Flow Assurance Lead Engineer
Duration: 12 months (renewable, long-term opportunity)
Location: London, United Kingdom with periodic travel to Paris, France
Start date: October 2026
Position Overview
This opportunity is for a Flow Assurance Lead Engineer supporting the development and execution of a major ultra-deepwater offshore oil project in Namibia. The Flow Assurance Lead Engineer will be responsible for overseeing all flow assurance engineering activities across the subsea production system, SURF, SPS and FPSO packages during the EPSCC phase of the project. The role requires close coordination with multidisciplinary teams to ensure flow assurance requirements are integrated into project execution, design development and operational readiness activities.
The Flow Assurance Lead Engineer will provide technical leadership on complex flow assurance challenges associated with a high-pressure, high-temperature deepwater oil field with significant gas-oil ratio characteristics. This position offers extensive exposure to subsea engineering, production operations, field development and project execution activities within one of the largest offshore developments currently underway. For candidates seeking a technically challenging role focused on deepwater flow assurance, this position offers excellent scope, responsibility and project exposure.
Role Context
The position is part of the Venus Project, a major ultra-deepwater greenfield development offshore Namibia during the Project Execution phase. Reporting to the SURF Technical Manager, the Flow Assurance Lead Engineer will primarily support the SURF package while working closely with SPS, FPSO, Reservoir, Wells, Process Engineering and Field Operations teams.
The role requires supervision and technical validation of flow assurance studies performed by contractors and specialist engineering companies, ensuring compliance with project specifications, industry standards, HSE requirements and company procedures. The successful candidate will contribute to optimizing production system performance, supporting operational readiness and mitigating flow assurance risks throughout project execution and start-up.
Key Responsibilities
- Promote compliance with H3SE&Q requirements and ensure all flow assurance activities align with company safety, quality and environmental standards.
- Provide technical oversight of flow assurance studies performed by SURF EPSCC contractors and specialist third-party engineering companies.
- Support SURF, SPS and FPSO teams in resolving technical and design issues related to flow assurance requirements and production system performance.
- Perform and review flow assurance studies covering steady-state and transient operations, ensuring appropriate validation and technical robustness.
- Identify, assess and mitigate flow assurance risks associated with ultra-deepwater oil production systems.
- Liaise with Reservoir, Well Performance, Process, Subsea Engineering and Field Operations teams to manage interfaces and communicate changes impacting project design or operations.
- Review and validate contractor engineering deliverables, technical queries, deviations and design modifications related to flow assurance.
- Ensure compliance with applicable standards, codes, company specifications and project requirements.
- Develop, maintain and manage technical documentation supporting flow assurance activities and project management deliverables.
- Monitor contractor progress, identify technical deviations and propose corrective actions when required.
- Recommend alternative designs and technical solutions to optimize production performance, start-up activities and lifecycle operational efficiency.
- Participate in operational engineering activities, including definition of operating philosophies, procedures and production strategies.
- Support planning and optimization of start-up, shutdown, restart and transient operating sequences.
- Contribute to project reviews, technical workshops and multidisciplinary design reviews.
- Provide technical support during equipment acceptance testing, commissioning and start-up activities.
- Assist Field Operations teams during offshore campaigns and thermal performance testing activities.
- Support contract execution and management activities in coordination with project engineering and contract teams.
- Interface with company technical authorities and headquarters flow assurance specialists to ensure alignment with corporate engineering standards.
- Capture lessons learned and contribute to project close-out documentation and continuous improvement initiatives.
Qualifications & Experience
- Essential: Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent technical qualification.
- Essential: Minimum 15 years of flow assurance engineering experience within offshore oil and gas developments.
- Essential: Significant experience performing and reviewing flow assurance studies during detailed engineering and project execution phases.
- Essential: Advanced knowledge and hands-on experience using OLGA flow assurance simulation software.
- Essential: Extensive experience supporting deepwater or ultra-deepwater oil production developments.
- Essential: Strong understanding of transient analysis, thermal management, production shutdown and restart scenarios.
- Essential: Excellent command of written and spoken English.
- Essential: Strong understanding of HSE management systems and safe engineering practices.
- Essential: Experience managing interfaces across SURF, SPS, FPSO and Operations teams in complex project environments.
- Essential: Ability to review and challenge contractor engineering deliverables while providing practical and technically robust solutions.
Desirable
- Previous experience working with major SURF contractors, operators or specialist engineering consultancies.
- Knowledge of DNV standards and offshore flow assurance industry practices.
- Familiarity with TotalEnergies engineering specifications, procedures and project execution methodologies.
- Experience supporting commissioning, start-up and operational readiness activities.
- Experience working within large multicultural and multidisciplinary project organizations.
About the Company
This company is developing a major ultra-deepwater offshore oil project in Namibia. The development includes subsea production and injection systems, SURF infrastructure and FPSO facilities, with a strong focus on technical excellence, safety performance, production optimization and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions throughout the project lifecycle.
About Airswift
Airswift is an international workforce solutions provider within the energy, process and infrastructure industries. Airswift serves as a strategic partner to clients, offering a turnkey workforce solution to capture and deliver the top talent needed to complete successful projects by aligning with unique hiring needs. With over 1,000 employees and 9,000 contractors operating in more than 60 countries, Airswift's geographical reach and talent network are unmatched in the industry. If this Flow Assurance Lead Engineer opportunity is of interest, please apply now.