Engineering Job Descriptions
The oil & gas and process industries offer diverse career paths for engineers across multiple disciplines. Below are some of the most common engineering job titles along with job descriptions.
To develop, maintain and monitor comprehensive project schedules, ensuring optimal resource allocation, timely project completion, and effective communication of project timelines to all stakeholders.
- Develop detailed baseline schedules using Primavera P6/MS Project incorporating all project phases, milestones, and critical paths
- Conduct regular schedule updates (weekly/monthly) by collecting progress data from site teams and updating schedule accordingly
- Perform critical path analysis and identify potential schedule risks with recommended mitigation strategies
- Prepare comprehensive progress reports including Earned Value Analysis, Schedule Performance Index, and other KPIs
- Coordinate with project managers, engineers, and contractors to ensure schedule alignment with project objectives
- Analyze the impact of design changes, variations, and delays on project timelines
- Develop recovery schedules for delayed projects with actionable acceleration plans
- Conduct schedule risk analysis using Monte Carlo simulation for complex projects
- Maintain historical schedule data for future reference and benchmarking
- Technical Skills:
- Expert-level proficiency in Primavera P6 (preferred) or Microsoft Project
- Advanced knowledge of scheduling methodologies (CPM, PERT, Gantt charts)
- Strong understanding of construction sequences and engineering workflows
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and contracts
- Proficiency in Earned Value Management techniques
- Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Civil/Mechanical/Industrial preferred)
- Minimum 5 years experience in project planning for construction/engineering projects
- Experience in oil & gas, power plants, or large infrastructure projects
- Certifications (Preferred):
- PMI-SP (Scheduling Professional) or equivalent
- Oracle Primavera Certification
- PMP certification
- Soft Skills:
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Strong presentation skills for management reporting
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
To provide technical leadership and project coordination, ensuring engineering projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet all technical specifications and quality standards.
- Lead the technical execution of projects from conception through completion
- Develop and manage project execution plans, budgets, and schedules
- Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams (civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.)
- Review and approve engineering designs, drawings, and specifications
- Manage project risks and implement mitigation strategies
- Oversee procurement processes including technical bid evaluations
- Conduct regular project progress meetings and report to senior management
- Ensure compliance with all relevant codes, standards, and regulations
- Manage change control processes and variation orders
- Coordinate commissioning and handover activities
- Technical Skills:
- Comprehensive understanding of engineering principles in relevant discipline
- Proficiency in project management methodologies (Waterfall, Agile, Hybrid)
- Strong knowledge of engineering software relevant to the field
- Ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings
- Experience with contract management and administration
- Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (discipline specific to project type)
- Minimum 7 years engineering experience with 3+ years in project engineering
- Proven track record of managing projects worth $5M+
- Certifications (Preferred):
- PMP or PRINCE2 certification
- Professional Engineer (PE) license
- Six Sigma Green/Black Belt
- Soft Skills:
- Strong leadership and team management capabilities
- Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills
- Outstanding communication skills (technical reporting and presentations)
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced environment
To provide technical engineering support to construction projects, ensuring work is performed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with design specifications and quality standards.
- Review and interpret construction drawings and specifications
- Provide technical support to construction teams in the field
- Develop method statements and work procedures for complex activities
- Coordinate with design teams to resolve construction issues
- Monitor work quality through inspections and testing protocols
- Manage material approvals and non-conformance reports
- Verify quantities and prepare progress measurements for payment
- Implement and enforce safety programs and quality control plans
- Supervise subcontractors and ensure compliance with project requirements
- Maintain accurate daily reports and construction records
- Technical Skills:
- Thorough knowledge of construction methods and best practices
- Understanding of relevant building codes and regulations
- Proficiency in construction management software (Procore, Bluebeam, etc.)
