Principal Electrical Engineer

Job Overview:

The Principal Electrical Engineer is responsible for interpreting internal or external business issues and recommending best practices. They will be tasked with solving complex Electrical-related problems and will work independently with minimal guidance. The Principal Electrical Engineer may be responsible for leading functional teams or projects and is regarded as a specialist in the field of Electrical. As such, they must have in-depth expertise in Electrical as well as broad knowledge of the Electrical 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 Engineering team as a Lead Engineer
  • Lead the Discipline engineering design of the assigned work area and complete it 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 worker resources - agree 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 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, Fabrication, Marine, and Project Management teams, 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 man-hour 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 offshore site surveys, as required
• Provide technical direction and review of Designers producing products related to Electrical 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
• Procurement assistance includes preparing, reviewing, and (as Lead Engineer) approving requisitions, evaluating technical quotations and preparing queries, compiling bid tabulations and recommendations, preparing purchase requisitions, and coordinating with Procurement to expedite vendor documents, as directed by the Discipline Lead Engineer
• Assist in updating weight reports 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/interdisciplinary check (IDC)
• Provide technical support to fabrication queries, including identifying defect/rectification requirements
• Keep the Discipline Manager and Project Management Team apprised of all activities and concerns, technical, budgetary, and manpower 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 resolution in accordance with project and company requirements
• Perform (as required) Technical Quality Audit reviews in accordance with MDR 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 entered them into MDR's Lessons Learned system
• Guide less experienced engineers on MDR 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 deliverable
• Responsible for the engineering integrity of the assigned work area
• Monitor costs of own work processes
• Assist in the maintenance of departmental technical guidelines and standard calculation notes
• Participate in the development and maintenance of Global Procedures, Software, and Standards
• May participate in standards development committees or task groups such as API
• 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
• Review and (as Lead Engineer) approve material lists, P&ID, etc. for Electrical equipment/systems and services for detailing the scope
• Update and (as Lead Engineer) approve specifications and data sheets for Electrical and bulk materials
• Review and (as Lead Engineer) approve Electrical system studies/calculations
• Prepare, review, and (as Lead Engineer) approve one-line diagrams and schematics diagrams
• Prepare, review, and (as Lead Engineer) approve electrical equipment building layout drawings
• Prepare, review, and (as Lead Engineer) approve lighting calculations/illumination study for the platform lighting system
• Prepare, review, and (as Lead Engineer) approve load lists or update load lists issued by Customer
• Coordinate and arrange for equipment inspection, FAT
• Participate in FAT & inspection and preparation & resolution of punch lists on the arrival of skid/material
• Prepare, review, and (as Lead Engineer) approve spare part lists and preservation reports
• Review and (as Lead Engineer) approve Pre-commissioning and commissioning index and provide technical assistance on-site during pre-commissioning and start-up as required
• Review and provide input to secondary cable routing (branch cable trays, channel trays, single tubing, etc.) where detailing is not done
• Advise fabrication yard of installation locations for small E&I equipment that is not sufficiently detailed in the AFC drawings
• Prepare, review, and (as Lead Engineer) approve cable drum schedules
• Identify special tools, equipment, and requirements for commissioning and Hook-up
• Prepare/review Hook-up installation procedures
• Coordinate with vendors for installation and pre-comm/commissioning
• Coordinate work content split between onshore fabrication and installation  
• Review and check the electrical equipment list
• Participate in the checking and (as Lead Engineer) approval of key discipline deliverables such as:  
  • All electrical studies using approved software
  • C&E chart and ESD logic diagrams  
  • Specifications, Datasheets, Requisitions, TBEs
  • SLD, Interconnection, and trouble-shooting drawings
  • Hazardous area classification drawings
  • Instrument and F&G detector layout
  • Electrical Load list
  • Lighting calculations & lighting layout
  • Error log reports
• Participate in HAZOP and SIL Studies
• Provide E&I input to pre-comm. activities and offshore hook-ups
• When acting as Lead Engineer, in addition:  
  • Act as project-based Discipline point of contact in communications and meetings with Customer counterparts
  • Ensure substantive communications are documented
  • Prepare bids 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 man-hour 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 schedules
  • 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 KPI 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 manpower 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 

Reports to:  
Project: Lead Engineer, Project Engineering Manager or Project Manager 
Functional: Supervising Engineer or Engineering Manager 
Liaise With: All Engineering disciplines, Fabrication Groups, Safety Dept,   
Project Management Team, Document Control, Project Planner, Project Cost Controller, QC and Certification Group, Procurement Group, Subcontractors and Vendors, and Customers 
Supervises: Senior Electrical Engineers and Electrical Engineers 

Essential Qualifications and Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Master’s degree preferred
• 15-20 years of experience in oil and gas with major contractors or consultants predominantly performing detail design
• Detailed knowledge of design techniques and analysis methods, and detailed knowledge of the theory, content, and application of standards, codes, and guidelines as applicable
• Knowledgeable in project coordination and execution skills
• Preferably Registered Professional Engineer or member of a professional engineering society
• Develop communication and presentation skills (e.g., write technical papers, participate in conferences and/or seminars, present design solutions, and/or present topics at "lunch and learns"; etc.) 

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