Mechanical Lead Inspector (Offshore Substation Dubai)
Mechanical Lead Inspector
📍 Berlin, Germany (remote) → Dubai, UAE (fabrication yard) → Offshore 🕒 Contract / Long-term assignment | Start: December 2026
We are looking for an experienced Mechanical Lead Inspector to act as the Client / Owner's Representative for the mechanical scope of a 2 GW HVDC offshore converter platform in the Baltic Sea, built for a German transmission system operator.
The scope covers:
- Material handling: platform cranes, davit and overhead cranes, elevators and hoists
- Access and egress: boat landings, walk-to-work and jack-up landings, and the helideck
- Diesel generators and the fuel system
- Process equipment: pumps, tanks, the fresh water generator and oil/water separators
- The mechanical equipment of the converter cooling system
You follow this scope from requirements verification to offshore commissioning.
Assignment Timeline
- Start: December 2026
- Contract: 12 months, with option to extend
- Work split: 50% on site in Dubai, 40% remote, 10% in Berlin
Key Responsibilities
- Review the contractor's evidence against the Employer's Requirements in the verification plan (Relatics) and recommend compliance status
- Review and comment on contractor and supplier documents, including:
- ITPs and FAT procedures
- load test and inspection procedures
- certification concepts
- Define client hold, witness, review and surveillance points and keep the mechanical inspection register up to date
- Assess Technical Queries, deviation and concession requests and NCRs
- Witness FATs for mechanical packages, including:
- pumps, tanks and water treatment equipment
- diesel generator packages and diesel systems
- lifting appliances and helideck systems
- Witness load, performance, functional, vibration, noise and pressure tests
- Verify CE documentation, lifting appliance certification, material certificates, corrosion protection and marking
- Attend supplier kick-off meetings and audits, and carry out surveillance visits at international sub-suppliers
- Carry out release inspections and verify preservation, packing and readiness for shipment
- At the Dubai yard, inspect:
- receipt, storage and preservation of mechanical equipment and free-issue materials
- installation work: alignment, levelling, bolting, grouting and equipment setting
- seafastening arrangements before load-out
- certification and marking of lifting appliances and lifting accessories
- Witness commissioning, including:
- diesel generator load tests and power management system tests
- fuel system functional tests
- crane, davit and elevator tests
- access, egress and emergency evacuation equipment tests
- Plan inspection coverage, coordinate the client inspection team and make sure every hold and witness point is attended
- Raise NCRs, assess root causes and verify closure of corrective and preventive actions
- Carry out mechanical completion inspections and manage close-out of A, B and C punch items
- Take part in final inspections, harbour acceptance tests (HAT) and load-out readiness reviews
- Offshore: monitor re-commissioning after hook-up, witness lifting appliance tests and converter cooling commissioning, and verify closure of offshore punch items
- Issue daily, weekly and monthly inspection reports with KPIs (hold and witness point attendance, NCR status, punch list close-out)
- Report HSE non-conformities and take part in safety walks and HSE reviews
Required Qualifications
- Degree or certificate in mechanical engineering
- Minimum 8 years in QA/QC inspection of mechanical equipment, of which at least 5 years on offshore or marine projects
- Proven experience witnessing FATs and load tests of offshore cranes and lifting appliances, and tests of diesel generator sets and pumps
- Proven experience leading a team of inspectors
- Experience as Lead Inspector, Client Representative or Owner's Inspector on offshore substations, HVDC platforms, oil & gas topsides or ships
- Experience in FAT witnessing and surveillance at international sub-suppliers
- Experience in mechanical completion, pre-commissioning and commissioning, including punch list and completion management systems
- Fluent English, minimum C1 (spoken and written)
- Valid work and travel permits for Europe and the UAE; willingness to travel to suppliers worldwide and to be deployed long-term at the Dubai yard and offshore
- Working knowledge of codes and standards, e.g. EN 13852, DNV-ST-0378, EN 13557, EN 81-20/-50, ISO 8528, ISO 14122, Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230
All experience must be backed by personal project references stating client, period, scope and your role.
Nice to Have
- Thorough examination and load testing of lifting equipment (DGUV V52, EN 13852, DNV-ST-0145)
- LEEA certification or equivalent lifting inspection qualification
- ISO 9712 Level 2 certification
- Vibration analysis certification (ISO 18436-2)
- Pressure and leak testing of piping systems (EN 13480, DNV standards)
- Inspection of fire-fighting piping, valves and systems (EN 12845, NFPA)
- Previous work on HVDC converter platforms or offshore substations
- Experience on European projects
- Relatics, thinkproject or similar systems; yard experience in the Middle East or Asia
Additional Advantages
- German and Arabic language skills
- Valid GWO BST or OPITO BOSIET (incl. HUET) and offshore medical, or willingness to obtain them before the offshore phase
- Knowledge of BSH offshore codes and German occupational safety rules (BetrSichV, DGUV, ASR)
Why This Role
- Owner's-side position with real authority over the mechanical scope
- One platform from start to finish: verification, FATs, yard, load-out and offshore commissioning (2026 to 2031)
- Lead Inspector role with your own team of inspectors at a major fabrication yard in Dubai
- Grid connection project for the German energy transition, 2 GW HVDC
👉 Interested?
Apply directly or reach out for more information. Please send your CV with project references.