Umbilical & Fiber Opt. Cable Engineer

Hill International, Inc.; Turbigo; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering firm in Italy is seeking an experienced Umbilical & FOC Engineer to support offshore pipeline and subsea production projects. The successful candidate will develop design specifications, manage manufacturing processes, and ensure compliance with international standards. Qualifications include a Bachelor's in a relevant field, 8+ years of offshore experience, and expertise in subsea engineering. This role involves interface management, installation support, and system testing across all project phases.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in umbilical/FOC engineering for offshore projects.
• Experience with vendor follow-up, FAT/EFAT, and offshore installation.
• Strong understanding of LV electrical systems, fiber-optic communication, and hydraulic/chemical injection lines.

Responsibilities

• Develop design basis and specifications for subsea umbilical and hydraulic/chemical lines.
• Ensure compliance with API 17E/F, ISO 13628, DNV standards.
• Review umbilical installation analyses and support offshore testing.

Skills

Communication skills

Coordination skills

Documentation skills

Subsea umbilical engineering

Fiber-optic cable engineering

OTDR analysis

Electrical load calculations

Umbilical routing/design tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Subsea, or Telecommunications Engineering

Master's degree in Offshore/Subsea Engineering

Job description

Hill International is seeking a highly skilled Umbilical & FOC Engineer to support key engineering activities for large offshore pipeline and subsea production projects. The successful candidate will ensure full compliance with project requirements, international standards, and system reliability across all phases.

Responsibilities

Engineering Design & Technical Coordination

• Develop design basis and specifications for subsea umbilical, hydraulic/chemical lines, electrical cables, and fiber optics.
• Review umbilical cross‑section design, electrical loading, tube sizing, and fiber‑optic transmission performance.
• Ensure compliance with API 17E/F, ISO 13628, DNV standards.
• Review cable data sheets, P&IDs, electrical schematics, and fatigue analyses.

Manufacturing & Factory Surveillance

• Follow up vendor processes for tube welding, fiber‑optic integration, and conductor manufacturing.
• Review FAT/EFAT procedures: OTDR tests, pressure testing, continuity and insulation resistance tests.
• Ensure vendor compliance with ITPs, quality plans, and manufacturing procedures.

Installation Engineering Support

• Review umbilical installation analyses: tension, bend radius control, touch‑down behavior.
• Review pull‑in procedures (J‑tube, I‑tube, direct pull‑in).
• Support load‑out, spooling, offshore lay, termination, and testing.

Interface Management

• Interface with subsea controls for SCM power, signals, hydraulic capacities, and channel allocation.
• Interface with subsea structures for routing, supports, BU/BS selection, and tie‑in frames.
• Interface with topsides for MCS/ICSS connectivity, hang‑off, power, and communication.
• Interface with installation contractor for MBR limits, tension, and ROV operations.
• Interface with geotechnical and survey teams for seabed preparation, burial needs, and route optimization.

Testing, Commissioning & Handover

• Prepare commissioning procedures for hydraulic flushing, electrical checks, and FO communication tests.
• Support offshore OTDR tests, pressure testing, leak checks, and system energization.
• Ensure all as‑built records and QA documentation are completed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Subsea, or Telecommunications Engineering.
• Master's degree in Offshore/Subsea Engineering (preferred).
• Minimum 8 years of experience in umbilical/FOC engineering for offshore projects.
• Experience with vendor follow‑up, FAT/EFAT, and offshore installation.
• Strong communication, coordination, and documentation skills.
• Expertise in subsea umbilical and fiber‑optic cable engineering.
• Strong understanding of LV electrical systems, fiber‑optic communication, and hydraulic/chemical injection lines.
• Skilled in OTDR analysis, electrical load calculations, and umbilical routing/design tools.
• Knowledge of API 17E/F, ISO 13628, DNV‑RP‑F401 standards.