- Ability to perform basic engineering calculations and analyses
- Familiarity with surveying and layout techniques
- Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management
- Minimum 4 years construction experience in relevant sector
- Field experience with heavy civil or building construction
- Certifications (Preferred):
- OSHA 30-hour Construction Safety Certification
- LEED Accredited Professional
- Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
- Soft Skills:
- Strong problem-solving skills for field challenges
- Ability to work effectively in harsh site conditions
- Excellent organizational and documentation skills
- Ability to communicate effectively with diverse teams
To plan, coordinate and execute commissioning activities ensuring that systems and equipment are installed correctly, operate as designed, and are ready for safe operation.
- Develop comprehensive commissioning plans and procedures
- Coordinate pre-commissioning checks and punch list management
- Lead functional testing of mechanical, electrical, and control systems
- Verify system performance against design parameters
- Troubleshoot and resolve commissioning issues
- Develop and implement safety procedures for commissioning activities
- Coordinate with operations teams for system handover
- Conduct operator training on new systems
- Compile and maintain commissioning documentation
- Participate in HAZOP and risk assessment reviews
- Technical Skills:
- Deep understanding of system startup and commissioning processes
- Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems
- Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, control logic diagrams, and schematics
- Familiarity with testing equipment and diagnostic tools
- Understanding of process safety and functional safety standards
- Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering
- 5+ years experience in commissioning or operations engineering
- Industry-specific experience (oil & gas, power plants, etc.)
- Certifications (Preferred):
- Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP)
- TÜV Functional Safety Certification
- Equipment-specific manufacturer certifications
- Soft Skills:
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Ability to work under pressure during critical startup phases
- Excellent documentation and report writing skills
- Team leadership and coordination capabilities
To create innovative, functional, and cost-effective mechanical designs that meet performance requirements while considering manufacturability, reliability, and safety.
- Develop 3D models and detailed engineering drawings using CAD software
- Perform engineering calculations for stress, thermal, and fluid dynamics
- Select appropriate materials and manufacturing processes
- Conduct design reviews and incorporate feedback from stakeholders
- Create and maintain bills of materials (BOMs) and specifications
- Perform tolerance analysis and apply GD&T principles
- Collaborate with manufacturing teams to ensure design feasibility
- Conduct FEA analysis to validate designs
- Develop prototypes and oversee testing programs
- Stay current with industry standards and emerging technologies
- Technical Skills:
- Expertise in SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar CAD software
- Strong knowledge of mechanical engineering principles
- Understanding of manufacturing processes (machining, casting, welding)
- Experience with FEA software (ANSYS, SimScale, etc.)
- Knowledge of industry standards (ASME, ISO, DIN)
- Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering
- 3+ years of mechanical design experience
- Portfolio demonstrating successful design projects
- Certifications (Preferred):
- Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP)
- ASME GD&T Certification
- Professional Engineer (PE) license
- Soft Skills:
- Creative problem-solving and innovative thinking
- Attention to detail and precision
- Ability to work in cross-functional teams
- Strong technical writing and documentation skills
To design, analyze, and specify piping systems that safely and efficiently transport fluids in industrial facilities while meeting all regulatory and operational requirements.
- Develop piping layouts and equipment arrangements
- Perform pipe stress analysis using CAESAR II or similar software
- Specify piping materials, valves, and specialty items
- Prepare piping specifications and material take-offs
- Coordinate with other disciplines for space management
- Review and approve vendor drawings and submittals
- Ensure compliance with applicable codes (ASME B31.3, API, etc.)
- Participate in 3D model reviews and clash detection
- Develop isometric drawings and support designs
- Provide technical support during construction
- Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in piping design software (AutoCAD Plant 3D, PDMS, SP3D)
- Strong knowledge of piping materials and fabrication methods
- Experience with stress analysis software (CAESAR II, AutoPIPE)
- Understanding of process flow and P&ID development
- Knowledge of pipe support design and installation
- Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering
- 5+ years experience in piping design/engineering
- Industry-specific experience (oil & gas, chemical, power)
- Certifications (Preferred):
- ASME B31.3 Process Piping Certification
- CAESAR II Certification
- Professional Engineer (PE) license
- Soft Skills:
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams
- Attention to detail in design and documentation
- Effective communication with vendors and contractors
To design, analyze, and maintain pipeline systems for the safe and efficient transportation of hydrocarbons, water, or other fluids over long distances.
