Topside Engineering Leader

Overview

Our client is a global multi-energy company operating large-scale refining and petrochemical facilities. It transforms crude oil into fuels and essential industrial products through highly integrated and technologically advanced operations. The organisation is recognized for its strong HSE culture, operational excellence, and commitment to reducing environmental impact. Joining the company means contributing to complex international projects within a high-performance industrial environment.

PBF is the brownfield project. It manages projects from FEED/Basic Engineering to Startup/hand-over to Block Field Operation teams. The brownfield nature means offshore execution activities are often conducted in SIMOPS on live FPSOs (Girassol, Dalia, Pazflor, CLOV on Block 17, Kaombo Norte and Sul on Block 32, Begonia on Block 17/06) with congested seabed, increasing risk and challenges such as co-activities with other projects and maintenance activities, and the need to minimize production shortfalls. PBF manages EPC contracts with major international contractors as well as local players, including onshore prefabrication in Angola, offshore construction and installation (FPSO modifications, topsides, SURF, SPS, SIMOPS, and a high number of contractors and subcontractors).

Our client operates as a global multi-energy company with operations across refining and petrochemicals, contributing to complex international projects within a high-performance industrial environment. PBF is the brownfield project referenced above, managing projects from FEED/Basic Engineering to Startup/hand-over to Block Field Operation teams. The brownfield projects involve SIMOPS on live FPSOs (Girassol, Dalia, Pazflor, CLOV on Block 17, Kaombo Norte and Sul on Block 32, Begonia on Block 17/06) and congested seabed, which increases risks and project challenges, including co-activities with other projects and maintenance activities and the aim of minimizing production shortfalls. PBF manages EPC contracts with major international contractors as well as local players, including onshore prefabrication in Angola, offshore construction and installation (FPSO modifications, topsides, SURF, SPS, SIMOPS, and a high number of contractors & subcontractors).

Job Description

The Topsides Engineering Leader role is key in the Topsides transverse team. The PBF Topsides department has been created to support all the different projects (revamping, maintenance, new projects, infills). PBF projects include: LIFEX – Closed flares; CLOV PH2+; CLOV PH3; BEGONIA; DALIA PH4; GIR-DAL-PAZ INFILLS; MANGANES.

Responsibilities

• HSEQ: Demonstrate exemplary behavior regarding H3SE and Quality, ensure the team masters required H3SE competencies, implement H3SE requirements (including TEPA referential and local rules/laws), and ensure H3SE issues are captured in documentation. Promote safety and quality culture within the project and activities. Ensure safe and ethical working practices are carried out within activities managed or interfaced with.
• Organization / Team Management: Assist the Department Manager in mobilizing and developing an efficient engineering organization and a team of specialists. Mobilize HQ specialists as required, set up and ensure implementation of engineering procedures and plans, coordinate activities of the Topsides Engineering team, arbitrate priorities of shared resources, and assist the Department Manager with transverse activity coordination.
• Engineering follow-up: Identify, implement and manage engineering studies; supervise and control contractor engineering by reviewing/validating contractor documentation to ensure adherence to schedule, cost, quality and safety; promote optimization and savings without compromising QHSE objectives.
• Audits: Organize and participate in project reviews as requested (HAZOP, HAZID, PRs, etc.).
• Interfaces: Supervise and coordinate engineering interfaces with SURF and SPS; coordinate with tenderers/contractors to ensure alignment of engineering progress with proposed options and adjustments as needed for project interests.
• Communication: Maintain regular, high-quality communication with contractor counterparts; facilitate technical meetings to follow progress, explain main comments, and provide guidance; keep the Department Manager, Projects Manager and relevant stakeholders informed; advise on architecture-related actions/decisions; report main technical issues and progress; propose mitigation measures for drift; engage with PBF Management and external stakeholders including statutory and shareholder auditors.
• Contracts: Assist the Department Manager with call-for-tenders activities and act on their behalf if required; anticipate and minimize unjustified deviations to prevent Change Orders during contract execution.
• Procurement & Construction (execution phase): Prioritize engineering activities to ensure procurement progress (especially Long Lead Items) and topsides construction; set up plans for vendor documentation approvals as necessary.
• Lessons learned: Capture lessons learned and feed back to PBF REX Engineer and other entities; ensure lessons learned from previous projects are integrated in current projects.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering.
• Professional Experience: 15 years in Oil & Gas with broad brownfield project experience, engineering and offshore operations.
• Languages: Fluent English. Portuguese and French are a plus.
• Strong communication and intercultural skills with ability to work in transversal teams with Contractors and personnel from different countries.
• Organizational skills, autonomy, positive attitude, motivation and team spirit mandatory.

Additional Information

• Starting date: May 2026
• Duration: 12 months
• Renewable: yes
• Location: Paris, France