Lead Engineer

• Project site is in Basra, Iraq, but Lead Engineer will be a resident position in Dubai with potential traveling to Iraq if needed.
• Acting as the engineering Deputy for the Project Engineering Manager.
• Accountable for providing support to the Project Engineering Manager for overall engineering management including EPC engineering team mobilization, EPC engineering scope execution, engineer planning and cost, safety engineering, engineering risk assessment evaluation, owner engineers’ management, and Independent consultant.

The Lead Engineer is responsible for overseeing and supporting the engineering aspects of the Ratawi Solar PV project and TPIF project, comprising 4 (four) Units of Solar PV project with total capacity of 1 GW, 1 (one) GIS Grid substation and 4 (four) Overhead Transmission Lines. The Lead Engineer is the primary responsible person for all engineering activities performed by the Solar PV project EPC Contractor and TPIF EPC Contractor, Owner engineers, and all other project stakeholders. The Lead Engineer reports to the Project Engineering Manager and works closely with the Site Managers, Project Control Managers, HSE Managers, and Contract Managers, to ensure that activities are performed and delivered according to the Iraqi Minister of Electricity specifications, Company requirements, and best engineering standards in practice. The Lead Engineer is also responsible for ensuring that HSE standards are applied, project budget and planning for engineering are respected, and required quality for the deliverables is maintained.

Deputy Engineering Management

• The Project Engineering Manager serves as the primary authority on engineering matters for both the Ratawi Solar PV and TPIF projects. The Lead Engineer, acting as the deputy to the Project Engineering Manager, has primary responsibilities that include, but are not limited to, supporting the coordination and supervision of both the contractors’ engineering design and the owner’s engineering teams.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of EPC, PPA, GTIC, Owner Engineer, Independent Consultant contracts, and other project contracts and agreements.
• Ensure that engineering activities adhere to project schedules, specifications, quality, budgets, and safety objectives and standards.
• Accountable for managing engineering logistics, including document control, technical support, subcontractor coordination, etc.
• Conduct regular interface with site manager, monitor engineering progress, and enforce strict adherence to health, safety, and environmental regulations. Address issues to the Project Management Team (PMT).
• Responsible for maintaining detailed engineering records and reports, ensuring that all engineers are equipped with necessary tools and equipment to perform their tasks.
• Act as the main point of liaison on engineering matters, interfacing with the Ratawi Iraqi Affiliate, Contractor Engineering Management, Regulatory authorities, and other project stakeholders.
• Promote an integrated owner engineering team to supervise the EPC Contractor's engineering progress and quality of works until completion.
• Ensure the quality of engineering works together with the QA/QC Manager by attending necessary inspections, raising non-conformities, and following up on the resolution of quality issues.

Schedule Management and Reporting

• Ensure that EPC issues the documents and Owner engineer revises the documents as per project planning.
• Ensure that project engineering progress aligns with project planning.
• Develop detailed engineering schedules and task execution sequences, ensure correct resource and equipment allocation, monitor material quality and deliveries.
• Supervise and provide guidance to the Contractor engineering teams and owner engineering in terms of project progress and planning.
• Provide the Contract Manager with all necessary elements to prepare contractual communications/notifications, build commercial/contractual claims, and approve EPC Contractor milestones and invoices.
• Build necessary KPIs for engineering activities and follow up on actual progress versus planned.
• Ensure that critical engineering activities are executed according to schedule, look for opportunities to create margin within the critical path, and analyze the works and impose optimizations towards the Contractor where possible.
• Evaluate and submit to the Project Engineering Manager to approve all recovery plans for delayed activities to secure the overall schedule remains as initially planned.
• Daily management of owner engineering, such as activities performed, Personnel skills, reporting, etc.
• Ensure that owner engineering prepares and submits the weekly and monthly reports to be reviewed and submitted to the Project Engineering Manager.
• Coordinate the technical interface with project stakeholders. Manage priorities and allocate resources effectively to meet critical engineering deadlines.
• Propose engineering solutions to avoid progress impacts and change order requests.

Safety Management and Compliance

• Establish clear safety protocols, rules, and standard operating procedures for all engineering activities.
• Ensure that Project Safety Concept is developed during the engineering phase.
• Ensure that all procedures prepared during the engineering phase but related to the construction activities are supported by risk assessments to identify potential hazards, implement control measures, and develop method statements for safe execution.
• Enforce compliance with MoE specifications.
• Communicate safety updates, changes in regulations, changes in specifications, and best practices to the engineering team.

Communication and Coordination

• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ensure clear and effective communication between engineering teams such as EPC, Owner engineering, site engineer, etc.
• Resolve conflicts and misunderstandings arising from poor communication.

Team Management and Leadership

• Foster a positive and productive work environment for the engineering involved teams.
• Resolve conflicts and implement appropriate solutions.

Education, experience, and other criteria that the employee should possess:

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering, with a focus on power systems or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 to 7 years of experience in renewable projects, power transmission, and substation projects are required.
• Specific experience in Solar PV, high-voltage overhead transmission line design (132 kV or above) and GIS substation projects.
• Proven experience in managing teams.
• Strong knowledge of international standards (IEC, IEEE) and experience working.
• EPC background and experience is a must and a minimum of 1 project completed.
• IT proficiency, in particular, MS Word, MS Excel, Power Point. Primavera is a must.
• Fluency in English. Arabic and French is an advantage.