Senior Engineer, Technical Safety

Oman Investment Authority; Muscat; On-site; OMR 25,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

OQEP seeks a Technical Safety Engineer to support project delivery with emphasis on hazard identification, risk assessment, and SIS/Fire & Gas design. The role requires a Chemical/Process/Mechanical engineering background and 6+ years in upstream oil, gas, or petrochemical contexts.

You will review P&IDs, safety documents, and MAH registers, perform quantitative risk analyses with PHAST or Safeti, and contribute to Safety Cases while ensuring IEC 61508/61511 and international standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical/Process/Mechanical engineering required.
• 6+ years in technical safety engineering in upstream oil and gas.
• English proficiency; Arabic desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support safety activities across project delivery, ensuring compliance.
• Conduct hazard identification and risk assessments (HAZID/HAZOP/What-If/Bow-Tie).
• Review SIS and Fire & Gas philosophy documentation.
• Perform quantitative and qualitative risk assessments using industry tools.
• Maintain Safety Case and MAH registers.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng)

IEC 61511 certification

Tools

PHAST

Safeti

FRED

Job description

Education Bachelor of Technology/Engineering(Chemical)

Industry Software Development / Backend Engineering

Provide technical safety engineering support across OQEP's project delivery activities, ensuring that technical safety requirements are identified, assessed, and incorporated into project designs, engineering documents, and operational philosophies in compliance with applicable standards, regulations, and OQEP's HSSE framework. The position will act in accordance with the OQEP s Mission, Vision, Values & Strategies, as well as, policies, guidelines, and international standards, supported by an IT Technology platform, QHSE & Energy Management System requirements standards, Omani s government & other legal justifications, and best international practices in consonance with national objectives.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

• Support the execution of technical safety engineering activities across OQEP's project delivery portfolio, ensuring compliance with applicable international standards, codes, and OQEP's engineering specifications.
• Participate in and contribute to hazard identification and risk assessment studies including HAZID, HAZOP, What-If analyses, and Bow-Tie analyses for projects and operational facilities.
• Support the development and review of technical safety deliverables including Safety Concept documents, Fire & Gas Philosophy, Escape, Evacuation & Rescue (EER) Philosophy, and Safety Instrumented System (SIS) documentation.
• Perform quantitative and qualitative risk assessments including consequence modelling, dispersion analysis, fire and explosion modelling using industry-standard tools (e.g., PHAST, Safeti, or equivalent).
• Review engineering design documents, P&IDs, equipment datasheets, and layout drawings from a technical safety perspective, identifying hazards and recommending design modifications to reduce risk to ALARP.
• Support the development and maintenance of Safety Cases and Major Accident Hazard (MAH) registers for OQEP's operated facilities and projects.
• Contribute to the specification, design review, and testing of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and Fire & Gas detection systems in accordance with IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 standards.
• Participate in pre-FEED, FEED, and detailed design technical safety reviews, ensuring technical safety requirements are addressed at each project phase.
• Support the preparation and review of technical safety documentation for regulatory submissions and engineering authority approvals.
• Liaise with project engineers, discipline leads, contractors, and vendors on technical safety matters throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support post-incident investigations and safety performance reviews, contributing technical safety expertise to root cause analysis and lessons-learned processes.
• Maintain accurate technical safety documentation including risk registers, study reports, and engineering assessments.
• Stay current with developments in technical safety standards, regulations, and industry best practices, and recommend updates to OQEP's engineering guidelines accordingly.
• Actively participate in, contribute to, and promote OQEP's occupational health, safety, security, and environment culture.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Key interactions

• Internal: Projects Delivery function, HSSE function, Operations function, Engineering disciplines within Operated Assets, Maintenance function.
• External: Engineering contractors and consultants, specialist technical safety consultants, equipment vendors, third-party inspection and certification bodies, regulatory authorities.

Notable Working Conditions.

• Office and field environment, intensive computer screen use, occasional travel to project sites and operated asset locations, exposure to operational hazards in accordance with OQEP HSE standards.

Desired Candidate Profile

Education requirements

• Required: Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Preferred: Postgraduate qualification or professional certifications such as Chartered Engineer (CEng), Functional Safety Engineer (T V or equivalent), or IEC 61511 certification; training in HAZOP facilitation or quantitative risk assessment is an advantage.
• Language: Excellent knowledge of written, read, and spoken English (required) | Arabic - Native (desirable)

Background and experience

• 6+ years of relevant experience in technical safety engineering within the upstream Oil & Gas, petrochemical, or refining industry.
• Experience supporting or conducting hazard identification and risk assessment studies (HAZID, HAZOP, QRA).
• Familiarity with consequence modelling and risk assessment tools (e.g., PHAST, Safeti, FRED, or equivalent).
• Knowledge of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and functional safety standards (IEC 61508, IEC 61511).
• Exposure to Fire & Gas system design and philosophy development.
• Familiarity with applicable international standards including API, IEC, NFPA, and IP codes relevant to technical safety.
• Experience working on oil and gas projects across pre-FEED, FEED, or detailed design phases is preferred.

Competencies and skills

• Soft: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Good communication skills, verbal and written. Attention to detail and high level of technical accuracy. Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary project teams. Self-motivated with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving technical safety issues. Ability to manage competing priorities in a project environment. Cultural sensitivity in a multinational environment.
• Technical: Computer literacy including MS Office and engineering software. Hazard identification and risk assessment methodologies (HAZID, HAZOP, What-If, Bow-Tie). Quantitative and qualitative risk assessment techniques. Consequence modelling tools (PHAST, Safeti, FRED, or equivalent). Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and functional safety (IEC 61508, IEC 61511). Fire & Gas detection system design and philosophy. Safety Case development and Major Accident Hazard (MAH) management. Process safety engineering principles. Applicable international standards (API, IEC, NFPA, IP codes). Technical documentation and report writing.