Technical Lead - Process Safety Design

Job Requirements

Technical Lead - Process Safety Design JD:

Key Responsibilities

1. Process Safety Technical Leadership

- Lead and provide technical direction for Process Safety Engineering activities across projects.
- Establish project-specific Process Safety Design Basis, philosophies, criteria and engineering requirements.
- Review and approve key Process Safety deliverables and provide technical assurance.
- Resolve complex technical issues and provide fit-for-purpose engineering solutions.
- Ensure consistency and quality of Process Safety deliverables across projects.

2. Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment

- Lead/review HAZID, HAZOP, LOPA, SIL assessment, QRA and other risk assessment activities.
- Identify major accident hazards and ensure appropriate prevention, protection and mitigation measures are incorporated.
- Ensure risk reduction measures are technically justified and aligned with ALARP principles.
- Review risk registers, action tracking and close-out of safety-related recommendations.

3. Process Safety Design & Engineering

- Provide technical leadership for: Relief and flare system design
- PSV/PVRV sizing and selection
- Flare header hydraulics and radiation assessment
- Firewater and fire protection systems
- Hazardous Area Classification
- Fire & Gas detection philosophy
- Emergency Shutdown (ESD) philosophy
- Safety Instrumented Functions/SIL
- Depressurization/blowdown systems
- Toxic/flammable dispersion and consequence modelling
- Escape, evacuation and emergency response requirements

- Ensure process safety requirements are appropriately reflected in PFDs, P&IDs, equipment specifications, layouts and control philosophies.

4. Safety Studies & Consequence Modelling

- Lead or technically review consequence modelling for fire, explosion, toxic/flammable dispersion, radiation and overpressure.
- Review modelling assumptions, scenarios, input data and results for technical validity.
- Ensure recommendations from consequence studies are incorporated into design.

5. Technical Governance & Assurance

- Establish and maintain engineering standards, checklists, templates and best practices.
- Perform technical reviews, design audits and independent checks of Process Safety deliverables.
- Ensure compliance with applicable company specifications, client standards and recognized codes such as API, NFPA, IEC, ISO, ASME and relevant local regulations.
- Identify potential design risks early and drive resolution before they impact project schedule or cost.

6. Multidisciplinary & Client Interface

- Act as the Process Safety technical focal point for the project.
- Coordinate with Process, Mechanical, Piping, Instrumentation & Controls, Electrical, Civil/Structural, Operations and HSE disciplines.
- Participate in client, vendor and project technical meetings.
- Provide technical clarification and support during design reviews, model reviews and project execution.
- Support resolution of interdisciplinary comments and technical queries.

7. Project Execution & Deliverables

- Plan Process Safety engineering activities, deliverables, resources and priorities.
- Monitor technical progress, quality and deliverable performance.
- Review engineering deliverables including philosophies, calculations, study reports, specifications, datasheets and drawings.
- Ensure timely closure of interdisciplinary and client comments.
- Support project management in identifying technical risks, constraints and opportunities.

8. Leadership, Mentoring & Capability Development

- Mentor Process Safety Engineers and develop technical capability within the team.
- Provide guidance on engineering methodology, design practices and technical decision-making.
- Conduct technical knowledge-sharing sessions and promote lessons learned.
- Identify opportunities for standardization, automation and productivity improvement.
- Build a strong technical culture focused on safety, quality and engineering excellence.

Codes, Standards & Industry Knowledge

Good working knowledge of applicable requirements including:

- API
- NFPA
- IEC 61508 / IEC 61511
- ISO standards
- ASME
- OSHA / applicable regulatory requirements
- Client/company engineering specifications and Process Safety standards

Software & Technical Tools

Experience with relevant Process Safety tools such as:

- PHAST / consequence modelling software
- FLARENET or equivalent flare network tools
- Aspen HYSYS or equivalent process simulation tools
- PSV/relief sizing software
- Hydraulic calculation tools
- AutoCAD / MicroStation or equivalent
- Risk assessment and safety study tools

Work Experience

Required Qualifications & Background

- Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Process Safety Engineering or equivalent.
- Typically 15+ years of relevant experience in Process Engineering/Process Safety Engineering, preferably within Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Refining, Chemicals or related industries.
- Strong experience in Process Safety Design and technical leadership of engineering projects.
- Proven experience in leading HAZOP, HAZID, LOPA, SIL and risk assessment activities.
- Strong knowledge of relief systems, flare systems, fire protection, hazardous area classification and consequence analysis.
- Good understanding of multidisciplinary engineering interfaces and project execution.
- Experience working with international/client engineering standards and specifications.

Core Competencies

- Strong Process Safety technical knowledge
- Engineering judgement and problem-solving
- Technical leadership and decision-making
- Multidisciplinary coordination
- Client and stakeholder management
- Strong written and verbal communication
- Technical review and quality assurance
- Risk-based thinking
- Mentoring and team development
- Ability to balance safety, technical quality, cost and schedule
- Continuous improvement and standardization mindset