Lead Commissioning Engineer - Electrical And Instrumentation
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Job overview
KBR is growing its Project Management Consultancy (PMC) team for an exciting, high-profile offshore development in Abu Dhabi. The ADNOC PMC project role would be based initially in contractors office / fabrication yard office in Abu Dhabi for some time and then will later move to offshore site on six weeks on / three weeks off rotation.
Job purpose
The lead commissioning engineer - electrical & instrumentation (E&I) is responsible for leading, planning, coordinating, and executing all electrical and instrumentation commissioning activities for offshore and onshore oil & gas projects. The role ensures the safe and efficient transition of systems from construction completion through pre-commissioning, commissioning, start-up, testing, and operational handover.
The position provides technical leadership for electrical power systems, instrumentation, control systems, telecommunications, safety systems, and integrated automation systems, ensuring compliance with project specifications, client requirements, applicable standards, and HSE regulations.
Key responsibilities
Commissioning leadership
Lead electrical and instrumentation commissioning teams throughout project execution.
Develop commissioning strategies, execution plans, schedules, procedures, and system completion programs.
Ensure commissioning activities are completed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with project objectives.
Manage and coordinate commissioning engineers, supervisors, technicians, vendors, and subcontractors.
Monitor commissioning progress and ensure achievement of project milestones.
Pre-commissioning activities
Lead system walkdowns and mechanical completion verification.
Review and validate construction completion and turnover packages.
Coordinate cable continuity testing, insulation resistance testing, and loop checking activities.
Verify system readiness prior to energization.
Ensure punch lists are identified, tracked, and closed in a timely manner.
Support preservation and reinstatement of electrical and instrumentation systems.
Electrical commissioning
Manage commissioning activities for:
High voltage (HV), medium voltage (MV), and low voltage (LV) systems
Switchgears and motor control centers (MCCs)
Power transformers
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems
Emergency power systems
Diesel generators
Cathodic protection systems
Earthing and lightning protection systems
Electrical heat tracing systems
Lighting and small power systems
Offshore electrical distribution networks
Instrumentation & control commissioning
Coordinate commissioning activities for:
Distributed control systems (DCS)
Emergency shutdown systems (ESD)
PLC systems
SCADA systems
Fire & gas detection systems
HIPPS and safety instrumented systems (SIS)
Telecommunications systems
Analyzer systems
Field instrumentation
Control valves and on-off valves
Metering systems
Fiber optic communication systems
Integrated control & safety systems (ICSS)
Energization & start-up
Prepare system energization plans and startup procedures.
Lead energization of electrical networks and process control systems.
Coordinate functional testing and cause-and-effect verification.
Manage system integration testing and plant operational readiness activities.
Support start-up, performance testing, and acceptance testing phases.
Ensure systems perform in accordance with design specifications.
Interface & coordination
Coordinate closely with engineering, construction, QA/QC, operations, vendors, and client representatives.
Participate in readiness reviews, commissioning meetings, and management reporting sessions.
Liaise with package vendors during testing, troubleshooting, and start-up activities.
Resolve technical issues affecting commissioning progress and operational readiness.
Coordinate multidisciplinary system handovers.
System completion & handover
Manage mechanical completion (MC), ready for commissioning (RFC), ready for start-up (RFSU), and final handover milestones.
Review completion dossiers and turnover documentation.
Ensure proper certification and documentation of commissioning activities.
Coordinate punch list management and closeout.
Support project close-out and final acceptance activities.
HSE responsibilities
Ensure full compliance with project HSE requirements and company procedures.
Lead commissioning risk assessments, SIMOPS reviews, and job safety analyses.
Ensure implementation of permit-to-work (PTW), LOTO, and electrical isolation procedures.
Promote a strong safety culture across all commissioning activities.
Participate in incident investigations and corrective action implementation.
Quality assurance
Ensure all testing and commissioning activities comply with approved procedures and standards.
Review commissioning records, test reports, and certification documents.
Support internal audits, client audits, and regulatory inspections.
Verify accuracy and completeness of as-built and handover documentation.
Ensure all systems meet quality and operational performance requirements.
Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, instrumentation engineering, electrical & electronics engineering, or related discipline.
Preferred certifications
PMP certification
BOSIET/HUET (offshore projects)
Functional safety (IEC 61511) certification
CompEx certification
NEBOSH or equivalent HSE qualification
Commissioning management certification (preferred)
Experience
Minimum 18-22 years of experience in electrical & instrumentation commissioning within oil & gas, offshore, LNG, petrochemical, refining, or EPC/EPCI projects.
Minimum 5 years in a lead commissioning or senior commissioning engineering role.
Proven experience in commissioning:
Offshore platforms and topsides
Wellhead towers (WHTs)
Jackets and bridges
Substations
Utility facilities
Process plants
Brownfield modifications and tie-ins
Control and safety systems
Experience in pre-commissioning, commissioning, start-up, and operational handover phases.
Previous experience with ADNOC, Saudi Aramco, QatarEnergy, PDO, or major international operators is preferred.