AVENTA
Principal Engineer, Pipelines
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About the client
Our client is the UK engineering projects division of a major international energy company. From a landmark, modern integrated operations office in central Basingstoke - with ample parking and only a short walk from the mainline railway station - it develops projects and provides expert owner-engineering support to the group's businesses worldwide. The division is helping to lead the energy transition, combining traditional oil and gas activity with decarbonised and innovative solutions such as carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and renewables as the group moves towards a net-zero future.
Project scope
The role sits within a project engineering group supporting a global portfolio of pipeline projects across the full life cycle - concept selection, FEED, ITT preparation and follow-up of execution - on both greenfield and brownfield facilities. The Pipelines discipline designs onshore and offshore rigid pipelines for conventional energy and fast-growing carbon capture activities, offering the opportunity to develop skills in new technologies on dynamic international projects.
Role overview
The Principal Engineer, Pipelines provides technical leadership within the Pipelines discipline, acting as a technical specialist for pipeline design and performing the Project Discipline Leader (PDL) role as appropriate. The role manages and directs a team of engineers and designers and is responsible for the quality of pipeline work across all project phases.
Reporting line: Works within the Pipelines department in alignment with the Chief of Department and Technical Authority; leads discipline engineers and designers and liaises with Process, Materials and Corrosion, Flow Assurance, Instrumentation, Civil, Construction and Commissioning.
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Key responsibilities
Pipeline design and analysis
- Performs engineering design for onshore and offshore rigid pipelines across all project phases, greenfield and brownfield, including carbon capture.
- Supervises, reviews and checks pipeline activities: philosophies, specifications, routing studies and mechanical design (wall thickness, buckling, spanning, expansion).
- Directs stress analysis, on-bottom roughness, global buckling, walking, tie-in and expansion loop, crossing, hot tapping, trenchless (HDD, microtunnelling) and layability analyses.
- Supports CAD designers on layouts and project pipeline drawings.
Standards, procurement and quality
- Prepares datasheets and technical requisitions, compiles ITTs and performs bid evaluations.
- Identifies discrepancies and deviations against company standards and raises technical queries with projects, client and Technical Authority.
- Reviews company technical standards and procedures, keeps abreast of design codes and legislation, and ensures safety and HSEQ processes are followed.
Execution support and integrity
- Validates pipeline inspection and maintenance strategy and defines Emergency Pipeline Repair and service studies.
- Performs site visits to manufacturers (line pipe, coating, valves) and checks design and installation activities carried out by third parties.
Leadership and coordination
- Acts as Project Design Lead / PDL on large projects, managing manhours of discipline resources in alignment with the Chief of Department.
- Delegates supervision and checking activities to competent personnel according to project size.
- Collaborates within the pipelines department and interfaces with other engineering disciplines during execution.
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Key deliverables
- Pipeline design and analyses supervised, checked and issued to quality.
- Datasheets, technical requisitions, ITTs and bid evaluations completed.
- Inspection, maintenance and emergency repair strategies validated.
- Third-party design and installation activities reviewed during execution.
- Discipline resources and manhours managed to deliver scope to schedule.
Requirements
Education
- Degree in a relevant engineering discipline (Pipeline, Subsea Pipeline, Offshore, Civil or Mechanical Engineering).
- Demonstrable experience in the relevant area of expertise.
Experience
Must-have:
- Oil and gas experience with rigid offshore and onshore pipelines.
- Mandatory knowledge of pipeline design software: DNV SESAM pipeline package, PET, AutoPIPE, SAGE Profile and AGA.
- Experience across all project phases (concept selection, FEED, ITT, execution follow-up), greenfield and brownfield.
Nice-to-have:
- Knowledge of Ansys, ABAQUS and OrcaFlex.
- Knowledge of UK and international codes (BS, DNV, ISO, API and ASME).
- Experience of carbon capture pipeline activities.
Technical skills
- Rigid pipeline mechanical design and advanced analyses (buckling, spanning, expansion, layability).
- Pipeline design software suites (SESAM, PET, AutoPIPE, SAGE Profile, AGA).
Soft skills
- Highly motivated with strong interpersonal skills.
- Excellent teamwork and collaboration.
- Strong planning and organisation.
- Willingness to develop into a high-level technical expert.
- Fluent English.
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