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.