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.