Principal Telecom Engineer

Job Overview

The Principal Telecom Engineer interprets internal or external business issues and recommends best practices. They solve complex Telecommunications engineering problems, working independently with minimal guidance. The role may involve leading functional teams or projects, and the holder is a specialist in Telecommunications engineering with deep expertise and broad knowledge of the discipline within the Engineering function.

Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed analyses and design for Telecom systems in accordance with design basis, specifications, design codes, and standards.
• Apply in‑depth skills and broad knowledge to address complex, non‑standard problems.
• Prepare detailed design calculations, reports, and procedures.
• Manage own time to meet objectives; as a Lead Engineer, forecast and plan resource requirements, communicate complex concepts, and persuade others to adopt a point of view.
• When acting as Lead Engineer, oversee a small or medium Telecom Engineering team.
• Direct the Discipline engineering design of the assigned work area within planned schedule and budget, adhering to standards, MDR, and project‑specific procedures.
• Plan, organize, and direct all aspects of Discipline execution: scope, deliverables, schedule, and manpower resources—aligning allocations with the Discipline Manager.
• Identify interfaces and deliverables.
• Maintain responsibility for progress and productivity, taking corrective action when required.
• Act as the project representative for the Discipline during meetings with the Project Team, Customer discipline lead, and relevant agencies (certifying authorities, auditors, third parties).
• Become fully familiar with the project scope, specifications, schedule, and inter‑discipline requirements; identify concerns early and take initiative to address issues.
• Interpret contractual requirements related to engineering execution.
• Identify scope changes and promptly raise change notifications, providing supporting documentation and estimates.
• Provide similar support for Variation Orders.
• Interface with all disciplines to develop clash‑free designs.
• Interface with other departments for inputs to Discipline designs and drawings.
• Coordinate with other engineering disciplines, Planning, Fabrication, Marine, and Project Management Teams as required.
• Document substantive communications and forward copies to the Discipline Lead Engineer and Discipline Manager.
• Prepare estimates for bid proposals, including technical query reviews, execution statements, manhour estimates, and project‑specific requirements.
• Raise technical queries to confirm missing information, clarify scope, and maintain preferred procedures, specifications, and standards.
• Prepare, review, and (as Lead Engineer) approve Discipline engineering design basis, philosophies, and technical specifications.
• Participate in finalizing deliverables lists, ensuring compliance with specifications and functional integrity.
• Review project schedule and fabrication schedule for construction sequence, milestones, and engineering scope.
• Attend project kickoff, review, vendor, engineering, and offshore site surveys, as required.
• Provide technical direction and review of Designers producing Telecom Engineering products.
• Assist procurement personnel in procuring Discipline equipment, materials, and services; prepare, review, and (as Lead Engineer) approve requisitions, evaluate technical quotations, compile bid tabulations, and coordinate with Procurement.
• Assist in updating weight reports based on vendor information.
• Review and (as Lead Engineer) approve vendor and subcontractor submittals, checking for compliance with project specifications.
• Review and (as Lead Engineer) approve design verification through single‑discipline check / inter‑discipline check (IDC).
• Provide technical support to fabrication queries, identifying defect/rectification requirements.
• Keep the Discipline Manager and Project Management Team apprised of all activities and concerns (technical, budgetary, manpower).
• Support progress reports, including productivity metrics.
• Check final subcontractor and vendor data manuals to ensure all required data has been received and approved.
• Present issues and problems to Customers timely and assist the Lead Engineer in negotiating resolutions.
• Perform Technical Quality Audit reviews by MDR Global Procedures when required.
• Assist Lead Engineer with responses to Customers and other agencies on review and approval.
• Capture lessons learned and enter them into the MDR Lessons Learned system.
• Guide less experienced engineers on MDR and Discipline procedures, standards, worksheets, design calculations, software, requisitions, and technical queries.
• Supervise and coordinate assigned engineers and Liaise with project Lead Designers for Discipline deliverables.
• Ensure engineering integrity of the assigned work area.
• Monitor costs of own work processes.
• Assist in maintaining departmental technical guidelines and standard calculation notes.
• Participate in development and maintenance of Global Procedures, Software, and Standards.
• May participate in standards development committees or task groups such as NFPA.
• Develop communication and presentation skills (write technical papers, present at conferences or seminars, lunch‑and‑learn sessions).
• Identify and provide training to staff on specific techniques and proprietary software.
• Provide performance information to the Discipline Manager.
• Assist the Discipline Manager in interviewing job applicants.
• Prepare, review, and (as Lead Engineer) approve Telecom systems definitions, specifications, safety drawings, and system architecture.
• Prepare, review, and (as Lead Engineer) approve FDS&GDS logic (as applicable) and cooperate with Instrumentation Engineering.
• Review and (as Lead Engineer) approve specifications and data sheets for Telecom equipment.
• Review and (as Lead Engineer) approve Telecom equipment spare parts lists.
• Review and (as Lead Engineer) approve inputs to P&ID (HSE Process Part) development and markups based on vendor information.
• Review and (as Lead Engineer) approve Telecom equipment testing procedures.
• Attend Telecom equipment FATs as required.
• Participate in HAZOP, SIL, and Classification Studies.
• Assist in closing out HAZOP action items if needed.
• Provide construction, pre‑commissioning, and commissioning support.
• Participate in Telecom equipment testing.
• Gain deep knowledge of Telecom related systems (FDS, GDS, CCTV, TEL/LAN, Radio Systems, Intercom Systems, Public Address General Alarm Systems, Intrusion Detection Systems, Access Control Systems, etc.).
• When acting as Lead Engineer, serve as project‑based Discipline point of contact in communications and meetings with Customer counterparts, document substantive communications, prepare bids, and update project Discipline engineering budgets.
• Identify project staff needs, coordinate tasks, responsibilities, and manhour budgets, 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 productivity.
• Alert the project team of any deviation from scope or need for a change order.
• Monitor KPI measurement results and take corrective action to improve Discipline performance and interface performance.
• Coordinate with other Discipline Lead Engineers and Designers to ensure timely receipt of necessary design inputs.
• Review and approve requisitions, technical quotation evaluations, bid tabulations, and purchase requisitions; coordinate with Procurement to expedite vendor documents.
• Lead the Discipline team during project audits (internal, Customer, and third‑party technical audits) and Design Reviews.
• Review and resolve Customer and agency comments on documents and drawings produced by the team.
• Assist the Discipline Manager in preparing quarterly forecasts and manpower planning.
• Anticipate project engineering needs and plan accordingly.
• Coordinate vendors for discipline‑managed and procured items.
• Assist the Discipline Manager and Project Engineering Manager or Project Manager in performance evaluation of project team members.

Reporting

Reports to: Project Lead Engineer, Project Engineering Manager or Project Manager
Functional: Supervising Engineer or Engineering Manager
Liaises with: AII Engineering disciplines, Fabrication Group, Safety Department, Offshore Group, Project Management Team, Document Control, Project Planner, Project Cost Controller, QC and Certification Group, Procurement Group, Subcontractors, Vendors, and Customers
Supervises: Senior Telecom Engineers and Telecom Engineers

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering (Master’s 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 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.
• Knowledge of Functional Safety (HW/SW design according to IEC 61508, Functional Safety Analysis, Design and Operation according to IEC 61511).