Lead Instrumentation & Control (I&C) Commissioning Engineer

Position Overview

The Lead Instrumentation & Control (I&C) Commissioning Engineer acts as the Owner's representative throughout the commissioning phase of a large-scale Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant. This position entails overseeing the EPC Contractor's I&C commissioning efforts to guarantee that all tasks comply with safety, contractual, and technical standards, including the Owner's Technical Specifications and OEM guidelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical supervision over EPC Contractor's Instrumentation & Control commissioning activities.
• Track progress to ensure alignment with approved procedures, schedules, and contract terms.
• Confirm commissioning work adheres to Owner's Technical Specifications, contract standards, OEM recommendations, and international codes.
• Witness crucial commissioning phases, offering technical advice for Owner acceptance.
• Identify and communicate technical risks, suggesting mitigation strategies.
• Evaluate and flag any issues related to EPC Contractor's quality, safety, schedule, or compliance.
• Review and comment on all relevant commissioning documentation including procedures, method statements, schedules, test protocols, turnover packages, and as-built drawings.
• Supervise field instrumentation commissioning activities covering pressure, temperature, flow, level, analytical instruments, smart devices, valves, instrument air and sampling systems, calibration, reinstatement, loop checking, and verifications.
• Manage commissioning of package control systems such as Water Treatment, Fuel Gas, Air Compressors, Fire Protection, HVAC, Chemical Dosing, Diesel Generator Controls, Auxiliary Boilers, and Balance of Plant Packages, ensuring integration with the plant's DCS.
• Monitor and witness a wide range of functional tests including loop checks, interlocks, permissive, cause & effect, sequence, valve stroke, and interface testing.
• Oversee Safety Instrumented Systems and Fire & Gas Systems commissioning, including functional and proof testing, interface validation, and final acceptance to meet functional safety requirements.
• Participate actively in Mechanical Completion activities, system walkdowns, punch list closures, turnover dossier reviews, and system completion to confirm readiness for owner acceptance.
• Supervise startup and performance testing events like cold/hot commissioning, first energization, first fire, synchronization, load rejection, reliability runs, and performance testing toward commercial operation readiness.
• Coordinate extensively with commissioning leads from DCS, Electrical, Mechanical, as well as Construction, Engineering, Quality, HSE teams, planners, OEMs, Owner’s Engineer, and LOTO coordinators to ensure seamless commissioning efforts.
• Track and report commissioning progress, highlighting technical issues, risks, and supporting periodic reporting cycles.
• Advocate a zero-harm safety culture, ensuring all commissioning adheres to approved Permit-to-Work (PTW) and Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO) procedures and complies with quality management and HSE standards.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Instrumentation, Control, Electrical, Electronics Engineering, or equivalent engineering discipline from an accredited university.
• Professional registration (PE, CEng, or equivalent) is preferred.
• Formal certification or training in Functional Safety standards (e.g. IEC 61511, ISA) is beneficial.
• Superior English communication skills, both written and verbal.
• At least 12 years of direct I&C commissioning involvement in utility-scale CCGT power plants.
• Minimum five years serving as Lead I&C Commissioning Engineer or an equivalent senior commissioning role.
• Demonstrated leadership in commissioning a minimum of two utility-scale CCGT plants, including a project with 1900 MW or higher capacity.
• Comprehensive experience spanning full commissioning lifecycle: construction support, mechanical completion, pre-commissioning, commissioning, first fire, synchronization, reliability run, performance testing, and commercial operation.
• Previous representation of Owner, Owner’s Engineer, or EPC Contractor roles in major power generation projects.
• Strong track record managing EPC Contractor commissioning performance and collaborating with OEMs and package vendors.
• Proficient with system completion procedures including mechanical completion, RFC, ECC/TOP, turnover, and handover.

Technical Expertise & Knowledge

• Expertise in field instrumentation, instrument calibration, loop checking, smart instruments, control valves, motor operated valves, instrument air systems, and package PLC systems.
• Thorough knowledge of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and Fire & Gas (F&G) systems and their commissioning requirements.
• Familiarity with turbine package interfaces, HRSG instrumentation, and balance of plant instrumentation.
• Deep understanding of communication protocols like Modbus, Profibus, Foundation Fieldbus, HART, Ethernet/IP.
• Competency in functional, cause & effect, interlock, system integration testing, and commissioning documentation procedures.
• Sound knowledge of Combined Cycle Power Plant operations, EPC contract execution, Owner’s Technical Specifications, international standards (IEC, ISA, IEEE), functional safety standards (IEC 61511), ISO 9001 quality management, HSE management systems, PTW, and LOTO processes.

Professional Attributes

• Demonstrated technical leadership and commissioning management capabilities.
• Strong organizational and planning skills combined with analytical thinking and problem-solving aptitude.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, teamwork, and negotiation skills.
• Meticulous attention to safety, quality, and detail with a results-driven approach.

Performance Indicators

• Achievement of zero Lost Time Incidents (LTI) related to I&C commissioning.
• Completion of I&C activities as per the approved schedule.
• Successful execution of loop checks, functional tests, and integrated system tests.
• Timely resolution of I&C punch list items.
• Completion of startup, synchronization, reliability run, and performance tests milestones.
• On-time system completion and effective Owner handover.
• Proactive EPC Contractor performance oversight and risk mitigation.
• High-standard commissioning documentation and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.