Engineering Authority

Spirit Energy; Barrow-in-Furness; Hybrid; GBP 1,107,000 - 1,661,000; Full time

Job summary

Spirit Energy’s Barrow-in-Furness site seeks an Engineering Authority to govern technical decisions, assure standards, and manage risk across the asset lifecycle. You will lead the outsourced Technical Authority service, ensuring safe operations and compliant engineering practices.

The role requires senior technical leadership, chartered status and strong governance experience, with a hybrid office pattern and a focus on continuous improvement within a mature asset portfolio.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or technology discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status preferred.
• Experience in event management and Kelvin TopSet investigations.
• Ability to make independent technical decisions under pressure.
• Knowledge of codes, standards and regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Act as Engineering Authority with authority to approve, challenge, or reject engineering decisions.
• Custodian of discipline engineering standards and asset documentation; ensure compliance.
• Approve derogations/dispensations where appropriate.
• Develop and continuously improve the Technical Authority Framework.
• Own the scope and quality of SECE performance standards.
• Identify, assess and manage technical risks to ALARP; lead risk assessments.
• Ensure engineering decisions support safe operations and lifecycle performance.
• Lead investigations and root-cause analysis; support incidents.
• Contract ownership and vendor management; Kelvin TopSet lead investigator.

Skills

Senior technical role

Regulatory frameworks

Independent decision making

Engineering judgement

Chartered Engineer

Kelvin TopSet knowledge

Change management

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer

Job description

HAVE YOU GOT SPIRIT? In operation since 1985, Barrow Gas Terminal is a key piece of the UK’s energy infrastructure and supports the Morecambe Bay gas fields. The terminal has played a long‑standing role in processing and delivering natural gas, supporting both local employment and national energy supply. With a focus on safety, environmental sustainability and community engagement, we believe in operational excellence at every stage of production. If you are ready to take the next step in your career with a dynamic and energetic team, then we are keen to hear from you.

THE OPPORTUNITY – ENGINEERING AUTHORITY

The Engineering Authority provides technical assurance, governance, and decision-making authority to ensure engineering activities are safe, compliant, and aligned with company standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practice. The role acts as the ultimate technical decision-maker within their discipline and is accountable for managing technical risk across the asset lifecycle. The role provides leadership and management of the outsourced Technical Authority service provision.

Location: Barrow-in-Furness

Duration: 2-year contract

Contract Type: PAYE

Day Rate: TBC - For your application to be progressed, please ensure you provide a PAYE day rate banding expectation.

Please note that there is no travel and accommodation allowance provided.

Please only apply if you have existing right-to-work in the UK.

Please outline notice period/availability to start.

Spirit Energy currently have a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement for all office-based workers. 4 days must be worked in the office with compulsory days being Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The fourth day worked in-office (either Monday or Friday) is of the worker’s choosing but should be in keeping with what is most efficient and effective for their team. The office is open 5 days a week for full time, in-office working if this is the contractor’s preference.

AND NOW FOR THE TECHNICAL BIT…

• Act as the designated Engineering Authority with authority to approve, challenge, or reject engineering decisions.
• Acts as custodian of discipline engineering standards and asset engineering documentation and assure their compliance.
• Provides recommendations for approval of derogations / dispensations.
• Responsible for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Technical Authority Framework.
• Overall ownership of the scope of quality of SECE performance standards.
• Ensure individual performance standards are correctly allocated to the appropriate Technical Authority.
• Identify, assess, and manage technical risks, ensuring risks are reduced to ALARP (or equivalent).
• Lead or input into hazard identification and technical risk assessments.
• Ensure engineering decisions support safe operations, asset integrity, and lifecycle performance.
• Act as an escalation point for technical non-conformances and deviations as appropriate.
• Support incident investigations by providing technical judgement and root cause analysis.
• Drive continuous improvement in engineering practices, tools, and governance.
• Contract ownership and vendor management.
• Act as a Lead investigator using Kelvin TopSet investigation techniques to support business requirements.
• Any other associated duties as reasonably required.

ABOUT YOU

• Proven experience acting in a senior technical or assurance role.
• Strong knowledge of applicable codes, standards, and regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to make independent technical decisions under pressure.
• Deep technical expertise within discipline
• Sound engineering judgement and integrity
• Degree qualified in an engineering or technology discipline
• Chartered Engineer
• Experience in event management and investigation training such as Kelvin TopSet
• In addition to technical knowledge and credibility, we are looking for someone who lives our values - Agility, Collaboration, Courage, Care, and Delivery.
• A person who embraces and supports change, while ensuring the safe and efficient operation of a mature asset.

We are a truly pioneering energy transition company with a portfolio and ambitions that span the breadth of the energy transition. We’re continuing to break new ground, collaborating and thinking differently. We’re proud of our heritage. With more than 30 years of production, we’re maximising the potential of our existing assets and substantial gas reserves in the UK and Netherlands. Above all, we live by our commitment to safety in everything we do. Our portfolio is predominantly gas (96%), providing vital, primary energy to fuel our homes and businesses in the UK and Europe.

OUR STRATEGY IS FOCUSED ON:

• Safely delivering production from our existing assets;
• Meeting and de-risking our decommissioning obligations, and
• Exploring strategic energy transition opportunities from our existing assets.