McDermott International — a global leader in energy engineering with over 100 years of industry excellence, 30,000+ professionals across 54 countries — is seeking an experienced Senior Commissioning Engineer based in Dubai, UAE. This is a senior technical leadership role responsible for commissioning and start-up of mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems across oil & gas, chemical, refinery, and offshore energy projects. The role covers home office deliverable preparation, site walk-down inspections, punch listing, function testing, performance testing, and cross-functional coordination with project and client teams — with willingness to travel to international construction sites.
100+Years of Excellence
30,000+Global Professionals
54Countries Worldwide
Senior8–15 Yrs Experience
About the Role — Senior Commissioning Engineer, McDermott Dubai
Industry: Oil & Gas · Offshore Energy · Chemical Plants · Refinery · Subsea Infrastructure · Offshore Wind
Reporting: Project Commissioning Manager (Project) · Function Commissioning Manager (Functional)
Disciplines: Mechanical · Electrical · Instrumentation — commissioning, completions, and start-up
Deliverables: O&M Manuals · Commissioning Procedures · Spare Parts · First Fills · System Check Lists
Travel: Required — willing and able to travel to international construction and commissioning sites
Why This Senior Commissioning Engineer Role at McDermott Stands Out
Global Energy Leader: Join the company that has been making the impossible possible in oil & gas, offshore, and energy transition for over 100 years
Energy Transition Work: Contribute to offshore wind, subsea infrastructure, and sustainable energy projects alongside conventional oil & gas assignments
Senior Technical Impact: Act as a knowledge resource for the commissioning team — solving complex problems and shaping best practices across international projects
Career Growth: Senior Commissioning Engineer roles at McDermott offer a clear progression to Principal Engineer, Commissioning Manager, and Global Function Leadership positions
Position Overview
The Senior Commissioning Engineer at McDermott Dubai is a high-responsibility technical leadership role that spans both home office deliverable preparation and site commissioning execution across oil & gas, chemical, refinery, and offshore energy projects. You will apply deep discipline-specific knowledge and best practices to improve commissioning outcomes — serving as a mentor and technical resource for less experienced engineers, solving complex mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation commissioning problems, coordinating cross-functional activities with project and client teams, supervising craft personnel, and actively participating in function testing, start-up, and performance testing activities at international project sites. This role requires strong organizational skills, clear technical communication, and a willingness to travel globally on project assignments.
Why This Role Matters: As Senior Commissioning Engineer at McDermott Dubai, you are a driving force behind the safe and efficient start-up of some of the world’s most complex energy infrastructure — from subsea pipelines thousands of feet below sea level to offshore platforms hundreds of miles from shore and onshore refinery and chemical processing facilities. Your commissioning expertise directly determines whether these critical facilities start up on schedule, safely, and sustainably — delivering the energy the world needs today and the clean energy infrastructure it will depend on tomorrow.
Key Responsibilities
Home Office Deliverables & Engineering Support
- Report to the Commissioning Manager and provide structured technical support to the Principal Commissioning Engineer in the preparation of all home office commissioning deliverables — including O&M manuals, commissioning and start-up spares lists, first fills and consumables requirements, and commissioning and start-up procedures
- Apply best practices and deep discipline-specific knowledge to improve commissioning deliverable quality and process efficiency across the project team
- Act as a go-to technical resource for less experienced commissioning engineers — sharing conceptual and practical expertise, providing guidance, and supporting team capability development
Site Commissioning — Walk-Down, Punch Listing & Testing
- Participate actively in walk-down inspections at project sites — systematically verifying that mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation installations meet design specifications, commissioning requirements, and applicable regulatory standards
- Conduct structured punch listing activities — identifying, documenting, categorizing, and tracking all outstanding commissioning items through to resolution before system handover
- Execute discipline equipment system checks and tests, and perform comprehensive function testing of mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems to verify readiness for start-up
- Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation component issues that arise during commissioning — applying technical expertise to resolve problems efficiently and without delay to project milestones
Commissioning, Start-Up & Performance Testing
- Participate directly in Commissioning, Start-Up, and Performance Testing activities — operating systems, monitoring performance parameters, interpreting test data, and documenting results against defined acceptance criteria
