Principal Technical Safety Engineer

Role overview

Wood is hiring a Principal Technical Safety Engineer for its Qatar team on a staff basis. This position is central to the Doha office and will contribute to work across study, FEED, EPC, and PMC project phases.

Project focus

The role is aligned with the office’s market priorities in both brownfield and greenfield work. Candidates with multi-disciplinary exposure, particularly in the following sectors, are especially relevant:

• Onshore oil and gas
• Offshore oil and gas

What the role involves

• Applying strong Technical Safety and Loss Prevention knowledge across FEED, detailed design, construction, commissioning, and plant start-up activities.
• Reviewing project scopes to identify safety considerations and screen them appropriately.
• Assessing the performance of existing safety systems, checking whether they are sufficient, and identifying any gaps.
• Carrying out hazardous area classification, safety layout reviews, and emergency escape route assessments.
• Handling fire engineering tasks such as fire zone definition, firewater demand calculations, and firewater network hydraulic analysis.
• Preparing third-party scopes of work, evaluating bids, and coordinating after award to keep safety and environmental workshops moving smoothly.
• Contributing to and drafting reports for HAZOP, HAZID, SIL, and related safety studies and workshops as needed.
• Performing Physical Hazard Effects modelling and reviewing Quantitative Risk Assessments.
• Taking part in F&G mapping activities.
• Working with other disciplines through design, construction, pre-commissioning, and start-up stages.
• Supporting the site with technical input when required.
• Writing and checking specifications, data sheets, schedules, study reports, and design calculations so they meet quality, competence, and project management standards.
• Acting in a client-facing leadership capacity and maintaining effective communication through formal and informal discussions.
• Keeping work on track and aligned with project schedules and delivery expectations.
• Guiding and mentoring junior engineers.
• Taking full ownership of technical safety scope delivery.
• Staying current with relevant regulations, legislative updates, industry initiatives, and technology developments.
• Maintaining awareness of international codes and standards, with Shell DEP knowledge being highly desirable.
• Continuing professional development and maintaining personal competence in line with standards.

Qualifications and experience

• A degree in Chemical Engineering is required, and membership in a relevant professional body or institution is preferred.
• At least 15 years of post-graduation experience in the oil and gas sector.
• Proven exposure to a wide range of project types and phases, including greenfield and brownfield work, onshore and offshore settings, and concept through EPC, with emphasis on upstream projects.
• Strong self-drive, initiative, and a proactive working style.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Good organisational awareness and the ability to influence colleagues effectively.
• Customer-oriented mindset with the ability to respond to client needs while balancing project and business objectives.
• Analytical thinking and innovation skills, especially when dealing with new technology.
• Prior experience leading or chairing HAZID and HAZOP reviews for smaller projects would be an added advantage.

What Wood offers

• Interesting and meaningful projects for major clients across oil and gas as well as emerging energy sectors.
• A strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, with employee networks that support all voices across the business.
• A competitive compensation package with regular pay reviews aligned to market levels.
• Life insurance covering 2 times base salary, up to QAR 1 million, in the event of death.
• End-of-service gratuity in line with Qatar Labour Law after completion of 1 year of service, calculated as three weeks for every year worked.
• Medical insurance with coverage up to QAR 250,000 per person per year; pre-existing and chronic conditions covered up to QAR 10,000.
• Employee Assistance Programme supporting confidential discussions for employees and immediate family members on work or personal matters, including mental, physical, social, and financial well-being.
• One professional membership, registration, subscription, certification, or license reimbursed per year for eligible active employees, where relevant to the role or development plan.
• Access to a global network of specialists working at the forefront of the industry.

About the employer

Wood is an international consulting and engineering company focused on solving major challenges across the energy and materials sectors. The organisation operates in 45 countries and employs around 25,000 people.

Equal opportunity statement

The company supports equal opportunity hiring and welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds. Selection is based on objective criteria and is made without discrimination on grounds such as race, colour, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or other protected characteristics under applicable law.