Maintenance & Systems Technical Authority

Spirit Energy; Barrow-in-Furness; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Spirit Energy is seeking a Maintenance & Systems Technical Authority to provide governance, assurance and leadership for maintenance strategies, maintenance management systems and asset care standards across operating assets. The role ensures that maintenance practices support process safety, asset integrity, reliability and regulatory compliance.

You will set and defend technical standards, approve deviations, and provide authoritative guidance to operations and projects.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in maintenance engineering within onshore or offshore operations.
• Proven experience operating in a Technical Authority or senior discipline engineer role.
• Strong understanding of maintenance strategies and reliability engineering; safety critical equipment and barrier management.
• Demonstrated ability to make and defend risk-based technical decisions in a high-hazard environment.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Technical Authority for maintenance and maintenance systems within defined scope.
• Approve or reject technical deviations, dispensations, and non-conformances related to maintenance activities and systems.
• Ensure compliance with applicable legislation, standards, and company requirements, including UK HSE regulatory regimes; COMAH, Safety Case and SEMS requirements.
• Ensure maintenance regimes support process safety barriers, statutory integrity requirements, and production availability.
• Provide technical oversight of critical equipment maintenance, safety critical elements, performance standards and assurance activities.
• Support failure investigations as required.
• Act as technical owner for maintenance management systems.
• Ensure maintenance systems support maintenance strategy execution; defect management and backlog control; regulatory and safety case/COMAH reporting.
• Provide technical leadership for system upgrades, configuration changes, and data quality improvements.
• Provide maintenance technical assurance into asset integrity reviews, internal and external audits and regulatory engagements.
• Contribute to competence frameworks and technical capability development.
• Provide constructive challenge and technical escalation where standards or safety may be compromised.
• Act as a Lead investigator using Kelvin TopSet investigation techniques to support business requirements.

Skills

Maintenance engineering

Technical Authority

Risk-based decisions

Asset integrity

Education

Degree in engineering

Chartered Engineer

Tools

Kelvin TopSet

Job description

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.

THE OPPORTUNITY – MAINTENANCE & SYSTEMS TECHNICAL AUTHORITY

The Maintenance & Systems Technical Authority provides technical governance, assurance and leadership for maintenance strategies, maintenance management systems, and asset care standards across the operating assets.

The role ensures that maintenance practices and systems protect process safety, asset integrity, reliability, and regulatory compliance throughout the asset lifecycle.

Acting as the discipline Technical Authority, the role holder has accountability for setting and enforcing standards, approving technical deviations, and providing authoritative guidance to operations and projects.

Duration: 2-year contract

Contract Type: PAYE

Day Rate: TBC

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.

In role, you will be required to:

• Act as the Technical Authority for maintenance and maintenance systems within defined scope.
• Approve or reject technical deviations, dispensations, and non‑conformances related to maintenance activities and systems.
• Ensure compliance with applicable legislation, standards, and company requirements, including UK HSE regulatory regimes; COMAH, Safety Case and SEMS requirements; and Industry standards.
• Ensure maintenance regimes support process safety barriers, statutory integrity requirements, and production availability.
• Provide technical oversight of critical equipment maintenance, safety critical elements, performance standards and assurance activities
• Support failure investigations as required.
• Act as technical owner for maintenance management systems.
• Ensure maintenance systems support maintenance strategy execution; defect management and backlog control; regulatory and safety case/COMAH reporting.
• Provide technical leadership for system upgrades, configuration changes, and data quality improvements.
• Provide maintenance technical assurance into asset integrity reviews, internal and external audits and regulatory engagements.
• Contribute to competence frameworks and technical capability development.
• Provide constructive challenge and technical escalation where standards or safety may be compromised.
• Act as a Lead investigator using Kelvin TopSet investigation techniques to support business requirements.
• Any other associated duties as reasonably required.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in this role, we are looking for:

• Extensive experience in maintenance engineering within onshore or offshore operations
• Proven experience operating in a Technical Authority or senior discipline engineer role
• Strong understanding of maintenance strategies and reliability engineering; safety critical equipment and barrier management; maintenance systems and work management processes
• Demonstrated ability to make and defend risk‑based technical decisions in a high‑hazard environment
• 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.