McDermott International, a globally respected engineering, procurement, and construction contractor with over 100 years of industry leadership and more than 30,000 specialists across 54 countries, is hiring a highly experienced Principal Piping Engineer in Dubai, UAE — responsible for leading complex piping engineering design and analysis across Conceptual, Pre-FEED, FEED, and Detailed Design phases, managing piping discipline execution on major oil and gas EPC and offshore projects, and applying in-depth expertise across all piping sub-disciplines including design, modelling, stress analysis, material engineering, and MTO activities.
About McDermott — 100 Years of Global EPC Excellence
Legacy: Over 100 years of making the impossible possible — from subsea infrastructure thousands of feet below sea level to offshore platforms hundreds of miles from shore
Global Scale: 30,000+ of the world’s brightest engineering minds operating across 54 countries — spanning oil and gas, offshore wind, and onshore energy infrastructure
Energy Transition: A pioneer in offshore wind infrastructure design and construction — actively driving the global energy transition alongside its traditional oil and gas EPC excellence
Dubai Office: A strategic engineering hub within McDermott’s global multi-office project execution network — supporting major FEED and EPC projects across the Middle East and beyond
Partnerships: Decades of trusted partnerships across the full energy value chain — with a reputation for technical innovation, project delivery, and engineering excellence at every phase
Why This Principal Piping Engineer Role in Dubai Stands Out
Global EPC Prestige: McDermott is among the world’s most respected EPC contractors — joining at Principal Engineer level places you at the technical pinnacle of one of engineering’s most admired organisations
Full Discipline Authority: Lead the full piping discipline across major FEED and EPC projects — from concept design through detailed engineering, 3D modelling reviews, MTO, stress analysis, and client representation
Multi-Office Execution: Work within McDermott’s global multi-office project execution framework — gaining unparalleled exposure to international engineering collaboration across 54 countries
Energy Transition Pioneer: Contribute to both traditional oil and gas projects and McDermott’s growing offshore wind infrastructure portfolio — positioning yourself at the cutting edge of the global energy transition
Position Overview
McDermott International is seeking a seasoned Principal Piping Engineer in Dubai to interpret complex business issues, solve advanced piping design challenges, and lead functional piping engineering teams on major oil and gas EPC projects. You will perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed design analysis per project scope, codes, and standards, prepare detailed design calculations and reports, lead teams to innovative solutions, and — when acting as Lead Engineer — direct medium or large engineering teams, plan and organise all discipline execution, manage scope, deliverables, schedule, and manpower, support 3D model reviews at 30%, 60%, and 90% progress, review and approve design philosophies, specifications, pipe supports, and MTOs, and act as the piping discipline representative during client and authority meetings. A minimum of 15 to 20 years of oil and gas piping engineering experience with major EPC contractors is required.
Why This Role Matters: As Principal Piping Engineer at McDermott Dubai, you apply the deepest level of piping engineering expertise to projects that literally reshape energy infrastructure around the world — from offshore platforms in remote seas to onshore facilities that power entire nations, lead and mentor engineering and design teams on some of the most technically complex and commercially significant oil and gas EPC projects in the global energy sector — making a lasting professional impact at every level from individual calculations through team leadership and client representation, work within McDermott’s trusted multi-office global execution framework — collaborating with world-class engineering talent across 54 countries on FEED and EPC programmes that define the benchmarks of piping engineering excellence, apply your comprehensive expertise across all piping sub-disciplines — design, modelling, stress analysis, material engineering, and MTO — on projects spanning the full energy project lifecycle from concept through detailed design and into construction support, and build the most senior, most respected tier of oil and gas piping engineering career credentials at a 100-year-old global contractor — with the professional recognition, project exposure, and international network that only a McDermott Principal Engineer appointment can provide.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Engineering Leadership & Complex Problem Solving
- Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed design analysis — developing comprehensive engineering outputs in accordance with project Scope of Work, design basis, project documentation, international design codes, and McDermott procedures within planned schedule and budget
- Apply in-depth piping engineering expertise and broad organisational knowledge to address complex design problems and non-standard technical situations — reporting issues and proposed solutions to the Project Management Team and Department Manager at the earliest opportunity
- Prepare detailed design calculations, engineering analyses, design reports, and technical procedures — ensuring all deliverables meet project specifications, applicable codes, and the high professional standards expected of a Principal Engineer at McDermott
- Lead engineering teams to solve complex piping challenges through sophisticated analytical thinking, sound technical judgment, and the identification of innovative, cost-effective engineering solutions appropriate to the project context
Lead Engineer Responsibilities — Project Execution
- Direct medium or large piping engineering and design teams as Lead Engineer — leading the full discipline engineering design of assigned work areas to completion within planned schedule and budget, in full accordance with McDermott standards and project-specific procedures
- Plan, organise, and direct all aspects of piping discipline execution across assigned projects — defining scope, deliverables, schedule, and manpower requirements with clarity and maintaining full accountability for progress, productivity, and corrective action
- Act as the piping discipline representative during technical meetings with project teams, clients, and relevant agencies including certifying authorities, auditors, and third parties — maintaining McDermott’s professional and technical reputation at all stakeholder levels
