I&C Lead

Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Lead Major LNG Development | UAE | Client-Side Opportunity


The Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate will combine strong front-end I&C engineering expertise with practical LNG project delivery experience, having worked across the full engineering and construction lifecycle.

They will be comfortable representing the client, challenging EPC contractor deliverables, making technical decisions and ensuring control and safety systems are designed to meet project, operational and regulatory requirements.

This is a senior technical leadership opportunity requiring a balance of engineering expertise, contractor management and major LNG project experience.

This opportunity is particularly suited to an experienced I&C professional with a proven track record delivering major LNG projects from FEED through detailed engineering, EPC, construction, commissioning and project completion.


Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate all I&C engineering activities during the FEED phase, providing technical direction and oversight of engineering contractors.
  
  
• Develop and maintain the I&C Design Basis, engineering philosophies, technical specifications and discipline execution plans.
  
  
• Review and approve contractor engineering deliverables, ensuring compliance with project requirements, international standards and operational objectives.
  
  
• Oversee the design and integration of Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), Emergency Shutdown (ESD), Fire & Gas (F&G) and associated automation systems.
  
  
• Define control philosophies, safeguarding strategies, control system architectures and interfaces with process, electrical and mechanical disciplines.
  
  
• Review control narratives, cause-and-effect diagrams, instrument indexes, logic diagrams and associated engineering documentation.
  
  
• Provide technical assurance across FEED activities, identifying design risks and ensuring engineering quality, safety and compliance.
  
  
• Participate in HAZOP, SIL, ALARP and multidisciplinary design reviews, supporting functional safety and risk mitigation.
  
  
• Coordinate with EPC contractors, control system vendors, system integrators and specialist engineering consultants.
  
  
• Support procurement activities through technical evaluations, specifications and vendor documentation reviews.
  
  
• Ensure cybersecurity, maintainability, operability and commissioning requirements are considered throughout the engineering design.
  
  
• Support project planning, cost estimation, scheduling and the transition from FEED into EPC execution.
  
  
• Provide leadership and technical guidance to I&C and telecommunications engineering personnel.
  
  

Experience & Qualifications Essential Requirements

• Minimum 15 years of relevant Instrumentation & Control engineering experience within the LNG, oil and gas or major process industries.
  
  
• Direct experience delivering major LNG developments, with demonstrable involvement across the project lifecycle from FEED through EPC, construction, commissioning and completion.
  
  
• Proven experience operating in a senior I&C leadership or technical authority capacity.
  
  
• Strong experience representing the client or operator, reviewing and overseeing engineering contractor activities.
  
  
• Extensive technical knowledge of DCS, SIS, ESD, F&G and integrated control and safety systems.
  
  
• Experience developing or reviewing control system architectures, engineering philosophies, technical specifications and safeguarding documentation.
  
  
• Strong understanding of international engineering and functional safety standards, including IEC, ISA and API.
  
  
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams, vendors and external contractors.
  
  
• Engineering degree or equivalent qualification in Instrumentation, Control Systems, Electronics, Automation or a related discipline.
  
  
• Fluent English communication skills.
  
  

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience with Technip Energies, Aker Solutions, Wood or other major international EPC engineering contractors.
  
  
• Experience working within an LNG operator, owner's engineering team or Project Management Consultancy (PMC).
  
  
• Knowledge of IEC 61511, SIL assessment, alarm management and industrial cybersecurity.
  
  
• Experience supporting major greenfield LNG developments and large-scale offshore or onshore processing facilities.
  
  
• Familiarity with FAT, SAT, commissioning preparation, systems integration and operational handover.
  
  

The Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate will combine strong front-end I&C engineering expertise with practical LNG project delivery experience, having worked across the full engineering and construction lifecycle.

They will be comfortable representing the client, challenging EPC contractor deliverables, making technical decisions and ensuring control and safety systems are designed to meet project, operational and regulatory requirements.

This is a senior technical leadership opportunity requiring a balance of engineering expertise, contractor management and major LNG project experience.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.