Materials Engineering Lead
BH-330810
Posted: 20/03/2026
- Competitive
- England South East Reading
- Contract
-
Petrochemical
Location: Reading, UK (Pre‑FEED Phase)
Contract: 12 months with opportunity to extend
Salary: Competitive hourly rate
Start Date: ASAP
The Opportunity NES Fircroft is supporting a global energy joint venture on a landmark downstream–petrochemical integration programme. This multi‑billion‑dollar development includes a world‑scale mixed‑feed steam cracker, major refinery upgrades, and extensive offsites and utilities expansion.
We are seeking an experienced Materials Engineering Lead to join the client’s Project Management Team (PMT) during the pre‑FEED stage, working from the contractor’s office in Reading. This is a senior technical leadership role shaping the materials strategy, standards, and integrity philosophy for one of the most significant energy projects currently in development.
Role Overview As the Materials Engineering Lead, you will act as the client’s technical authority for all materials‑related decisions across the project. You will guide the contractor, ensure alignment with engineering standards, and drive value‑focused, risk‑based materials selection for complex refining and petrochemical facilities.
This role requires both deep technical expertise and the ability to influence multidisciplinary teams, ensuring the design is safe, operable, cost‑effective, and compliant with project objectives.
Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership & Governance
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.
Contract: 12 months with opportunity to extend
Salary: Competitive hourly rate
Start Date: ASAP
The Opportunity NES Fircroft is supporting a global energy joint venture on a landmark downstream–petrochemical integration programme. This multi‑billion‑dollar development includes a world‑scale mixed‑feed steam cracker, major refinery upgrades, and extensive offsites and utilities expansion.
We are seeking an experienced Materials Engineering Lead to join the client’s Project Management Team (PMT) during the pre‑FEED stage, working from the contractor’s office in Reading. This is a senior technical leadership role shaping the materials strategy, standards, and integrity philosophy for one of the most significant energy projects currently in development.
Role Overview As the Materials Engineering Lead, you will act as the client’s technical authority for all materials‑related decisions across the project. You will guide the contractor, ensure alignment with engineering standards, and drive value‑focused, risk‑based materials selection for complex refining and petrochemical facilities.
This role requires both deep technical expertise and the ability to influence multidisciplinary teams, ensuring the design is safe, operable, cost‑effective, and compliant with project objectives.
Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership & Governance
- Provide subject‑matter expertise across materials, corrosion, metallurgy, welding, coatings, and refractory systems.
- Own and optimise materials‑related engineering standards, philosophies, and specifications.
- Ensure technical definition meets pre‑FEED/FEED maturity expectations.
- Guide the contractor’s materials engineering activities and review key deliverables.
- Participate in design reviews, HAZID/HAZOP, model reviews, and risk assessments.
- Assess new technologies and ensure appropriate qualification processes are followed.
- Advise on corrosion mechanisms, mitigation strategies, and materials selection for severe service environments.
- Support development of inspection, monitoring, coatings, and cathodic protection philosophies.
- Apply risk‑based decision‑making to materials choices.
- Identify opportunities for cost reduction and improved constructability.
- Support vendor evaluation, including review of datasheets, MTRs, ITPs, and FAT documentation.
- 15+ years’ experience in materials, corrosion, metallurgy, or mechanical integrity roles.
- Strong background in refining and/or petrochemical process units, ideally including hydroprocessing, heavy oil upgrading, sour gas treatment, ethylene cracking, or utilities/offsites.
- Experience working in both owner/operator and contractor/consultant environments.
- Familiarity with large‑scale modular design and its impact on materials specifications.
- Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience with Middle East projects or exposure to regional standards is advantageous.
- Influence the materials strategy for a major global megaproject.
- Work within a high‑calibre JV PMT environment.
- Long‑term project horizon with opportunities to progress into FEED/EPC phases.
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.