- Become fully familiar with the project Scope of Work, specifications, schedule, and all inter-discipline requirements — maintaining a comprehensive understanding that enables proactive identification of scope changes, interface issues, and engineering risks throughout the project lifecycle
Piping Budget, Schedule & Quality Management
- Review the piping budget and provide detailed piping discipline input to the Project Execution Plan — planning, organising, and assigning tasks, responsibilities, and man-hour budgets to piping sub-discipline teams and verifying completion within approved budgets
- Support 3D model reviews at 30%, 60%, and 90% progress milestones — providing authoritative piping discipline input at each stage to ensure design integrity, inter-discipline coordination, and constructability requirements are consistently met
- Prepare piping discipline forecasts identifying scope changes promptly — raising change notifications, preparing discipline man-hour and schedule updates, and alerting the project team to any deviation from the contracted scope of work requiring a formal change order
- Check and approve design philosophies, specifications, pipe supports, standard detail drawings, Material Take-Offs, and material requisitions — ensuring all piping deliverables comply with the project scope, applicable international codes, and client contract requirements
Interface Management & Continuous Development
- Interface effectively with other engineering disciplines — obtaining and providing critical inputs for piping engineering and design, and ensuring seamless technical coordination across structural, process, electrical, instrumentation, and mechanical disciplines throughout the project
- Interface with High-Value Engineering Centres (HVECs) to ensure a clear, shared understanding of their scope of work — coordinating deliverables, resolving technical queries, and maintaining engineering alignment across McDermott’s global multi-office project execution network
- Monitor KPI measurement results across the piping discipline — taking prompt corrective actions to maintain project performance and leading the piping discipline during internal and external project audits with professionalism and technical authority
- Support proposals and studies, assist the Department Manager in performance evaluations of piping team members, and contribute to a culture of technical excellence, continuous learning, and professional development across McDermott’s Dubai piping engineering community
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university — this is a firm educational requirement for the Principal Piping Engineer role at McDermott Dubai
- Registered Professional Engineer (PE) status or membership of a recognised professional engineering society is preferred — demonstrating the highest level of engineering credential and professional commitment appropriate to Principal Engineer seniority
Experience Requirements
- 15 to 20 years of piping engineering experience with major EPC contractors in oil and gas — covering Conceptual, Pre-FEED, FEED, and Detailed Design phases with demonstrated leadership at Lead Piping Engineer level on FEED and EPC projects
- Previous experience as Lead Piping Engineer on FEED and EPC projects through multi-office project execution — essential for managing McDermott’s globally distributed engineering team structure on complex international oil and gas programmes
- Familiarity with all piping sub-disciplines including Design and Modelling, Pipe Stress and Support, Piping Material Engineering, and MTO activities and deliverables — providing the comprehensive technical authority expected of a Principal Engineer
Technical Knowledge & Software
- In-depth knowledge of international codes and standards including ANSI, ASME, API, BS, NFPA, and other applicable piping design standards — with demonstrated practical application across complex oil and gas EPC project environments
- Familiarity with SP3D, E3D, and Navisworks 3D piping design and modelling platforms — required for participating in and leading model reviews at key design progress milestones across FEED and EPC projects
- Familiarity with both stick-built and modularization approaches — with the ability to adapt piping design philosophy and execution strategy to the construction methodology selected for each specific project type
- Commercial awareness of project types, contract forms, and business aspects of EPC execution — combined with flexibility for business travel as required by McDermott project commitments worldwide
About McDermott International
McDermott International has been making the impossible possible for more than 100 years — forging trusted partnerships across the energy value chain to deliver infrastructure that powers the world. From laying subsea pipelines thousands of feet below sea level to installing platforms hundreds of miles offshore, designing and building offshore wind infrastructure, and reshaping the onshore energy landscape, McDermott’s 30,000+ specialists across 54 countries bring engineering ingenuity that fuels daily life for billions of people globally. Today, McDermott is driving the energy transition while maintaining its position as one of the world’s premier EPC contractors across oil, gas, power, and renewable energy sectors.
Career Excellence: Join McDermott International in Dubai as Principal Piping Engineer — where 100 years of global EPC heritage, 30,000 brilliant minds across 54 countries, and the most technically demanding oil and gas projects in the world await your principal-level piping engineering expertise and leadership.
Who Should Apply?
- Senior Lead Piping Engineers: With 15–20 years oil and gas EPC experience and proven Lead Piping Engineer track record on major FEED and EPC projects through multi-office execution at internationally respected contractors
- Oil & Gas Piping Specialists: With comprehensive expertise across all piping sub-disciplines — design, stress, material engineering, MTO — and deep knowledge of ASME, API, ANSI, and other international piping codes
- SP3D / E3D / Navisworks Proficient Engineers: With 3D model review leadership experience at 30%, 60%, and 90% progress milestones on large-scale offshore or onshore oil and gas EPC projects
- Professional Engineers (PE) in Oil & Gas Piping: Seeking a Principal Engineer appointment at one of the world’s most respected global EPC contractors — with Dubai-based project execution and global multi-office collaboration scope
- FEED & EPC Pipeline Engineering Veterans: With 15+ years spanning concept through detailed design on major offshore platforms, subsea infrastructure, or onshore oil and gas processing facilities in UAE, GCC, or globally
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