Principal Process Engineer

McDermott•Houston, TX

15h

About The Position

Provides technical leadership and supervises assigned staff on major projects. Performs complex process engineering design, analysis, and development for assigned project scopes and deliverables, including conceptual process design, process simulations, heat and material balances, and P&ID and PFD development. Work may also include conceptual studies, cost and planning studies, layouts, design calculations, and equipment and material specifications. Communicates complex technical solutions to engineers and non-engineers, trains and mentors other engineers, and supports the development of new technologies and methods. This is the highest-level Engineer position, providing technical expertise and potentially serving as Process Engineering Lead depending on the scope’s size and complexity. The role maintains a focus on McDermott’s end product, coordinates effectively across engineering disciplines, manages change, and takes responsibility for cost, schedule, quantity, and budget control. The position performs conceptual, FEED, and detailed engineering analyses and design in accordance with design bases, project specifications, codes, and standards. It prepares and reviews technical deliverables, provides process inputs to other disciplines, participates in safety and operability studies, and supports engineering integrity, project coordination, and execution. When acting as Lead Engineer, the role directs the Discipline team and its execution, resources, deliverables, schedule, budget, interfaces, and communications with project stakeholders and customers. Reports to the Project Lead Engineer, Project Engineering Manager, or Project Manager for project matters, and to the Supervising Department Manager functionally. Supervises Senior Engineers and Engineers. Liaises with engineering disciplines, fabrication, safety, project management, document control, planning, cost control, quality control, certification, procurement, subcontractors, vendors, and customers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering.
15–20 years of oil and gas experience with a major contractor or consultant, predominantly performing detailed design.
Detailed knowledge of design techniques and analysis methods.
Detailed knowledge of the theory, content, and application of relevant standards, codes, and guidelines.
Knowledge of project coordination and execution skills.

Nice To Haves

Preferably a Registered Professional Engineer or a member of a professional engineering society, as applicable.

Responsibilities

Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed analyses and design in accordance with design bases, project specifications, design codes, and standards.
Address complex problems and nonstandard situations using in-depth technical and business knowledge.
Prepare detailed design calculations, analyses, design reports, and procedures.
Manage personal time and objectives; as Lead Engineer, forecast and plan resource requirements.
Communicate and explain complex concepts and persuade others to adopt a point of view.
As Lead Engineer, direct medium or large engineering teams and lead Discipline design execution within schedule, budget, standards, MDR, and project procedures.
Plan, organize, and direct Discipline execution, including scope, deliverables, schedule, and manpower resources, agreeing resource allocations with the Discipline Manager.
Identify interfaces and deliverables, monitor progress and productivity, and take corrective action when needed.
Represent the Discipline in meetings with the Project Team, customer discipline leads, certifying authorities, auditors, and other relevant parties.
Become familiar with project scope, specifications, schedule, and inter-discipline requirements; identify and address concerns early.
Interpret contractual requirements relating to engineering execution.
Identify scope changes, raise change notifications with supporting documentation and estimates, and provide support for Variation Orders.
Coordinate with other disciplines and departments to develop clash-free designs and obtain design inputs.
Document substantive communications and forward them to the Discipline Lead Engineer and Discipline Manager.
Prepare bid estimates, technical query reviews, execution statements, work-hour estimates, software requirements, project engineering budgets, and execution plans.
Raise technical queries to obtain missing information, clarify scope, and maintain compliance with company procedures, specifications, standards, practices, and operational requirements.
Prepare, review, and, as Lead Engineer, approve Discipline design bases, philosophies, technical specifications, design reports, and procedures.
Help finalize deliverables lists and deliverables, ensuring compliance with specifications and functional integrity.
Review project and fabrication schedules in relation to construction sequence, milestones, and engineering scope.
Attend project kickoff and review meetings, vendor and engineering meetings, and offshore site surveys as required.
Provide technical direction to and review the work of Designers producing Process Engineering products.
Assist other disciplines with necessary design inputs and review vendor and subcontractor submittals for compliance with project specifications.
Present issues and problems to customers promptly and assist the Lead Engineer in negotiating resolutions in accordance with project and company requirements.
Guide less experienced engineers on MDR and Discipline procedures, standards, worksheets, calculations, software, requisitions, technical bid evaluations, and technical queries.
Supervise and guide assigned engineers and coordinate Discipline engineering and design deliverables with project Lead Designers.
Monitor the costs of own work processes and maintain responsibility for engineering integrity of the assigned work area.
Develop communication and presentation skills through activities such as technical papers, conferences, seminars, and presentations.
Check applicable process deliverables, including process simulations, heat and material balances, PFDs, P&IDs, datasheets, process specifications, operating philosophies and manuals, equipment and line lists, sizing calculations, flare studies, depressurization studies, and other process studies.
Provide process support and inputs to other disciplines for layout reviews, area classification drawings, safety studies, electrical load lists, equipment and instrument datasheets, and ESD and F&G logic diagrams and control narratives.
Participate in HAZAN, HAZID, HAZOP, and other safety, operability, and reliability studies and workshops, and assist with closing HAZOP actions.
Lead the Discipline team during internal, customer, and third-party technical audits and design reviews.
As Lead Engineer, serve as the project-based Discipline point of contact with customer counterparts and ensure substantive communications are documented.
As Lead Engineer, identify staffing needs, assign tasks and responsibilities, allocate work-hour budgets, and verify completion within budget.
As Lead Engineer, plan the Discipline Level 4 detailed deliverable schedule and register in line with the overall execution plan.
As Lead Engineer, prepare working forecasts covering change management, corrective action, and real-time schedules; provide progress and productivity inputs for reports.
As Lead Engineer, alert the project team to scope deviations and potential change orders, monitor KPIs, and take corrective action to improve Discipline performance and interfaces.
As Lead Engineer, coordinate with other Discipline Leads and Designers to obtain design inputs on time.
As Lead Engineer, review and approve requisitions, technical quotation evaluations and queries, bid tabulations and recommendations, and purchase requisitions; coordinate with Procurement to expedite vendor documents.
As Lead Engineer, review and resolve customer and agency comments on team documents and drawings and guide updates and incorporation of comments.
As Lead Engineer, assist the Discipline Manager with quarterly forecasts and manpower planning, anticipate engineering needs, and coordinate with vendors for Discipline-managed or procured items.
As Lead Engineer, assist the Discipline Manager and Project Engineering Manager or Project Manager with performance evaluations of project team members.