Planning & Scheduling Lead Engineer IIILocation: EM Houston Campus, Spring, TX
Project Phase Focus: Early-Stage Project Development & Execution Planning (Pre-FID Deepwater Projects)
Position OverviewWe are seeking a
Planning & Scheduling Lead Engineer III to support the early-stage development of FPSO, SURF, and Offshore Pipeline projects. This role combines project engineering, execution planning, and planning/scheduling responsibilities to develop executable project strategies and integrated schedules that support key business, investment, and project development decisions.
The successful candidate will be responsible for translating technical scope into practical execution strategies, developing and evaluating execution scenarios, and creating integrated schedules that enable the project team to understand schedule drivers, project risks, opportunities, and overall project outcomes.
This position supports multiple pre-FID projects concurrently and works closely with the Early-Stage Team, including FPSO, SURF, Contracting, Commercial, and Execution Leads, while interfacing with Central Project Management cost and schedule representatives.
Success in this role requires strong critical thinking, independent judgment, and the ability to operate effectively with incomplete information. The successful candidate must be comfortable challenging assumptions, developing independent perspectives, and influencing project direction through clear communication of options, risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations.
Key ResponsibilitiesEarly-Stage Project Development, Execution Planning & Scheduling - Support early-stage development of FPSO, SURF, and Offshore Pipeline projects by translating technical scope into executable project strategies and integrated schedules.
- Support multiple concurrent pre-FID projects, prioritizing efforts based on project maturity, stakeholder needs, and business priorities.
- Evaluate key schedule drivers, execution constraints, interfaces, and project risks during project development.
- Develop and maintain the Owner's integrated schedule perspective.
- Ensure planning and scheduling deliverables meet stage-gate, governance, and FID requirements.
Schedule Development, Review & Contractor Evaluation- Review contractor and vendor schedules for:
- Completeness
- Constructability
- Feasibility
- Logic and sequencing
- Interface management
- Critical path integrity
- Schedule risks
- Compliance with contractual requirements
- Identify schedule gaps, inconsistencies, assumptions, and risks and drive alignment with the Owner's execution strategy.
- Support contract bid evaluations and contractor selection activities from both execution and schedule perspectives.
- Incorporate lessons learned, benchmarking data, historical project performance, and industry knowledge to validate contractor assumptions and execution plans.
Scenario Development & Project Optimization- Independently develop, analyze, and compare multiple execution and schedule scenarios.
- Evaluate alternatives related to:
- Contracting strategies
- Fabrication approaches, number and location of fabrication yards
- Procurement approaches
- Offshore installation methodologies
- Commissioning and startup strategies
- Analyze tradeoffs associated with schedule duration, execution risk, cost, constructability, logistics, and delivery certainty.
- Identify opportunities to optimize project duration, reduce risk, and improve overall project outcomes.
- Clearly communicate scenario assumptions, schedule drivers, risks, opportunities, and recommendations to stakeholders and leadership teams.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement- Facilitate cross-functional alignment on project scope, execution strategies, schedules, and key assumptions.
- Present schedule assessments, execution scenarios, recommendations, and risks to project leadership and decision-makers.
Knowledge Integration & Continuous Improvement- Leverage historical project schedules, execution benchmarks, lessons learned, and prior FPSO/SURF project experience to inform project planning and decision making.
- Engage internal SMEs and established industry contacts to validate assumptions and challenge execution strategies.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of planning tools, templates, reference schedules, and early-stage planning best practices.
- Capture and document lessons learned to continuously improve project development and planning processes.
Documentation & FID Deliverables- Ensure deliverables comply with internal governance requirements and support investment decisions.
- Support preparation of management review materials, project development narratives, and investment decision packages.
- Ensure schedules and planning deliverables satisfy stage-gate and FID requirements.
Required Qualifications- 10+ years of experience in offshore oil and gas projects with a combination of project engineering, project execution, and planning/scheduling
- FPSO and/or SURF project experience required.
- Experience supporting Concept Select, Pre-FEED, FEED, and pre-FID project development.
- Demonstrated experience developing project execution strategies and integrated project schedules.
- Primavera P6 experience, including schedule development, schedule analysis, and contractor schedule review.
- Experience evaluating contractor execution plans and schedules.
- Experience supporting offshore fabrication, installation, commissioning, or project execution activities.
- Experience participating in contract and bid evaluation activities.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience supporting both FPSO and SURF developments.
- Owner-side project development or project management experience.
- Experience with offshore installation detailed planning and execution.
- Familiarity with fabrication yards, module integration, and modular construction programs.
- Experience supporting global execution strategies involving multiple fabrication locations.
- Experience performing schedule risk assessments and scenario analysis.
Core Competencies & Skills- Strong project engineering and execution mindset.
- Planning and scheduling capability.
- Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to independently develop and evaluate project execution scenarios.
