Principal Mechanical Engineer

Roles and responsibilities

The Principal Mechanical Engineer is responsible for interpreting internal or external business issues and recommending best practices. They will be tasked with solving complex Mechanical Engineering-related problems and will work independently with minimal guidance. The Principal Mechanical Engineer may be responsible for leading functional teams or projects and is regarded as a specialist in Mechanical Engineering. As such, they must have in-depth expertise as well as broad knowledge of the Mechanical discipline within the Engineering function.

Responsibilities

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 Mechanical Engineering team as a Lead Engineer
  • Lead the Discipline engineering design of the assigned work area and completed 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 workforce resources - agree on 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 the 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

Desired candidate profile

• 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 manhour 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 site surveys, as required
• Provide technical direction and review of Designers producing products related to Mechanical 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
• Provide procurement assistance, including preparing, reviewing, and (as Lead Engineer) approving requisitions, evaluating technical quotations, preparing queries, compiling bid tabulations and recommendations, preparing purchase requisitions, and coordinating with Procurement to expedite vendor documents, as directed by Discipline Lead Engineer
• Assist in updating weight report 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/ inter discipline check (IDC)
• Provide technical support to fabrication queries
• Keep the Discipline Manager and Project Management Team apprised of all activities and concerns, technical, budgetary, and workforce-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 resolutions in accordance with project and company requirements