Principal Mechanical Engineer

Job Overview

The Principal Mechanical Engineer is responsible for interpreting internal or external business issues and recommending best practices. They will be tasked with solving complex Mechanical Engineering-related problems and will work independently with minimal guidance. The Principal Mechanical Engineer may be responsible for leading functional teams or projects and is regarded as a specialist in Mechanical Engineering. As such, they must have in-depth expertise as well as broad knowledge of the Mechanical discipline within the Engineering function.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed analyses and Design as per Design basis, project specifications, design codes, and standards
• Apply in-depth skills and broad knowledge of the business to address complex problems and nonstandard situations
• Prepare clear and accurate detailed design calculations and analyses, including design reports and procedures
• Manage own time to meet objectives and (as Lead Engineer) forecast and plan resource requirements
• Clearly communicate and explain difficult concepts and persuade others to adopt a point of view
• When acting as Lead Engineer, in addition:
  • Direct small or medium Mechanical Engineering team as a Lead Engineer
  • Lead the Discipline engineering design of the assigned work area and completed within the planned schedule and budget, in accordance with standards, MDR, and project-specific procedures and to a high professional standard
  • Plan, organize, and direct all aspects of Discipline execution on the assigned project, including scope, deliverables, schedule, and all workforce resources - agree on allocations with the Discipline Manager
  • Ensure interfaces and deliverables are clearly identified
  • Maintain responsibility for progress and productivity, identifying any required corrective action
  • Act as project representative for the discipline during meetings with the Project Team, Customer discipline lead, and relevant agencies such as certifying authorities, auditors, third parties, etc.
• Become fully familiar with the project scope of work, specifications, schedule, and all inter-discipline requirements, including identifying concerns as early as practicable and taking appropriate initiatives to address the issues
• Interpret contractual requirements as they relate to engineering execution
• Identify changes to scope and promptly raise change notifications, including providing any necessary supporting documentation and estimates
• Provide similar support for Variation Orders
• Interface with all disciplines to develop clash-free designs
• Interface with other departments to obtain input for Discipline designs and drawings
• Maintain close coordination with other engineering disciplines, Planning, and Project Management Team, as required
• Document substantive communications (communications that result in significant decisions or assignment of actions) and forward copies to the Discipline Lead Engineer and Discipline Manager
• Prepare estimates for bid proposals, including technical query reviews, execution statements, and manhour estimates, identifying software requirements and any other project-specific requirements
• Raise technical queries to obtain missing information, clarify work scope, and maintain preferred McDermott procedures, specifications, standards, practices, and operational requirements
• Prepare, review, and (as Lead Engineer) approve Discipline engineering design basis, philosophies, and technical specifications
• Participate in finalizing deliverables lists and deliverables, ensuring compliance with specifications and functional integrity
• Review project schedule and fabrication schedule in relation to construction sequence, milestones, and engineering scope
• Attend project kickoff and review meetings, vendor meetings, engineering meetings, and site surveys, as required
• Provide technical direction and review of Designers producing products related to Mechanical Engineering
• Prepare, review, and (as Lead Engineer) approve design reports and procedures
• Assist in providing necessary design inputs to other disciplines to enable them to proceed with their deliverables
• Assist procurement personnel in procuring Discipline equipment, materials, and services, ensuring that work produced complies with Customer objectives and procedures
• Provide procurement assistance, including preparing, reviewing, and (as Lead Engineer) approving requisitions, evaluating technical quotations, preparing queries, compiling bid tabulations and recommendations, preparing purchase requisitions, and coordinating with Procurement to expedite vendor documents, as directed by Discipline Lead Engineer
• Assist in updating weight report based on receipt of vendor information
• Review and (as Lead Engineer) approve vendor and subcontractor submittals, checking for compliance with project specifications and providing comments as necessary
• Review and (as Lead Engineer) approve design verification through single-discipline check/ inter­ discipline check (IDC)
• Provide technical support to fabrication queries
• Keep the Discipline Manager and Project Management Team apprised of all activities and concerns, technical, budgetary, and workforce-related
• Assist in providing inputs for actual, planning, and forecasting progress reports, including associated productivity
• Check final subcontractor and vendor data manuals to ensure that all requested data has been received and approved
• Present issues and problems to Customers in a timely manner and assist the Lead Engineer in negotiating resolutions in accordance with project and company requirements
• Perform (as required) Technical Quality Audit reviews in accordance with MOR Global Procedures
• Assist Lead Engineer with responses to Customers and other agencies (such as certifying authorities, auditors, third parties, etc) on their review and approval
• Capture lessons learned and enter into MDR's Lessons Learned system
• Guide less experienced engineers on MOR and Discipline procedures, standards, worksheets, design calculations, software, requisitions, technical bid evaluations, technical queries, etc