- Identify and resolve operational and maintenance issues that emerge during commissioning, start-up, and performance testing — implementing practical corrective solutions with minimal disruption to project schedules
- Supervise craft personnel required for site pre-commissioning and commissioning activities — ensuring all field work is conducted safely, correctly, and in accordance with project commissioning procedures and HSE requirements
Cross-Functional Coordination & Client Relations
- Work collaboratively within the project team and directly with the Client to maintain positive, productive working relationships throughout all commissioning and start-up phases
- Coordinate commissioning activities with discipline lead engineers, project engineers, and the construction and fabrication team — ensuring seamless handover from construction through to commissioning and eventual operations readiness
- Communicate technical solutions and commissioning concepts clearly to both engineering and non-engineering stakeholders — ensuring all parties understand project requirements, risks, and progress at all times
- Coordinate activities with other engineers in the commissioning team — aligning workloads, resolving interface issues, and ensuring all commissioning activities proceed in the correct logical sequence
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering — mechanical, electrical, chemical, process, or a closely related engineering discipline
Experience Requirements
- 8–15 years of experience in oil and gas with a major contractor or consultant — with a strong understanding of commissioning, completions, and start-up concepts, principles, and practices
- Minimum 5 years of experience in a chemical plant, refinery, or oil & gas processing facility — with direct exposure to pre-commissioning, commissioning, or start-up activities
- Preferably 2+ years of previous commissioning and start-up experience in the chemical, refinery, or oil & gas industry — including participation in function testing and performance testing activities
- Willingness and ability to travel to international construction and commissioning sites on project assignments as required by McDermott’s global project portfolio
Key Skills & Competencies
- Good understanding of commissioning concepts across multiple disciplines — mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation — with practical troubleshooting capability on live commissioning projects
- Strong computer software skills in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio — for deliverable preparation, technical reporting, and commissioning documentation
- Excellent organizational skills and adaptability — able to manage multiple discipline groups and shifting priorities across complex, fast-moving international project environments
- Ability to assess and communicate project requirements and expectations clearly, positively, and productively to diverse engineering and operations teams
- Proficiency in English required — multi-language skills are a valued additional asset for McDermott’s internationally diverse project teams
About McDermott — Making the Impossible Possible for 100+ Years
McDermott International is a global engineering, procurement, construction, and installation company with over 100 years of proven excellence across the full energy value chain. With more than 30,000 of the brightest minds working across 54 countries, McDermott has forged some of the most trusted partnerships in the energy sector — laying subsea infrastructure thousands of feet below sea level, installing offshore platforms hundreds of miles from shore, leading offshore wind infrastructure design and construction, and reshaping onshore landscapes to deliver the energy products the world needs safely and sustainably. Today, McDermott is at the forefront of the global energy transition — driving innovation and sustainability alongside its deep conventional oil & gas expertise.
Career Outlook: Senior Commissioning Engineers at McDermott have a well-defined progression path toward Principal Commissioning Engineer, Commissioning Manager, Project Director, and Global Function Manager roles — all high-value, internationally respected positions within one of the energy sector’s most prestigious and globally active companies.
Who Should Apply?
- Senior Oil & Gas Commissioning Engineers: With 8–15 years of major contractor or consultant experience in commissioning, start-up, and performance testing of oil & gas or refinery facilities across the Middle East or internationally
- Mechanical / Electrical / Instrumentation Engineers: With 5+ years of processing facility experience and 2+ years of direct commissioning and start-up role experience in chemical, refinery, or offshore environments
- Offshore Energy Engineers: With subsea, platform, or offshore wind commissioning experience seeking a senior role with one of the world’s most respected energy engineering contractors in Dubai
- Commissioning Team Leaders: With demonstrated ability to supervise craft personnel, coordinate cross-functional engineering teams, and manage commissioning deliverables from home office through to site handover
- Internationally Mobile Engineers: Based in Dubai and willing to travel to international project sites — bringing 8+ years of oil & gas engineering expertise to a senior technical leadership role at McDermott
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