HVAC Lead Inspector (Offshore Substation Dubai)

HVAC Lead Inspector

📍 Berlin, Germany (remote) → Dubai, UAE (fabrication yard) → Offshore
🕒 Contract / Long-term assignment | Start: December 2026

We are looking for an experienced HVAC Lead Inspector to act as the Client / Owner's Representative for the HVAC scope of a 2 GW HVDC offshore converter platform in the Baltic Sea, built for a German transmission system operator.

The scope covers:

• Air treatment: fresh and recirculated air, and room pressurisation

• Chilled water systems (central and local cooling) and closed cooling systems

• HVAC air coolers and hazardous gas and smoke extraction

• Interfaces to fire protection, automation and E&I, plus temporary HVAC during construction

You follow this scope from requirements verification to offshore commissioning.

Assignment Timeline

• Start: December 2026

• Contract: 12 months, with option to extend

• Work split: 50% on site in Dubai, 40% remote, 10% in Berlin
  

Key Responsibilities

• Review the contractor's evidence against the Employer's Requirements in the verification plan (Relatics) and recommend verification status

• Review and comment on contractor and supplier documents, including:

  • ITPs, FAT and commissioning procedures

  • yard HVAC ITP and ductwork leak test procedure

  • inspection and test procedures for HVAC equipment

• Define client hold, witness, review and monitoring points and keep the HVAC inspection register up to date

• Assess QA/QC Technical Queries, deviation requests and supplier NCRs

• Witness FATs for HVAC equipment, including:

  • air handling units, chillers, local cooling units, dry coolers and fans

  • fire dampers, constant volume dampers, weather louvres and mist eliminators

• Witness performance, functional, leak-tightness and noise tests

• Verify fire classifications, EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2 certificates, CE documentation, corrosion protection and product marking

• Carry out surveillance visits at international sub-suppliers, including during HVAC duct, piping and support fabrication

• Verify marking, packing and preservation, and recommend equipment release for shipment

• At the Dubai yard, inspect:

  • delivery, storage and preservation of HVAC materials and equipment

  • fabrication of HVAC ductwork, piping and support structures

  • installation of HVAC equipment and systems

• Verify that temporary HVAC works during construction, and check that technical rooms are ready for handover before HVDC equipment is installed

• Carry out receiving inspections, including VDI 6022 inspections where applicable, and preservation audits

• Witness HVAC pre-commissioning and commissioning at the yard

• Plan inspection coverage, coordinate the client inspection team and make sure every hold and witness point is attended

• Raise NCRs, assess root causes and verify closure of corrective and preventive actions

• Carry out mechanical completion inspections (ITR-A) and review punch list items and completion dossiers in the contractor's system

• Take part in final inspections, harbour acceptance tests (HAT) and load-out readiness reviews

• Offshore: verify re-commissioning after hook-up, witness permanent commissioning and verify HVAC performance against the approved design

• Issue daily and weekly inspection reports with KPIs (hold and witness point attendance, NCR ageing, punch list close-out)

• Report HSE non-conformities and take part in safety walks and HSE reviews
  

Required Qualifications

• Degree or certificate in HVAC / building services or mechanical engineering

• Minimum 8 years in QA/QC inspection, testing or commissioning of HVAC systems, of which at least 5 years on offshore or marine projects

• Proven experience witnessing HVAC equipment FATs, ductwork leak tests and HVAC commissioning (testing, adjusting and balancing)

• Proven experience leading a team of inspectors

• Experience as Lead Inspector, Client Representative or Owner's Inspector on offshore substations, HVDC platforms, oil & gas topsides or ships

• Experience in FAT witnessing and surveillance at international sub-suppliers

• Experience in mechanical completion, pre-commissioning and commissioning, including punch list and completion management systems

• Fluent English, minimum C1 (spoken and written)

• Valid work and travel permits for Europe and the UAE; willingness to travel to suppliers worldwide and to be deployed long-term at the Dubai yard and offshore

• Working knowledge of codes and standards, e.g. ISO 15138, DNV-OS-D301, EN 16798-3, VDI 6022, EN 12097, ISO 5149-1, EN 12599, EN 1507, EN 12237

All experience must be backed by personal project references stating client, period, scope and your role.

Nice to Have

• Certification such as NEBB, TABB, BSRIA, EU F-Gas or VDI 6022 hygiene inspection

• Refrigeration systems and fire damper testing

• Preservation management and preservation inspections

• Offshore hook-up and commissioning campaigns

• Previous work on HVDC converter platforms or offshore substations, as Owner's Engineer or Client Representative

• Experience on European projects

• DNV certification processes; yard experience in the Middle East or Asia
  

Additional Advantages

• German and Arabic language skills

• Valid GWO BST or OPITO BOSIET (incl. HUET) and offshore medical, or willingness to obtain them before the offshore phase

• Knowledge of BSH offshore codes, DNV-ST-0145 and German occupational safety rules (BetrSichV, DGUV, ASR)
  

Why This Role

• Owner's-side position with real authority over the HVAC scope

• One platform from start to finish: verification, FATs, yard, load-out and offshore commissioning (2026 to 2031)

• Lead Inspector role at a major fabrication yard in Dubai

• Grid connection project for the German energy transition, 2 GW HVDC
  

👉 Interested?
Apply directly or reach out for more information. Please send your CV with project references.