• Supervise and guide assigned engineers and coordinate with project Lead Designers for Discipline engineering and design deliverables
• Monitor costs of own work processes
• Assist in the maintenance of departmental technical guidelines
• Participate in the development and maintenance of Global Procedures, Software, and Standards
• May participate in standards development committees or task groups
• Develop communication and presentation skills (e.g., write technical papers, participate in conferences and/or seminars, present design solutions, etc.)
• Identify and provide training to staff in specific techniques and proprietary software
• Provide information on employee performance to the Discipline Manager
• Assist the Discipline Manager in interviewing job applicants
• Check/prepare and (as Lead Engineer) Approve Mechanical equipment list, spare parts list, special tools list
• Check/prepare/participate in Approval of detailed engineering documents/ deliverables such as:
  • Mechanical Equipment Specifications and datasheets
  • Mechanical handling philosophy report and associated requisitioning for handling equipment
  • Noise report prepared by a consultant to ensure it complies with Project requirements
  • Lubrication schedule, spare parts schedule
• Assist with equipment inspection and testing
• Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing of various items as assigned
• Identify vendor assistance for installation, pre-commissioning, and commissioning purposes
• Update electrical load list, P&IDs, and equipment lists based on receipt of vendor information
• Participate in HAZOP meetings, as necessary
• Participate in 3D model reviews, as necessary
• Provide inputs to Piping Design, including package/equipment supplier data
• When acting as Lead Engineer, in addition:
  • Identify project staff needs based on knowledge of individual engineers' skill sets and provide requests to the Discipline manager
  • Act as project-based Discipline point of contact in communications and meetings with Customer counterparts
  • Ensure substantive communications are documented
  • Prepare the bid's and project's Discipline engineering budget and execution plans, updating as required
  • Identify project staff needs based on knowledge of individual engineers' skill sets and provide requests to the Discipline manager
  • Plan, organize, and assign tasks, responsibilities, and manhour budgets to the discipline team, and verify tasks are completed within budgets
  • Plan Discipline Level 4 detail deliverable schedule/ register compliant with the overall execution plan
  • Prepare working forecasts identifying change management plans, corrective action, and real-time schedule
  • Provide Discipline inputs for actual, planning, and forecasting progress reports, including associated productivity
  • Alert the project team of any deviation from the scope or a need for a change order
  • Monitor progress measurement results and take corrective action as necessary to improve Discipline performance, including performance at interfaces with others
  • Coordinate with other Discipline Lead Engineers and Designers to ensure timely receipt of necessary design inputs
  • Review and approve requisitions, technical quotation evaluations, and queries, compiled bid tabulations and recommendations and purchase requisitions; and coordinate with Procurement to expedite vendor documents as required
  • Lead the Discipline team during project audits (internal, Customer, and third-party technical audits) and Design Reviews
  • Review comments from Customers & other agencies on documents and drawings produced by the team, and resolve and give guidance on their update and incorporation
  • Assist the Discipline manager in the preparation of quarterly forecasts and workforce planning
  • Anticipate project engineering needs and plan accordingly
  • Coordinate with vendor for discipline-managed/procured items
  • Assist the Discipline manager and Project Engineering Manager or Project Manager in the Performance Evaluation of project team members
  • Check and Approve Mechanical equipment list, spare parts list, and special tools list
  • Check and Participate in Approval of detailed engineering documents/deliverables such as:
    • Mechanical Equipment Specifications and datasheets
    • Mechanical handling philosophy report and associated requisitioning for handling equipment
    • Noise report prepared by a consultant to ensure it complies with Project requirements
    • Lubrication schedule, spare parts schedule

Reports to:

Project: Lead Engineer, Project Engineering Manager or Project Manager

Functional: Supervising Department Manager

Liaises With: All Engineering disciplines, Safety Department, Project Management Team, Document Control, Project Planner,

Project Cost Controller, QC and Certification Group, Procurement Group, Subcontractors, Vendors, and Customers

Supervises: Senior Mechanical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, and Associated Engineers

Essential Qualifications and Education

• Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in Engineering
• 15-20 years of experience in oil and gas with a major contractor or consultant predominantly performing detail design
• Preferably Registered Professional Engineer or member of professional engineering society as applicable
• Seasoned structural knowledge
• Very good organizer, motivator, and supervisor
• Able to solve problems without assistance
• Keen on improving the effectiveness of the work
• HSE, TQM and cost-conscious
• Fluent in the English language
• Understanding and supporting company goals and work processes
• Show flexibility and ensure proper hand-over with regards to:
  • The reassignment to other McDermott offices
  • The replacement of colleagues during illness and holidays
  • The provision of assistance to other colleagues with heavy workloads (also other projects) when possible/desirable
  • The managing/learning of future current working methods and software applications