Principal Structural Engineer

Role Overview

Principal Structural Engineer at McDermott. The role interprets internal and external business challenges in the structural discipline, requiring specialized depth and breadth of expertise in structural engineering.

Role Purpose

To lead structural engineering design and execution on medium to large-scale projects, apply in-depth technical knowledge to complex problems, manage engineering teams and resources, and ensure all structural work meets standards, schedules, budgets, and professional quality requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Design & Analysis

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed analyses and design as per design basis, project specifications, design codes, and standards.
• Prepare clear and accurate detailed design calculations and analyses including design reports and procedures.
• Prepare structural analyses and reports on calculations or perform specialist tasks including architectural designs, underground piping designs, complex structures, topsides, jackets, and weight control reports.
• Check designs for operational requirements, constructability, and maintainability.

Leadership & Team Management

• Direct medium or large engineering team as Lead Engineer.
• Plan, organize, and direct all aspects of discipline execution on assigned projects including scope, deliverables, schedule, and manpower resources.
• Supervise senior engineers, engineers, and designers.
• Train and mentor other employees in the department.
• Manage discipline within the engineering group.
• Coordinate and check the work of senior and junior engineers.
• Coordinate with project management and provide relevant feedback to the department.

Project Execution & Oversight

• Lead the discipline engineering design of assigned work areas and complete within planned schedule and budget in accordance with standards, MDR, and project-specific procedures.
• Manage own time to meet objectives and forecast and plan resource requirements.
• Maintain responsibility for progress and productivity, identifying any required corrective action.
• Manage (design) subcontracts.
• Identify and manage changes in the scope of work.
• Define scopes of work for engineering, construction, and fabrication yards.
• Set up all engineering computer systems.
• Assist Project Manager in preparing deliverable control, schedule, progress reports, and man-hour and capital expenditure estimates.

Stakeholder & Interface Management

• Act as project representative for the discipline during meetings with Project Team, Customer discipline lead, and relevant agencies such as certifying authorities, auditors, and third parties.
• Clearly communicate and explain difficult concepts and persuade others to adopt a point of view.
• Initiate interface with other disciplines to obtain input for discipline designs.
• Ensure interfaces and deliverables are clearly identified.
• Liaise with all engineering disciplines, construction sites, fabrication groups, safety, project management, document control, project planning, cost control, QC, certification, procurement, subcontractors, vendors, and customers.
• Assist and monitor MOPEX offices on projects.

Weight Control & Technical Specifications

• Prepare and issue Weight Control Procedures and Reports for all projects.
• Lead multidisciplinary weight data input and ensure data is consistent with procedure, build sequencing, offshore installation methodology, and operational requirements.
• Coordinate with Client and other design centres for weight inputs.
• Manage structural weight data from all sources including Material Take-off, Engineering Estimates, and 3D Modeling Output.
• Identify breakdown and responsibilities for facilities weight input; coordinate and follow up weight inputs.
• Review data from other disciplines and vendors for completeness; ensure area definition is clear and no items are missed or counted twice.
• Prepare and issue all Weight Reports.
• Coordinate and agree with Client for Weight Reporting formats.
• Plan Weight Control Report issues; identify required resources and constraints.
• Lead on-site weighing estimation.
• Maintain weighing equipment calibration.
• Oversee third-party weighing activities.
• Maintain company standard formats and control.
• Maintain historical records including volumetric assessment, primary/secondary/tertiary breakdown, and multidisciplinary breakdown for first principles estimating.
• Coordinate and issue weight estimate for as-built condition and on-site weighing results.

Design & Documentation Management

• Perform engineering checks of drafting.
• Perform engineering checks prepared by others within the discipline.
• Perform design verification through single discipline check and assist with inter-discipline checks (IDC).
• Prepare MTOs of structures.
• Prepare specifications.
• Prepare subcontracts.
• Review vendor data.
• Prepare technical bid evaluations.
• Prepare bid from sketching data using experience.
• Provide engineering support as required.
• Is responsible for filing of engineering work.
• Prepare project engineering guides.

Technical Expertise & Development

• Apply in-depth skills and broad knowledge of the business to address complex problems and nonstandard situations.
• Conduct peer reviews on request.
• Provide technical assistance where required.
• Has a good understanding of other engineering departments.
• Has a good understanding of construction, fabrication yards, and client requirements.
• Has commercial insight.
• Assists in furthering the department.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in engineering.
• 15–20 years of experience in oil and gas with a major contractor or consultants, predominantly performing detail design.
• Registered Professional Engineer or member of professional engineering society as applicable, preferred.
• Seasoned structural knowledge.
• Detailed knowledge of design techniques and analysis methods.
• Detailed knowledge of the theory, content, and application of standards, codes, and guidelines as applicable.
• Knowledgeable in project coordination and execution skills.

Skills & Competencies

• Specialized in several fields including geotechnical, steel, concrete, dynamic calculations, FEM, fatigue calculations, earthquake, jackets, FPSOs, blast, and hydrodynamics.
• Specialized in several design codes including EC, ACI, AISC, API, and GOST.
• Very good organizer, motivator, and supervisor.
• Able to solve problems without assistance.
• Keen on improving the effectiveness of work.
• HSE, TQM, and cost-conscious.
• Fluent in English, both oral and written.
• Understanding and supporting company goals and work processes.
• Show flexibility and ensure proper handover with regards to reassignment to other departments, construction sites, fabrication yards, or other McDermott offices; replacement of colleagues during illness and holidays; provision of assistance to colleagues with heavy workloads; and managing and learning future current working methods and software applications.

Additional Information

Reports to: Lead Engineer, Project Engineering Manager, or Project Manager (by project); Supervising Department Manager (by function).

Supervises: Senior Engineers, Engineers, and Designers.