Lead Project Engineer

Role Overview

Lead Project Engineer at Wood PLC, based in Sharjah, UAE. This is a full-time, office-based, residential role within the Iraq Operations Business.

Company Overview

Wood is an integral part of operations in Iraq with a 90-year heritage, 10 major contracts and over 850 employees. The company excels in supporting clients to deliver complex upstream and midstream oil and gas projects in Iraq, delivering maintenance, modifications and engineering solutions. Wood is committed to decarbonising existing assets, producing cleaner energy and developing a sustainable national workforce.

Role Purpose

To contribute to technical delivery of engineering excellence by executing assigned scopes of work, providing discipline expertise to the business, and supporting task delegation to team members. The Lead Project Engineer will use technical knowledge to perform engineering assignments and produce engineering deliverables on complex problems, often serving as the primary discipline engineer or discipline technical authority on projects of small to medium complexity.

Key Responsibilities

Executing Assigned Scopes of Work

• Participate as a team member in a specific phase of a broad engineering assignment.
• Direct preparation of appropriate documentation for assigned projects.
• Ensure successful completion of assigned projects or phases within budgeted time and cost constraints.
• Participate in defining engineering approaches, and in planning and scheduling work.
• Evaluate problems, organize investigations and establish general performance specifications for components, equipment, systems and processes.
• Check engineering calculations and all drawings in accordance with industry codes and standards.
• Assist with the development of less senior Technical Professionals.
• Adhere to and comply with relevant discipline-specific procedures and provide feedback for continuous improvement.
• Participate in audits and incident investigations as required.
• Perform complex engineering tasks related to specific units of major projects.
• Participate in site visits, project review meetings, design reviews and other workshops as required.
• Organize and actively participate in design reviews.

Providing Discipline Expertise

• Solve problems requiring development of new approaches or new uses for existing approaches; exercise mature professional judgment in evaluating and selecting technical and strategic options.
• Modify established guidelines, devise new approaches, apply existing criteria in new ways and draw conclusions from comparative situations as necessary.
• Function as a technical leader or significant contributor to major complex problems or projects.
• Produce innovative ideas and solve problems requiring development of new approaches.
• Use creativity and professional judgment to formulate results based on engineering standards, experience and constructive thinking.
• Develop unique solutions for complex technical problems.
• Anticipate potential problems and take initiative to solve complex problems through creative thinking and use of internal and external resources.
• Exercise mature professional judgment in identifying the implications of experimental results.
• Understand customer needs and apply technical solutions to meet goals.
• Provide technical input and support to proposals.

Supporting and Supervising Task Delegation to Team

• Supervise a small work group consisting of technical and professional staff with some coaching from own supervisor, or provide advice and guidance in area of specialization to others.
• Assist in performing managerial tasks such as assigning tasks to engineers; planning and coordinating portions of engineering work; preparing scopes, schedules and budgets; attending project meetings; and developing lesser-experienced technical professionals.
• Discuss with other senior engineers to agree priorities and implications on work of others.
• Approve work schedules and make recommendations for increased resources and special equipment.
• Make commitments on acceptance of projects, completion dates, resources and staff required to meet goals.
• Coordinate activities of engineering and design groups assigned to small projects.
• Participate in developing deadlines, projects and work to be done.
• Manage one or more small projects with responsibility for cost, schedule, resources allocation and risk.
• Provide appropriate HSSE leadership including compliance with site and office safety requirements and technical and design safety requirements.

Stakeholder Management

• Develop productive, collaborative relationships of trust within and across projects, offices and regions, as well as with functions.
• Engage with inter-discipline community and promote discipline through networking and knowledge sharing.
• Persuade individuals with differing positions or interests to change criteria or methods, accept findings or reach agreement on technical points.
• Solicit understanding and support of managers for major projects and use available technical resources.
• Establish and maintain awareness of external stakeholders including industry bodies, academia and vendors.
• Build relationships with customers as appropriate.
• Seek out new avenues for building external relationships; maintain ongoing contacts with existing relationships; coach others on relationship management issues.

Qualifications & Experience

• B.Sc. or equivalent degree in an Engineering discipline from an accredited university.
• Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in major Brownfield oil and gas projects.
• At least 5 years in a similar position.
• Specific experience in oil and gas projects across their lifecycle in the GCC region (preferred).
• Pre-FEED and FEED experience (required).
• Detailed Engineering experience (preferred).
• Hands-on experience managing or delivering Lump Sum contracts and projects (required).

Skills & Competencies

• Provide guidance and direction to project teams, managing, motivating and mentoring professional engineering specialists.
• Discover issues and recommend solutions to technical and commercial issues.
• Proficient user of relevant software and calculation templates.
• Professional level of ability in the application of standards, processes and procedures in work execution.
• Professional level of knowledge of applicable codes and standards.
• Technically competent in own discipline; pursue continuous professional development.
• Maintain knowledge of relevant regulatory framework, legislation changes, initiatives and industry technology developments; promote to direct reports.
• Apply mature professional knowledge and experience to assignments with unusual demands requiring additional evaluation.
• Apply advanced laws, principles, mathematics or industry knowledge in the improvement and development of designs.
• Demonstrate skills in persuasion, negotiation, motivation and communication.
• Demonstrate proficiency in project planning.
• Possess working knowledge of various Business Units, Functions, Sectors and services offered within business area and general understanding of other Wood business offerings.
• Solutions-oriented and creative; able to apply process and rigour to deliver quality solutions.
• Compelling communicator both verbally and in written form.
• Good interpersonal and team working skills; build positive relationships with supervisors, subordinates, peers and clients.
• Enthusiastic, conscientious and committed to continuous professional development.
• High level of awareness and commitment to safety in all aspects of daily work.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Highly motivated and demonstrate personal initiative.
• Possess integrity, strong work ethic, positive attitude and dependability.
• Adaptable and flexible to changing project needs.

Additional Information

Benefits

• Meaningful and interesting projects delivered to high-profile clients and complex projects in Iraq.
• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion; organization actively committed to diversity and inclusion across the business with employee networks committed to giving all employees a voice.
• Competitive salary with regular salary reviews to ensure rewarding at the right level in line with the market.
• Commitment to continued professional development; development plans tailored to individual needs and interests.
• Global connections; join experts around the world at the leading edge of the industry, shaping the standards of the profession.
• Medical Insurance ensuring inpatient and outpatient medical care.
• Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance providing Life Assurance cover.
• The Employee Share Plan giving the opportunity to purchase Wood shares and receive a match from the company.
• Long Service Award; Wood values commitment and loyalty of employees, celebrating Long Service at 5-year service milestones.

Decision-Making Authority

• Work is assigned in terms of goals and priorities; duties are carried out within broad guidelines and unusual or complex matters are generally referred to more senior authority.
• Actions and decisions typically have significant influence on the technical, operational and financial results of one or more projects or departments.
• Translate standards and guidelines into practical actions.
• No direct reports but frequently serve as a technical resource.
• May be required to supervise teams and provide technical guidance to drafters, designers and technical professionals with some coaching from own supervisor.
• Accountable for own targets.