Lead Engineer Operations Support

Job titleLead Engineer Operations SupportStreamOperated AssetsLocationOman - HOReporting toManager Operation & Maintenance Support

Job purpose

Provide expert technical engineering leadership and operational support for OQEP's offshore facilities, including piping systems in processing plants and production platforms, under the direction of the Manager Operation & Maintenance Support, ensuring safe, reliable, available and efficient operations across Upstream Surface Operations.

The role delivers robust technical judgement, innovative engineering solutions and operability, availability and reliability assessments for offshore facilities, evaluating modification and innovation proposals against project requirements, engineering standards and operational integrity.

It provides hands-on operational support, technical troubleshooting and readiness assurance for assigned assets, while acting as the operations interface with projects, procurement, supply and other stakeholders.

The role also mentors and develops production and junior engineers into self-sufficient performers, embeds common engineering principles across teams, and drives operational excellence, safety and reliability across OQEP's surface operations facilities.

The position will act in accordance with the OQEP’s Mission, Vision, Values & Strategies, as well as, policies, guidelines, and international standards, supported by an IT Technology platform, QHSE & Energy Management System requirements standards, Omani’s government & other legal justifications, and best international practices in consonance with national objectives.

Main

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Provide robust technical engineering expertise and innovative solutions for the execution and operation of offshore facilities (piping systems in processing plants and production platforms), ensuring teams apply common engineering principles and concepts.
• Lead and deliver operability, availability and reliability assessments on systems related to offshore facilities, providing robust technical judgement on modification and innovation proposals in line with project requirements, engineering standards, safety and reliability.
• Handle a large scope of concurrent engineering activities and projects, prioritizing and delivering high-quality technical outputs across multiple assets simultaneously.
• Analyze complex technical, operational and reliability issues on offshore facilities and recommend solutions that significantly improve safety, availability and performance.
• Provide operational support for offshore facilities (piping systems in processing plants and production platforms) at Upstream Surface Operations.
• Deliver assigned operational duties and tasks for the assets, including technical support, troubleshooting, backup and other services to operate applicable hardware, systems software and application software.
• Modify and improve engineering processes, standards, operating procedures and technical documentation to enhance reliability, integrity and operational efficiency.
• Measure and assure progress towards the state of Operational Readiness to Operate (ORA), ensuring readiness for safe and efficient operations at the site.
• Act as the Operations interface to manage procurement and supply issues, ensuring timely availability of technical materials, spares and services.
• Act as the ORA interface to engage and coordinate with different stakeholders across the function on readiness, technical and operational matters.
• Provide technical leadership, guidance and review to junior engineers, trainees and teams on engineering principles, standards and operational practices.
• Mentor and coach production engineers and staff to build capability and develop them into self-sufficient, high-performing engineers.
• Convince and influence internal stakeholders, projects and vendors to adopt sound engineering solutions, operability improvements and reliability-centred practices.
• Support incident investigation, root cause analysis and corrective actions for offshore facility reliability and integrity issues.
• Support planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting for operations support engineering activities and embed KPIs in day-to-day work.
• Perform other similar duties as assigned by the Manager Operation & Maintenance Support.
• Key interactions
• Internal: Surface Operations, Operation & Maintenance Support, Well Delivery, Projects Delivery, Technical Services, HSSE, Contract & Procurement, and all relevant operational and support functions.
• External: EPC and engineering contractors, equipment and piping vendors, OEMs, technical service providers, and specialist engineering consultants.
• Notable Working Conditions.
• Combination of office and field/plant environment; regular presence at processing plants and production platforms; intensive computer screen use; exposure to operational site conditions; occasional after-hours support for operational and readiness matters.

Education Requirements

Required

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Process, Petroleum or a related Engineering discipline. Relevant post-degree qualification or professional engineering certification is preferred. Master's degree is a plus.

LanguageExcellent knowledge of written, read and spoken English (required). Arabic is a plus.

Background and experience8+ years' experience in Operations Support, Surface Operations, Process/Facilities Engineering or Production Engineering, preferably in the oil & gas, energy or large industrial sector.

Proven track record of providing technical engineering leadership and operational support for offshore facilities.

Strong experience in:offshore facilities and piping systems (processing plants and production platforms).

Operability, availability and reliability engineering.

Operational Readiness Assurance (ORA) and readiness-to-operate assessments.

Technical troubleshooting and operational support.

Modification and innovation proposal review against engineering standards.

Incident investigation and root cause analysis.

Engineering standards, codes and operating procedures.

Procurement and supply interface for technical materials and services.

Mentoring and developing junior engineers and Omani national talent.

Competencies and skillsBehavioural

Competencies

• Strong technical and analytical problem-solving skills.
• Sound engineering judgement and decision-making.
• Maintaining effective, accurate and transparent communication with all stakeholders.
• Attention to detail and safety-first mindset.
• Planning and prioritization across multiple activities.
• Negotiation and influencing.
• Ethics, integrity and compliance.
• Engages and inspires colleagues to collaborate and share knowledge.
• Pursues innovation and continuous improvement.
• Acts as an agent for change, constructively challenging the status quo.
• Mentoring and coaching capability.
• Composure under operational and readiness pressure.
• Technical

Competencies

• Ooffshore facilities and piping systems engineering (processing plants and production platforms).
• Operability, availability and reliability engineering.
• Operational Readiness Assurance (ORA) and readiness-to-operate.
• Technical troubleshooting and operational support.
• Modification/innovation proposal review and technical judgement.
• Engineering standards, codes and operating procedures.
• Incident investigation and root cause analysis (RCA).
• Process safety and asset integrity awareness.
• Procurement and supply interface for technical materials.
• Hardware, systems software and application software for operations.
• Excellent business and technical report writing skills.
• Very good knowledge of PC software and engineering tools.