- Perform hydraulic analysis to determine pipeline sizing and pump requirements
- Develop route selection studies considering environmental and geotechnical factors
- Specify pipe materials, coatings, and cathodic protection systems
- Design pipeline crossings (roads, rivers, railways)
- Conduct stress analysis for pipeline expansion and support design
- Develop pipeline integrity management programs
- Coordinate with regulatory agencies for permitting
- Analyze inline inspection (ILI) data and recommend repair strategies
- Prepare construction specifications and oversight plans
- Develop emergency response and leak detection systems
- Technical Skills:
- Expertise in pipeline hydraulic modeling software (PIPESIM, AFT Fathom)
- Knowledge of pipeline design codes (ASME B31.4, B31.8, API 1104)
- Understanding of corrosion mechanisms and mitigation techniques
- Experience with GIS software for route planning
- Familiarity with pipeline integrity assessment methods
- Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Civil, or Petroleum Engineering
- 6+ years experience in pipeline engineering
- Experience with both liquid and gas pipelines
- Certifications (Preferred):
- API 1169 Pipeline Construction Inspector
- NACE Cathodic Protection Specialist
- Pipeline Integrity Management Certification
- Soft Skills:
- Strong project management capabilities
- Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams
- Excellent technical writing and documentation skills
- Understanding of regulatory and environmental considerations
To design, implement, and maintain instrumentation and control systems that ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operation of industrial processes.
- Develop control system architectures and network designs
- Specify field instruments (flow meters, pressure transmitters, control valves)
- Design and program PLC/DCS systems (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Yokogawa)
- Develop HMI/SCADA applications and alarm management systems
- Create loop diagrams, instrument indexes, and wiring schematics
- Implement safety instrumented systems (SIS) per IEC 61511
- Conduct control system FAT and SAT testing
- Troubleshoot and optimize control loops
- Develop control narratives and functional descriptions
- Coordinate with process engineers for control strategy development
- Technical Skills:
- Expertise in PLC/DCS programming (Ladder Logic, Function Block, SFC)
- Knowledge of fieldbus protocols (Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus, HART)
- Understanding of process control theories (PID, cascade, feedforward)
- Experience with SIL calculations and safety lifecycle
- Familiarity with instrumentation calibration and maintenance
- Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Electronics, or Control Engineering
- 5+ years experience in instrumentation and control systems
- Industry-specific experience (oil & gas, chemical, pharmaceutical)
- Certifications (Preferred):
- ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP)
- TÜV Functional Safety Engineer
- Control system vendor certifications (Siemens, Rockwell, etc.)
- Soft Skills:
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Attention to detail in system documentation
- Ability to work with operations and maintenance teams
- Excellent communication skills for training and knowledge transfer
To design, analyze, and maintain electrical power systems and components that provide safe, reliable, and efficient power distribution for industrial and commercial facilities.
- Design electrical power distribution systems (LV/MV/HV)
- Perform load flow, short circuit, and arc flash studies
- Specify electrical equipment (transformers, switchgear, MCCs)
- Develop single line diagrams and protection schemes
- Design lighting systems and perform illumination calculations
- Coordinate with utilities for power supply and interconnection
- Develop grounding systems and lightning protection
- Prepare cable schedules and raceway designs
- Review contractor submittals and shop drawings
- Provide technical support during construction and commissioning
- Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in electrical design software (ETAP, SKM, EasyPower)
- Strong knowledge of electrical codes (NEC, IEC, IEEE)
- Understanding of power system protection and coordination
- Experience with hazardous area classification
- Knowledge of renewable energy systems integration
- Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
- 5+ years experience in electrical system design
- Experience in industrial power systems
- Certifications (Preferred):
- Professional Engineer (PE) license
- Certified Energy Manager (CEM)
- IEEE or IET membership
- Soft Skills:
- Strong analytical and calculation abilities
- Attention to detail in design and documentation
- Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams
- Excellent communication skills for client interactions