Lead I&C Commissioning Engineer
Acwa
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Job summary
ACWA Power in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province is seeking a Lead I&C Commissioning Engineer to oversee instrument and control commissioning of a utility-scale CCGT plant, ensuring compliance with OTS, EPC contracts and international standards.
The role requires strong field instrumentation, SIS/F&G oversight, package PLC systems, and close collaboration with Lead DCS Commissioning Engineer; you will witness critical tests, manage risk, review procedures, and drive turnover and COD readiness.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Instrumentation Engineering, Control Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
- Minimum 12 years of direct I&C commissioning experience in utility-scale CCGT plants.
- Lead I&C commissioning experience or equivalent senior leadership role.
- Experience with SIS, F&G, DCS, and package PLC systems.
- Strong knowledge of IEC/ISA standards and safety requirements.
Responsibilities
- Provide technical oversight of EPC Contractor's I&C commissioning activities.
- Witness critical commissioning and recommend owner acceptance.
- Coordinate with Lead DCS Commissioning Engineer during testing.
- Review method statements, test procedures, turnover docs.
- Ensure compliance with OTS, EPC contracts, OEM recommendations, and standards.
- Maintain HSE compliance and PTW/LOTO procedures.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
The Lead Instrumentation & Control (I&C) Commissioning Engineer represents the Owner during the commissioning phase of a utility-scale Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) Power Plant. The role is responsible for providing technical oversight of the EPC Contractor’s Instrumentation & Control commissioning activities, ensuring all work is executed safely, in accordance with the EPC Contract, Owner’s Technical Specifications (OTS), OEM recommendations, project procedures, and applicable international standards.
The position focuses on field instrumentation, package control systems, PLCs, Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), Fire & Gas Systems (F&G), and associated interfaces. The role works closely with the Lead DCS Commissioning Engineer, who has primary responsibility for oversight of the Distributed Control System (DCS), including system architecture, software configuration, networking, and overall control system functionality.
The Lead I&C Commissioning Engineer provides technical leadership, identifies commissioning risks, monitors EPC performance, witnesses critical commissioning activities, and supports the successful achievement of project milestones through to Commercial Operation Date (COD).
Key Responsibilities
- Provide technical oversight of the EPC Contractor’s Instrumentation & Control commissioning activities.
- Monitor commissioning progress to ensure compliance with approved procedures, project schedule, and contractual requirements.
- Verify commissioning activities are carried out in accordance with the Owner’s Technical Specifications (OTS), EPC Contract, OEM recommendations, and applicable international standards.
- Witness critical commissioning activities and provide technical recommendations for Owner acceptance.
- Identify technical risks and recommend mitigation measures to the Commissioning Manager.
- Monitor EPC Contractor performance and raise concerns regarding quality, safety, schedule, or technical compliance.
Review and provide technical comments on the EPC Contractor’s:
- Method Statements
- Functional Test Procedures
- Loop Check Procedures
- Startup Procedures
- SAT Documentation
- Turnover Packages
- Red-Line Drawings
- As-Built Documentation.
Ensure all documentation complies with project requirements before commissioning activities commence.
Field Instrumentation
Provide technical oversight of commissioning activities related to:
- Pressure Instruments
- Temperature Instruments
- Flow Instruments
- Level Instruments
- Analytical Instruments
- Smart Field Devices
- Control Valves
- Motor Operated Valves (MOVs)
- On-Off Valves
- Instrument Air Systems
- Sampling Systems
- Instrument Calibration
- Loop Checking
Ensure commissioning activities are completed in accordance with approved procedures and project specifications.
Package Control Systems
Oversee commissioning of package-mounted PLC and local control systems, including but not limited to:
- Water Treatment Plant
- Fuel Gas System
- Air Compressors
- HVAC Systems
- Chemical Dosing Systems
- Auxiliary Boilers (where applicable)
- Balance of Plant Packages
Verify successful integration between package control systems and the plant DCS.
Functional Testing
Witness and monitor:
- Loop Checks
- Functional Testing
- Interlock Testing
- Permissive Testing
- Sequence Testing
- Valve Stroke Testing
- Instrument Functional Testing
- Package Interface Testing
- Integrated System Testing
Coordinate closely with the Lead DCS Commissioning Engineer during integrated testing activities.
Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) & Fire & Gas (F&G)
Provide technical oversight of:
- SIS Field Devices
- Functional Testing
- Proof Testing
- Interface Testing
- Final Acceptance Testing
Ensure compliance with Functional Safety requirements and project specifications.
Mechanical Completion & System Turnover
- Participate in Mechanical Completion inspections.
