on documents: ITPs, FAT procedures, fire protection plans, and certification matrices.
• Define inspection points and maintain inspection register.
• Witness FATs for safety systems and lifeboats.
• Verify certificates and monitor fabrication of accommodation modules and passive fire protection.
• Carry out releases inspections and ensure proper packing before shipment.
• Inspect Dubai yard installations for passive fire protection and accommodation modules.
• Ride out daily/weekly/monthly inspection reports with KPIs.

Skills

QA/QC inspection

Offshore experience

Team leadership

Fluent English

FAT witnessing

Education

Degree in fire protection or safety engineering

Tools

Relatics

Job description

Job description

Technical Safety & Architectural Lead Inspector

Berlin, Germany (remote) → Dubai, UAE (fabrication yard) → Offshore. Contract / Long-term assignment | Start: December 2026.

We are looking for an experienced Technical Safety & Architectural Lead Inspector to act as the Client / Owner's Representative for the fire protection, safety and architectural scope of a 2 GW HVDC offshore converter platform in the Baltic Sea, built for a German transmission system operator.

The scope covers:

• Active fire protection: gaseous, foam, aerosol and helideck fire-fighting systems

• Passive fire protection: fire-rated divisions, penetrations, fire doors, windows and dampers

• Life-saving appliances and escape systems: lifeboats, life rafts, escape routes, muster areas and signage

• Architectural outfitting, including accommodation modules

You follow this scope from requirements verification to offshore handover.

Assignment Timeline

• Start: December 2026

• Contract: 12 months, with option to extend

• Work split: 50% on site in Dubai, 40% remote, 10% in Berlin

Key Responsibilities

• Review the contractor's evidence against the Employer's Requirements in the verification plan (Relatics) and recommend compliance status

• Review and comment on contractor and supplier documents, including:

  • ITPs and FAT procedures

  • fire protection plans and escape studies

  • certification matrices and test methods

• Define client hold, witness, review and surveillance points and keep the Technical Safety & Architectural inspection register up to date

• Assess Technical Queries, deviation and concession requests and NCRs

• Witness FATs for safety equipment, including:

  • foam and gaseous extinguishing systems

  • fire alarm and fire extinguishing control systems

  • lifeboats, life rafts and associated equipment

• Witness functional, discharge and integrated system tests

• Verify type approvals, Marine Equipment Directive certificates and fire test certificates

• Monitor the manufacture of accommodation modules, architectural assemblies and passive fire protection

• Carry out release inspections and verify preservation, marking and packing before shipment

• At the Dubai yard, inspect:

  • passive fire protection installations against approved certification

  • walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, insulation, stairs, ladders and handrails

  • accommodation module installation and completion

  • installation and preservation of fire-fighting and life-saving equipment

• Walk down escape routes, muster stations, emergency access routes and safety signage

• Witness commissioning, including:

  • fire detection, gaseous extinguishing and foam systems

  • helideck fire-fighting systems

  • emergency escape systems, life-saving appliances and access and egress systems

• Plan inspection coverage, coordinate the client inspection team and make sure every hold and witness point is attended

• Raise NCRs, assess root causes and verify closure of corrective and preventive actions

• Carry out mechanical completion inspections and manage close-out of A, B and C punch items

• Take part in final inspections, harbour acceptance tests (HAT) and load-out readiness reviews

• Offshore: before manning, verify that life-saving appliances and escape routes are ready, and witness fire and safety system tests and statutory inspections

• Issue daily, weekly and monthly inspection reports with KPIs (hold and witness point attendance, NCR status, punch list close-out)

• Report HSE non-conformities and take part in safety walks and HSE reviews

Required Qualifications

• Degree or certificate in fire protection / safety engineering, mechanical engineering or naval architecture

• Minimum 8 years in QA/QC inspection of fire protection and safety systems and/or architectural outfitting, of which at least 5 years on offshore or marine projects

• Proven experience inspecting passive fire protection (fire-rated divisions, penetrations, fire doors) and witnessing tests of fire-fighting and fire detection systems

• Proven experience leading a team of inspectors

• Experience as Lead Inspector, Client Representative or Owner's Inspector on offshore substations, HVDC platforms, oil & gas topsides or ships

• Experience in FAT witnessing and surveillance at international sub-suppliers

• Experience in mechanical completion, pre-commissioning and commissioning, including punch list and completion management systems

• Fluent English, minimum C1 (spoken and written)

• Valid work and travel permits for Europe and the UAE; willingness to travel to suppliers worldwide and to be deployed long-term at the Dubai yard and offshore

• Working knowledge of codes and standards, e.g. DNV-ST-0145, DNV-OS-D301, IMO FTP Code, SOLAS, IMO LSA Code, Marine Equipment Directive, CAP 437, NFPA 11, EN 54, EN 13501, EN ISO 7010

All experience must be backed by personal project references stating client, period, scope and your role.

Nice to Have

• ICorr / AMPP Passive Fire Protection Inspector certification

• VdS, NFPA or equivalent fire protection system certification

• Lifeboat and life-saving appliance inspection or service qualification

• Accommodation module fabrication and installation

• Helideck certification (CAP 437, ICAO) and EN 54 / integrated fire and gas testing

• NEBOSH International Certificate or equivalent

• Previous work on HVDC converter platforms, offshore substations or oil & gas topsides

• Experience on European projects

• DNV certification processes; yard experience in the Middle East or Asia

Additional Advantages

• German and Arabic language skills

• Valid GWO BST or OPITO BOSIET (incl. HUET) and offshore medical, or willingness to obtain them before the offshore phase

• Knowledge of BSH offshore codes and German occupational safety rules (BetrSichV, DGUV, ASR)

Why This Role

• Owner's-side position with real authority over the fire protection, safety and architectural scope

• One platform from start to finish: verification, FATs, yard, load-out and offshore commissioning (2026 to 2031)

• Lead Inspector role with your own team of inspectors at a major fabrication yard in Dubai

• Grid connection project for the German energy transition, 2 GW HVDC