Senior Principal Engineer - Process

Wood; Chennai District; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Wood is seeking a Lead/Principal Process Engineer (FPSO) to lead process design and engineering for FPSO projects across proposals, FEED, detailed engineering, and execution. The role requires strong offshore processing expertise, leadership, and cross-office coordination with multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities include leading process design for topsides, developing PFDs/P&IDs and simulations, and serving as Technical Authority while ensuring API/ISO/IEC/ASME compliance and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in chemical engineering.
• Strong team leadership and mentoring capability.
• Decision-making in high-pressure project environments.
• Stakeholder management with clients, contractors, and vendors.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work in a multicultural, global environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead process design and engineering activities for FPSO topsides (oil, gas, water separation; gas compression; produced water treatment; crude stabilization and storage).
• Develop and review PFDs, P&IDs, heat and material balances, and simulation models (HYSYS, Aspen Plus, UniSim).
• Head project execution across concept, FEED, detailed engineering, and brownfield modifications.
• Act as Technical Authority for process discipline; review key technical decisions and deliverables; provide debottlenecking solutions.
• Ensure safety and compliance with API, ISO, IEC, ASME; lead HAZID/HAZOP/SIL studies, risk assessments, and safety reviews.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary interfaces with mechanical, piping, instrumentation, electrical, and structural teams; liaise with clients, licensors, vendors, and classification societies.
• Provide input for bids and proposals; assist in cost estimation and scope definition; participate in client presentations and clarifications.
• Lead and mentor a team of process engineers; conduct technical reviews and training; guide junior engineers in design practices.

Skills

Team leadership

Mentoring

Stakeholder management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Multicultural environment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering

Master’s degree in chemical engineering

Job description

The Lead/Principal Process Engineer (FPSO) will be responsible for leading the process design and engineering activities for Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) projects across proposals, FEED, detailed engineering, and execution phases. The role demands strong technical expertise in offshore oil & gas processing systems, leadership capability, and interface coordination with multidisciplinary teams located in multiple offices.

Responsibilities

• Process Engineering & Design
• Lead process design for FPSO topsides, including:
  • Oil, gas, and water separation systems
  • Gas compression and treatment systems
  • Produced water treatment
  • Crude stabilization and storage
• Develop and review Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), Heat & Material Balances, Process calculations and simulation models (HYSYS, Aspen Plus, UniSim, etc.)
• Project Execution – lead process team across project phases: Conceptual studies, FEED, Detailed engineering, Brownfield modifications
• Technical Authority & Decision Making – act as Technical Authority for process discipline in FPSO projects, review and approve key technical decisions and engineering deliverables, provide solutions to complex process challenges, including debottlenecking and optimization
• Safety & Compliance – ensure compliance with International standards (API, ISO, IEC, ASME) and Offshore regulations (NORSOK, DNV, ABS); lead and participate in HAZID / HAZOP / SIL studies, risk assessments and safety reviews
• Multidisciplinary Coordination – interface with Mechanical, piping, instrumentation, electrical, and structural disciplines; coordinate with Clients, licensors, vendors, and classification societies
• Proposal & Business Development Support – provide technical input for bids and proposals, cost estimation and scope definition, participate in client presentations and technical clarifications
• Team Leadership & Mentoring – lead and mentor a team of process engineers, conduct technical reviews and training sessions, guide junior engineers in design practices and standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s / master’s degree in chemical engineering
• Strong team leadership and mentoring capability
• Decision-making in high-pressure project environments
• Stakeholder management (clients, contractors, vendors)
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work in a multicultural, global environment

Diversity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer that recognises the value of a diverse workforce. All suitably qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective criteria and without regard to the following (which is a non-exhaustive list): race, colour, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other characteristics in accordance with the relevant governing laws.