Lead Process Control Engineer

Company description:

Singapore LNG Corporation Pte Ltd (SLNG) was incorporated by the Energy Market Authority of Singapore in June 2009 to build, own and operate Singapore's very first open-access, multi-user LNG Terminal. This is a key national infrastructure that supports Singapore's energy diversification strategy and future economic development in the energy sector.

With more than 95% of electricity in Singapore being generated using natural gas, the SLNG Terminal helps to enhance the country's energy security by enabling natural gas to be shipped to Singapore from anywhere in the world. It also serves as a platform to facilitate the development of new LNG-related businesses, thereby contributing to the growth of Singapore's energy industry and the creation of new job opportunities.

Job description:

GENERAL OVERVIEW

SLNG is recruiting a Lead Process Control Engineer with extensive FEED and EPC engineering experience in oil and gas and LNG projects to join the Technical and Project Development Group.

Reporting to the Engineering Manager, the Lead Process Control Engineer is accountable for process control, instrumentation, automation and functional safety engineering across all phases of SLNG CAPEX project development and delivery. The role serves as the owner's discipline lead, establishing the design basis and technical requirements, assuring consultant, contractor and vendor deliverables, and ensuring safe, reliable, operable and maintainable control system solutions that integrate with existing LNG terminal facilities.

The role covers feasibility studies, concept selection, FEED, detailed design, procurement, construction, commissioning, start-up and handover. Key responsibilities include scope definition, specifications, control philosophies, design reviews, vendor package integration, control and safeguarding system assurance, field support, engineering data validation, regulatory support and coordination with Project, Process, Electrical, Mechanical, Operations, Maintenance, IT/OT and Cyber Security stakeholders.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The incumbent shall be responsible for, but not limited to, the following scope of tasks and duties:

