Instrumentation Engineering Lead

Instrumentation Engineering Lead

Location: Reading, UK (Pre FEED Phase)

Contract: 12 months with opportunity to extend

Salary: Competitive hourly rate

Start Date: ASAP

About the Role

We are supporting a major global energy development and are seeking an experienced Instrumentation Engineering Lead to provide technical leadership during the pre FEED phase of a large, integrated downstream and petrochemical related programme. This position is embedded within the engineering contractor's office and functions as part of the client side project management team. The role focuses on delivering safe, reliable, and cost effective instrumentation and control solutions across complex process facilities and supporting infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all instrumentation and control engineering activities during pre FEED
• Develop, review and design basis documents, and technical standards
• Provide technical assurance on contractor engineering deliverables
• Support value improvement initiatives, risk reduction and scope optimisation
• Guide the development of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), Fire & Gas systems, and protective instrumentation
• Provide oversight of turbomachinery control and protection system design
• Advise on custody transfer measurement systems, metering, analyzers, and field instrumentation
• Collaborate with process, mechanical, electrical, and control systems engineering teams
• Ensure engineering maturity aligns with pre FEED deliverable expectations
• Support technical reviews, vendor assessments, and design studies

Experience & Qualifications

• 15+ years' experience in instrumentation and control engineering
• Strong technical expertise in SIS, F&G, measurement systems, and instrumented protection
• Experience in pre FEED and/or FEED for large scale energy, refining, petrochemical, or complex process facilities
• Knowledge of industry standards (IEC, ISA, API, etc.)
• Experience influencing contractors and providing client side technical oversight
• Familiarity with modular project execution or large integrated facilities is beneficial
• Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.