- Support Ready for Commissioning (RFC) verification.
- Participate in system walkdowns.
- Monitor I&C punch list close-out.
- Support System Completion (ECC/TOP) activities.
- Verify system readiness for Owner acceptance.
Startup & Performance Testing
Monitor and witness EPC Contractor activities during:
- Cold Commissioning
- First Energization
- First Fire
- Reliability Run
- Performance Testing
- Commercial Operation Readiness
Provide technical recommendations to the Commissioning Manager regarding system readiness and acceptance.
Interface Management
Coordinate closely with:
- Lead DCS Commissioning Engineer
- Lead Electrical Commissioning Engineer
- Lead Mechanical Commissioning Engineer
- Construction Team
- Quality Team
- HSE Team
- Planning & Controls Manager
- System Completion (ECC/TOP) Team
- EPC Contractor
- OEM Representatives
Ensure effective coordination across all commissioning disciplines.
Reporting
- Monitor commissioning progress against the approved schedule.
- Identify technical issues affecting commissioning progress.
- Report commissioning risks and recommend mitigation measures.
- Review of EPC commissioning reports.
- Prepare Owner observations and recommendations.
- Support weekly and monthly commissioning progress reporting.
Health, Safety & Quality
- Promote a Zero Harm safety culture.
- Ensure compliance with project HSE requirements.
- Verify commissioning activities are conducted under approved Permit-to-Work (PTW) and Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO) procedures.
- Ensure compliance with project Quality Management requirements.
- Promote safe commissioning practices throughout all project phases.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Instrumentation Engineering, Control Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or an equivalent engineering discipline from a recognized university.
- Professional Engineer (PE), Chartered Engineer (CEng), or equivalent professional registration is desirable.
- Certification or formal training in Functional Safety (IEC 61511), ISA, or equivalent is considered an advantage.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
Experience
- Minimum 12 years of direct Instrumentation & Control commissioning experience in utility-scale Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plants.
- Minimum 5 years of experience as a Lead I&C Commissioning Engineer or in a comparable senior commissioning leadership role.
- Proven experience in commissioning at least two utility-scale Combined Cycle Power Plants, including one project with an installed capacity of 1,900 MW or greater.
- Demonstrated experience across the full commissioning lifecycle, including:
- Construction Support
- Mechanical Completion
- First Fire
- Reliability Run
- Performance Testing
- Commercial Operation (COD)
- Previous experience representing the Owner, Owner’s Engineer, or EPC Contractor on major power generation projects.
- Demonstrated experience in overseeing EPC Contractor commissioning activities and coordinating with OEMs and package vendors.
- Strong experience with System Completion processes, including Mechanical Completion, Ready for Commissioning (RFC), ECC/TOP, Turnover, and Handover.
Demonstrated experience with:
- Field Instrumentation
- Instrument Calibration
- Loop Checking
- Smart Instruments
- Control Valves
- Motor Operated Valves (MOVs)
- Instrument Air Systems
- Package PLC Systems
- Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS)
- Turbine Package Interfaces
- HRSG Instrumentation
- Balance of Plant Instrumentation
- Communication Protocols (Modbus, Profibus, Foundation Fieldbus, HART, Ethernet/IP or equivalent)
- Functional Testing
- Interlock Testing
- System Integration Testing
- System Turnover and Handover
Knowledge
Sound knowledge of:
- Combined Cycle Power Plant systems and operation
- Commissioning management principles
- EPC Contract Execution
- Owner’s Technical Specifications (OTS)
- IEC Standards
- ISA Standards
- IEEE Standards (as applicable)
- Functional Safety (IEC 61511)
- Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001)
- HSE Management Systems
- Permit-to-Work (PTW)
- Technical Leadership
- Planning and Organizing
- Analytical Thinking
- Problem Solving
- Decision Making
- Communication and Presentation Skills
- Stakeholder Management
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
- Attention to Detail
- Safety Leadership
- Quality Focus
- Results Orientation
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Zero Lost Time Incidents (LTI) are attributable to I&C commissioning activities.
- I&C commissioning activities completed in accordance with the approved project schedule.
- Successful completion of all loop checks, functional tests, and integrated system tests.
- Timely closure of I&C punch list items.
- Successful completion of startup, synchronization, reliability run, and performance testing milestones.
- Timely completion of System Completion (ECC/TOP) and Owner handover activities.
- Effective oversight of EPC Contractor commissioning performance.
- Timely identification and mitigation of commissioning risks.
- High-quality commissioning documentation and turnover packages.
- Positive collaboration with internal stakeholders, EPC Contractor, OEMs, and Owner’s Engineer.
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