Principal Marine Operations Specialist (NDT Lead)

Role Overview

Principal Marine Operations Specialist (NDT Lead) at McDermott. The Pipeline NDT Lead ensures seamless integration of pipeline NDT techniques throughout the project lifecycle and ensures the integrity and reliability of welded joints. The role requires extensive knowledge and experience of AUT techniques including Zonal Discrimination, Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), and Time-of-Flight Diffraction (TOFD), as well as inspection of CRA girth welds. The position focuses on development of NDT technique, qualification, and implementation of NDT systems to ensure high productivity and consistent quality as per project requirements in firing line on pipelay vessels.

Role Purpose

To lead NDT operations across the project lifecycle, ensuring high-integrity pipeline welds through advanced inspection techniques, procedure development, stakeholder coordination, and offshore execution on pipelay vessels and lay barges.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning

• Develop and implement detailed Advanced NDT procedures including calibration blocks required by contracts for pipeline welding activities during project planning and execution phases.
• Participate during bidding process to review and summarize customer specifications, identify bid qualifications and clarifications, project welder and procedure qualification requirements, NDT consumables requirements, and provide NDT inputs to develop pipeline technological cycle times and lay rates.
• Identify any special needs that may be required for execution and account for them in the bid package.
• Develop full scope of NDT procedures required, including during welding procedure, welder qualification, and materials estimation for qualification and production onboard.
• Estimate NDT consumable requirements and conduct periodic review of NDT consumables to optimize costs.

Governance & Compliance

• Seek review and approval of all Project Pipeline NDT procedures through direct and indirect communications with the customer and Certifying Authority.
• Ensure compliance with HSE requirements and quality assurance procedures throughout all stages of pipeline operations.
• Be proficient in assessing examination results accurately, sentencing welds, and reporting in accordance with relevant code and specification acceptance criteria.
• Perform NDT surveillance audit and regular monitoring of inspection activities, cross-check work performed by Operators and Technicians in WTC and firing line on pipelay vessels.
• Prepare progress reports, maintain documentation, and support audits for project quality and safety compliance.

Budget & Resources

• Review the as-award NDT budget and maintain costs within budget, schedule, and productivity during execution.
• Ensure adequate staffing level within the team as per project schedule and POB requirements during offshore installation phase.
• Assess employee performance and provide leadership and mentoring to the team.

Procurement & Vendor Management

• Support procurement activities for pipeline-related components related to NDT by participating in review of MR, TBE, vendor documents, and technical queries.
• Provide RFQ and conduct technical selection of NDT subcontractors as per project requirements.
• Coordinate with SCM and project team by conducting regular review on status of subcontract award.
• Evaluate the performance of NDT subcontractors onboard with respect to productivity and interpretation of results.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Liaise with Operations Manager (Fabrication/Marine), Discipline Managers, PMT, Customers, Operations and Field Engineers, QC/NDT Engineers, Certifying Authority, NDT Subcontractors, and Other Technical Agencies (for example, TWI, DNVGL).
• Coordinate with stakeholders within the organization, subcontractors, and testing laboratories regarding testing of procedure and welder qualification coupons.

Operations & Execution

• Supervise and monitor offshore pipeline fabrication and installation, ensuring adherence to project specifications, codes, and standards.
• Ensure readiness of firing line activities, resolve start-up issues, ensure availability of NDT technicians and calibrated NDT equipment, monitor actual pipelay rate against planned, and provide technical support during installation phase.
• Provide inputs for kick-off meetings, readiness reviews including lessons learned during project set up, start of welding procedure and welder qualification, pipeline installation, and ensure close out of project.
• Resolve issues and quality-related problems through investigating cause of failures and prescribing fit-for-purpose approach.

Technical Development

• Foster innovation in the industry and work with all departments to execute R&D projects and goals identified for pipelines under PPG.
• Provide inputs based on NDT results during welding procedure development and welder qualification to improve welding quality and good workmanship practices for efficient transition to offshore pipelay.

Qualifications & Experience

• High School Diploma or Degree in Mechanical Engineering, NDT Technology, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in NDT/AUT operations, with at least 5 years in a supervisory role.
• Certification in MUT, MPI, LPT, and AUT/PAUT (for example, ISO 9712, PCN, CSWIP, ASNT Level III preferred).
• Occupationally qualified to internationally recognized schemes to determine competency (for example, PCN, CSWIP, ASNT).
• Preferred experience working on pipelay vessels, lay barges, or similar offshore assets.
• Preferred valid BOSIET, HUET, and Offshore Medical Certificate.

Skills & Competencies

• Proficient in use of computer and Microsoft programs applicable to NDT operations.
• Proficient in preparation software including ES Beam tool and AUT software platforms (for example, TomoScan, UltraVision, FocusScan, PipeWizard).
• Proficient in assessing examination results accurately, sentencing welds, and reporting in accordance with relevant code and specification acceptance criteria.
• Advanced knowledge of AUT techniques including Zonal Discrimination, Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), and Time-of-Flight Diffraction (TOFD).
• Advanced knowledge of CRA girth weld inspection.
• Leadership and team mentoring capabilities.