• Act as the Process Control discipline focal point and owner's technical authority within the SLNG project management team for CAPEX projects, providing direction and assurance to FEED consultants, EPC contractors, system integrators and equipment vendors.
• Define the Process Control engineering strategy, design basis, scope of work, specifications, philosophies, datasheets and project requirements for feasibility studies, concept studies, FEED and EPC execution.
• Lead and assure the design of process instrumentation and control systems, including DCS, SIS/ESD, FGS, PLC, SCADA, analyser systems, metering, package control systems, field instrumentation, control valves and associated interfaces.
• Develop and review control philosophies, alarm management requirements, cause-and-effect matrices, interlock and shutdown narratives, control narratives, instrument indexes, I/O lists, datasheets, loop drawings, logic diagrams, network architecture and system integration requirements.
• Provide process control input to HAZID, HAZOP, LOPA, SIL determination and verification, alarm rationalisation, cybersecurity risk reviews, constructability reviews, operability reviews and other project assurance activities; ensure actions are technically resolved and closed.
• Ensure functional safety lifecycle requirements for safety instrumented systems are defined, implemented, verified and documented in accordance with applicable project standards and governance requirements.
• Review and evaluate technical proposals, including consultant, EPC contractor, system integrator and vendor capability, technical compliance, deviations, lifecycle support, obsolescence strategy and total installed solution.
• Review, validate and approve Process Control discipline deliverables. Where required, develop owner engineering documents, technical notes and assurance positions to support project decisions and delivery.
• Manage brownfield control system integration, tie-ins, cutover and migration planning, including interfaces with existing terminal systems, operational constraints, shutdown requirements and minimisation of production risk.
• Coordinate with Process, Electrical, Mechanical, Piping, Civil, Technical Safety, Operations, Maintenance, IT/OT, Cyber Security and project controls teams to ensure interfaces are identified, managed and incorporated into the design.
• Support documentation required for Singapore regulatory and authority approvals, and provide technical clarification to consultants and contractors during the approval process.
• Plan and witness vendor design reviews, factory acceptance tests, integrated factory acceptance tests, site acceptance tests and other verification activities; ensure punch items and non-conformances are resolved before acceptance.
• Provide field engineering support during construction, installation, loop checking, pre-commissioning, commissioning, start-up and performance testing, including troubleshooting of control, instrumentation and package integration issues.
• Assure system configuration, application software, logic, graphics, alarms, historian interfaces, communication networks, time synchronisation, access controls, backups, recovery arrangements and cybersecurity requirements relevant to the project scope.
• Validate engineering data and digital deliverables in the designated engineering databases and ensure tag, document and configuration data are complete, accurate and consistent.
• Review red-line and as-built deliverables and ensure approved final documents, software, licences, backups, test records, certificates and vendor dossiers are handed over and uploaded to the SLNG document management system.
• Ensure compliance with SLNG's Quality Management System, technical assurance requirements and project QA plans, and verify that the contracted scope is delivered to the required quality, schedule and cost.
• Identify technical risks, opportunities and design decisions early; provide clear recommendations and escalate matters that could affect safety, operability, reliability, schedule or cost.
• Coach and guide project engineers and other team members, promote consistent engineering practices and capture lessons learnt for future projects.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 15 years of engineering experience in the oil and gas, petrochemical or LNG industry, with substantial involvement in major capital projects.
• At least 5 consecutive years of experience as a Lead Process Control, Instrumentation and Control, or Automation Engineer in a reputable engineering consultancy, EPC contractor, system integrator or owner organisation.
• Demonstrated end-to-end experience on at least two FEED or EPC detailed engineering projects, from design basis development through design completion, testing and handover.
• Strong hands-on experience in both greenfield and brownfield projects, including live-plant interfaces, control system migration, cutover planning and commissioning.
• Broad knowledge of process instrumentation, DCS, SIS/ESD, FGS, PLC, SCADA, analyser systems, metering, control valves, package control systems and industrial communication networks.
• Demonstrated experience in control philosophy development, control narratives, alarm management, cause-and-effect definition, safeguarding design and vendor package integration.
• Working knowledge of functional safety lifecycle activities, including HAZOP, LOPA, SIL determination, safety requirements specification, SIL verification, validation and proof-test requirements.
• Familiarity with relevant international and Singapore codes, standards and regulatory requirements for instrumentation, control, functional safety and hazardous-area installations.
• Experience in control system cybersecurity requirements and coordination of OT architecture, remote access, system hardening, backup, recovery and lifecycle support with IT/OT and Cyber Security specialists.
• Proficiency in relevant engineering and analysis tools and engineering databases; experience with SmartPlant Instrumentation or equivalent is preferred.
• Strong technical judgement and the ability to challenge designs constructively, focus assurance on material risks and avoid unnecessary duplication of contractor engineering.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to produce clear technical requirements, review comments, decision papers and recommendations.
• Proactive, resilient and self-motivated team player who communicates directly, openly and flexibly across disciplines and organisations.
• Field engineering experience in equipment installation, construction, commissioning, start-up or operational troubleshooting is strongly preferred.
• Hands-on experience in LNG terminals, Singapore oil and gas projects, and an owner's engineering or project management team is preferred.

EDUCATION

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Instrumentation and Control Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Process Control Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline. Professional engineering registration or recognised functional safety certification is an advantage.

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

• Technically sound, risk-based and timely Process Control engineering decisions and assurance.
• Clear, complete and fit-for-purpose design basis, philosophies, specifications and technical deliverables.
• Control, safeguarding and instrumentation systems that meet project safety, operability, reliability, maintainability and cybersecurity requirements.
• Effective management of technical interfaces, design changes, deviations, vendor integration and brownfield risks.
• Timely closure of design review, HAZOP/LOPA/SIL, testing, commissioning and handover actions.
• Effective field engineering support for construction, commissioning, start-up and performance testing of LNG terminal facilities.
• Process Control discipline delivery to the approved scope, quality, schedule and budget, with complete engineering data and as-built records.
• Constructive leadership of consultants, contractors and vendors, with effective collaboration and knowledge transfer to SLNG personnel.