Chief of Design Engineer

About OCSiAl Group:

OCSiAl is the world’s largest producer of graphene nanotubes. Our team consists of more than 450 employees located in Europe, USA and Asia. OCSiAl’s mission is to improve the specific properties of all base materials, making the world a better place for all living beings. We are pursuing this mission by developing universal nanotube solutions and introducing them into the manufacturing industry. This is leading to the creation of a new generation of nanoaugmented materials and end products, whose previously unobtainable properties will become the standard for consumer expectations.

Position Overview

The Chief Design Engineer is the technical leader responsible for overseeing all engineering design activities related to the development of new chemical processes, plant facilities, equipment specifications, and production expansions in the production of ultrapure carbon nanotubes and products based on them.

The Chief Design Engineer ensures designs meet technical, operational, safety, and sustainability standards, while supporting the company's strategic growth objectives.

This role demands expert-level technical competence, leadership across multiple engineering disciplines, and strong experience with process projects.

Key responsibilities:

Engineering Design Leadership:

• Leading and coordinating all engineering design activities, ensuring technical excellence and alignment with project objectives.
• Development and validation conceptual, basic, and detailed engineering designs.
• Defining and enforcing design standards, specifications, and quality criteria.
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Project Execution:

• Overseeing the creation and approval of engineering deliverables (PFDs, P&IDs, equipment specifications, plot plans, 3D models).
• Review and approve major engineering packages from EPCM/EPC contractors.
• Ensuring effective integration of process, mechanical, piping, electrical, instrumentation, civil, and structural engineering disciplines.
• Supporting capital project teams from concept through commissioning.
• Ensuring designs are optimized for cost, performance, safety, reliability, and environmental compliance.

Technical Authority:

• Approving key technical decisions, change requests, and engineering deviations.
• Supporting technical risk assessments, HAZOPs (Hazard and Operability Studies), and SIL (Safety Integrity Level) reviews.

Compliance and Safety:

• Ensuring compliance with all relevant codes, standards, and regulations, including local codes.
• Embedding Process Safety, Occupational Health, and Environmental Protection principles into the design solutions.

Contractor and Stakeholder Management:

• Evaluating and selecting engineering contractors and vendors.
• Monitoring contractor performance to ensure adherence to scope, quality, cost, and schedule.

Continuous Improvement:

• Promotion value engineering and design optimization initiatives.
• Integrating digitalization, modular construction, and advanced engineering practices where it is beneficial.
• Lead technical lessons-learned reviews and implement findings into future projects.

Team Leadership:

• Mentoring and development junior engineers, design specialists, and cross-functional technical teams.
• Collaboration with procurement, operations, maintenance, and HSE teams to ensure integrated designs.

Required qualifications and experience:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or related fields.
• Professional Certification: PE (Professional Engineer), Chartered Engineer, or equivalent is highly preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in engineering design in large industrial projects.
• 5+ years in technical leadership or Chief Engineer role in capital project environments.
• In-depth understanding of process technology and plant systems (process units, utilities, off-sites).
• Strong knowledge of design tools and project management systems (e.g., SmartPlant, AVEVA, Hexagon PPM, AutoCAD Plant 3D).
• Expertise in managing FEED (Front-End Engineering Design).
• High technical rigor and attention to details.
• Strong leadership and influencing capabilities across diverse engineering disciplines.
• Excellent analytical, decision-making, and troubleshooting skills.
• Proactive, structured, and able to work under tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Fluency in English;

What we offer:

• An attractive position in a global and dynamic company;
• Opportunity for professional and personal development;
• Competitive employment conditions.

Side notes:

• CV in English is required;
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.