Principal C&I Engineer

Job Description

Remarkable people, trusted by clients to design and advance the world.

Wood is recruiting for an experienced Principal Control and Instrumentation (C&I) Engineer who has demonstrable experience in delivering brownfield control system upgrade projects to join a UK based project for a high-profile client.

This role will be hybrid 3 days per week out of the Aberdeen office with visits to UK based client sites as and when required. However, for the right candidate we will consider applicants from those who are able to work out of either our Glasgow, Stockton, or Staines offices on a hybrid basis.

Please note applicants must be able to pass HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check.

The Role

Wood is seeking a highly experienced Principal C&I Engineer with a proven track record in leading engineering delivery for control system upgrade projects. In this role, you will provide strong technical leadership as the C&I Project Lead, responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing all control system upgrade engineering activities.

The ideal candidate will bring deep knowledge of C&I design principles combined with the capability to guide Engineering, Design and CAD teams across both home‑office and remote engineering centres, ensuring high‑quality, timely and compliant project deliverables.

In this senior role, you will take technical leadership of control systems design, implementation, testing and commissioning. You will provide authoritative technical advice, oversee problem‑solving activities, and uphold engineering standards across all stages of project execution. This includes planning, scheduling and reviewing engineering design, tracking progress, reporting performance, and ensuring that all outputs meet the required technical and safety standards.

Our Clients and Projects

Designing the future. Transforming the world.

Our Upstream team, part of the Operations Business Unit, is at the forefront of delivering engineering and project services to brownfield and greenfield projects across multiple sectors including Oil & Gas, refining and petrochemicals.

Drawing on decades of expertise, the Upstream team provide cost-effective, schedule-driven solutions that ensure energy security and operational excellence. From concept through to commissioning, we design, engineer, build, operate, and maintain complex assets, overcoming technical challenges in demanding environments.

With a proven track record of delivering reliable results, our commitment is clear: complete assurance that our clients' assets are safe, efficient, and future-ready.

What We Can Offer

• Meaningful and interesting projects delivered to high profile clients across the Energy Sector
• Flexible working arrangements that balance client, team and individual needs offering hybrid and remote working where relevant
• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion ; we are an organisation actively committed to diversity and inclusion across our business
• Competitive remuneration package with regular reviews to ensure we are rewarding at the right level in line with the market
• Flexible benefits package inclusive of 33 days annual leave (including public holidays), plus the potential for one additional ‘flex day' per month. Further benefits include a generous contributory pension scheme, private medical cover, 4x base salary life insurance; all of these and more that can be adapted to suit your own lifestyle
• Commitment to continued professional development ; development plans that are tailored to your individual needs and interests
• Global connections : join experts around the world who are at the leading edge of our industry, shaping the standards of our profession
• Energy Transition Academy ; join a community of experts sharing your knowledge and gaining more exposure to a variety of existing and emerging energy systems – delivered by experts in their field

Responsibilities

The Key Objectives Of This Role Are

• Manage end-to-end controls upgrade project execution and be fully responsible for delivering the scopes on schedule, on budget, and to the technical specification
• Act as the control system primary point of contact for the client, vendors, and stakeholders, managing expectations and coordinating design deliverables to meet critical project deadlines
• Expertise in developing cutover and migration strategies for PCS and SIS replacements, and in working collaboratively with construction and commissioning teams to define installation and handover plans
• Manage control system vendors, ensuring technical compliance, timely submission of vendor documentation, on‑schedule delivery, and effective coordination throughout the project lifecycle
• Ensure all deliverables are technically fit for purpose from a Controls perspective and meet the statutory requirements
• Work with hard-wired safety systems design and implementation
• Provide expert advice on Control System documentation review including FDS, system interfaces, FAT/SAT documentation etc
• Responsible for ensuring that all scope changes are approved and agreed with the project manager prior to implementation through the life of the project
• Take ownership of Control System technical queries (TQs), ensuring timely and effective resolution to minimise or eliminate impacts on overall project delivery
• Work closely with the project planner to agree milestones and monitor progress against them
• Provide engineering support to the estimator and cost controller to develop estimates for any potential scope change
• Facilitate the generation of C&I engineering risks and mitigations for project risk register, (including 3rd part risk registers) and their ongoing management
• Shall be able to produce technical reports and clearly explain complex technical Control System related issues
• Should possess very good understanding of functional safety standards IEC61508 & IEC61511
• Ensuring compliance with quality management systems, support non-conformances investigations, and implementing lessons learned

Qualifications

Skills And Qualifications

At Wood, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world's most critical challenges.

Expected

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience
• Experience in brownfield automation and control system upgrade or replacement projects within an EPC framework, with a specific focus on PCS upgrade engineering activities, including cutover strategy development, hardware design, software application development, system integration, testing, and customer acceptance
• Proven experience in planning, prioritising and delivering project with multiple system vendors, from design through to commissioning and close-out
• Chartered Engineer status or working towards with relevant experience
• Strong understanding of C&I process systems, applicable regulations, engineering practices, and relevant technical standards

Desirable

• TUV FS Engineer certificate or equivalent
• Basic understanding of cybersecurity requirements for industrial control systems and IEC 62443
• Experience with Siemens PCS 7 and Rockwell ControlLogix

About Us

Wood is a global leader in consulting and engineering, helping to unlock solutions to critical challenges in energy and materials markets. We provide consulting, projects and operations solutions in 60 countries, employing around 35,000 people. www.woodplc.com

Diversity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer that recognises the value of a diverse workforce. All suitably qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective criteria and without regard to the following (which is a non-exhaustive list): race, colour, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other characteristics in accordance with the relevant governing laws.