Umbilical & FOC Engineer - Subsea Oil & Gas

Position Title: Umbilical & Fiber Optic Cable Engineer Offshore Shallow-Water Subsea Pipeline Project

Location: Italy

Hill International provides program, project, and construction management services for clients in a range of sectors undertaking major construction projects across the world. Our services include cost engineering and estimating, quality assurance, inspection, scheduling, risk management, and claims avoidance. For more information on Hill, please visit our website at www.hillintl.com

The Umbilical & FOC Engineer is responsible for design, specification, manufacturing follow-up, installation engineering, and operational readiness of subsea umbilical and fiber optic cables used in shallow-water pipeline projects. The role ensures all electrical, hydraulic, chemical injection, and fiber-optic systems meet project requirements and interface seamlessly with subsea and topside systems.

Engineering Design & Technical Coordination

• Develop design basis and specifications for subsea umbilical, hydraulic/chemical lines, electrical cables, and fiber optics.
• Review umbilical cross-section design, electrical loading, tube sizing, and fiber-optic transmission performance.
• Ensure compliance with API 17E/F, ISO 13628, DNV standards.
• Review cable data sheets, P&IDs, electrical schematics, and fatigue analyses.

Manufacturing & Factory Surveillance

• Follow up vendor processes for tube welding, fiber-optic integration, and conductor manufacturing.
• Review FAT/EFAT procedures: OTDR tests, pressure testing, continuity and insulation resistance tests.
• Ensure vendor compliance with ITPs, quality plans, and manufacturing procedures.

Installation Engineering Support

• Review umbilical installation analyses: tension, bend radius control, touch-down behavior.
• Review pull-in procedures (J-tube, I-tube, direct pull-in).
• Support load-out, spooling, offshore lay, termination, and testing.

Interface Management

• Interface with subsea controls for SCM power, signals, hydraulic capacities, and channel allocation.
• Interface with subsea structures for routing, supports, BU/BS selection, and tie-in frames.
• Interface with topsides for MCS/ICSS connectivity, hang-off, power, and communication.
• Interface with installation contractor for MBR limits, tension, and ROV operations.
• Interface with geotechnical and survey teams for seabed preparation, burial needs, and route optimization.

Testing, Commissioning & Handover

• Prepare commissioning procedures for hydraulic flushing, electrical checks, and FO communication tests.
• Support offshore OTDR tests, pressure testing, leak checks, and system energization.
• Ensure all as-built records and QA documentation are completed.

Technical Requirements

• Expertise in subsea umbilical and fiber-optic cable engineering.
• Strong understanding of LV electrical systems, fiber-optic communication, and hydraulic/chemical injection lines.
• Skilled in OTDR analysis, electrical load calculations, and umbilical routing/design tools.
• Knowledge of API 17E/F, ISO 13628, DNV-RP-F401 standards.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Subsea, or Telecommunications Engineering.
• Masters degree in Offshore/Subsea Engineering (preferred).
• 810 years of experience in umbilical/FOC engineering for offshore projects.
• Experience with vendor follow-up, FAT/EFAT, and offshore installation.
• Strong communication, coordination, and documentation skills.