Instrumentation Lead Inspector (Offshore Substation Dubai)
Instrumentation Lead Inspector
📍 Berlin, Germany (remote) → Dubai, UAE (fabrication yard) → Offshore 🕒 Contract / Long-term assignment | Start: December 2026
We are looking for an experienced Instrumentation Lead Inspector to act as the Client / Owner's Representative for the instrumentation scope of a 2 GW HVDC offshore converter platform in the Baltic Sea, built for a German transmission system operator.
The scope covers:
- Field instrumentation for the auxiliary systems: HVAC, water supply, drainage, fuel, fire-fighting and converter cooling
- Packaged units such as diesel generators, fresh water packages, cranes and elevators
- The offshore fire detection system
- Monitoring systems: structural health, weather and wave, and helideck lighting control
- Signal interfaces to the auxiliary control 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 verification status
- Review and comment on contractor and supplier documents, including:
- ITPs, FAT and commissioning procedures
- calibration and loop test procedures
- inspection and test procedures for instrumentation equipment
- Define client hold, witness, review and monitoring points and keep the instrumentation inspection register up to date
- Assess Technical Queries, deviation requests and supplier NCRs
- Witness FATs for instrumentation packages, including:
- flow, pressure, level and temperature instruments, switches and analysers
- actuated and quick-closing valves
- structural monitoring systems and fire alarm / fire extinguishing control systems
- Witness calibration, functional, interface and communication tests
- Verify Ex certification, IP ratings, material and calibration certificates (EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2) and CE documentation
- Carry out surveillance visits at international sub-suppliers and during E&I support fabrication
- Verify marking, packing and preservation, and recommend equipment release for shipment
- At the Dubai yard, inspect:
- cable trays and supports, cable pulling, routing, segregation and identification
- glands, terminations and instrument hook-up
- compliance with Ex, IP, earthing and bonding requirements
- Verify the handover status of technical rooms before HVDC equipment is installed
- Witness insulation resistance and continuity tests, loop checks, interface tests and cause-and-effect tests
- Witness commissioning of fire detection, monitoring systems and remote control functions through the auxiliary control system (AUX HMI/SCADA)
- 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 (ITR-A) and review punch list items and completion dossiers in the contractor's system
- Take part in final inspections, harbour acceptance tests (HAT) and load-out readiness reviews
- Offshore: witness final calibration, loop verification, interlocks and alarms, and verify signal integrity to the control system
- Issue daily and weekly inspection reports with KPIs (hold and witness point attendance, NCR ageing, punch list close-out)
- Report HSE non-conformities and take part in safety walks and HSE reviews
Required Qualifications
- Degree or certificate in electrical, instrumentation or measurement and control engineering
- Minimum 8 years in QA/QC inspection or commissioning of instrumentation and control systems, of which at least 5 years on offshore or marine projects
- Proven experience witnessing instrument FATs, calibration checks and loop checks
- 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 54, DIN VDE 0833, DIN 14675, IEC 60079-14/-17, IEC 61892-5/-7, IEC 62381, IEC 62382, NORSOK Z-010
All experience must be backed by personal project references stating client, period, scope and your role.
Nice to Have
- CompEx certification (Ex01–Ex04 or equivalent)
- ISA CAP, ISA CCST or functional safety certification
- Integrated fire detection and fire protection systems on offshore facilities
- Structural health, weather and marine monitoring systems
- Cause-and-effect and integrated system testing
- Previous work on HVDC converter platforms or offshore substations
- Experience on European projects
- DNV certification processes; 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, DNV-ST-0145 and German occupational safety rules (BetrSichV, DGUV, ASR)
Why This Role
- Owner's-side position with real authority over the instrumentation scope
- One platform from start to finish: verification, FATs, yard, load-out and offshore commissioning (2026 to 2031)
- Lead Inspector role 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.