IPS System Specialist

Job Purpose

The IPS System Specialist is part of the Instrument Discipline Team responsible for providing quality assurance to SIF tests, and for carrying out preventive and corrective maintenance activities and configuration changes for the Pearl GTL Complex for IPS and FGS systems. The role oversees the Safety Instrumented System (SIS) safety lifecycle in accordance with IEC61508 and IEC61511, ensuring the highest availability and integrity of the installed Instrumented Protective Systems.

Principal Accountabilities

• Assist in normal operational activities through equipment inspection and maintenance activities based on QA/QC procedures and Reliability-Centered Maintenance techniques.
• Contribute to the reliability and integrity of plant instrumentation equipment by applying approved standards, procedures, and schedules within an ISO‑certified quality assurance system.
• Act as a front‑line maintenance person for IPS system problems and breakdown maintenance.
• Perform quality surveillance of Instrumented Protective field equipment scheduled testing conducted by the Maintenance department.
• Establish materials and equipment required to complete all allocated tasks correctly.
• Ensure IPS System availability and integrity by monitoring performance and strictly adhering to plant change procedures.
• Serve as the IPS System knowledge base, providing support and advice to concerned parties.
• Provide technical support to concerned parties on the details of Instrumented Protective functions in assigned areas.
• Maintain system integrity by setting and controlling security parameters and privileges, setting priorities, installing and reinstalling applications, arranging backup and recovery activities, and other related tasks.
• Access tasks and ensure accurate history of maintenance and inspection activities within the Computerized Maintenance Management System.
• Support or participate in functional safety assessments, audits, and compliance checks.
• Carry out condition monitoring of installed IPS and FGS systems and record results in the Computerized Maintenance Management System.
• Implement or modify functional logics on IPS and FGS systems resulting from approved plant changes or projects as directed by the IPS System Engineer.
• Assist in SIS performance monitoring and analysis, including identification of bad actors such as spurious trips and SIF overrides.
• Assist and supervise support from vendors, SGS, and internal specialists to perform problem solving, optimization, system development, and maximize use of the system.
• Become approved as a Competent Electrical Person for Low Voltage Equipment and IPS System Isolation.
• Ensure compliance with the Company’s HSE policy and guidelines.
• Assist in controlling IPS System documentation and data.
• Assist in training and assessing operator technicians in basic equipment care activities.
• Support area maintenance teams for problems requiring specialist competencies not present in area teams.
• Participate in the duty roster and act independently.
• Possess skill competency for Honeywell Safety Manager.
• Possess skill competency for field instrumentation.
• Possess skill competency for Fire and Gas Detectors.
• Promote an incident and injury‑free culture in QSGTL.
• Present lessons learned to Instrument personnel.
• Present SIF testing protocol understanding to Company and Contract Instrument personnel.
• Possess skill competency in SPI.
• Possess skill competency in the use of Shera and ensure that safety incidents are reported using this tool.
• Participate in team building activities.
• Contribute to field audits and inspections.
• Contribute to ensure no overdue preventive maintenance jobs.
• Possess skill competency of plant change system and demonstrate adherence.
• Possess skill competency and application of PTW system and attachments.
• Possess skill competency for effective presentations and delivery.
• Possess commissioning skill competency for plant change and small project work.
• Raise suggestions for improved reliability ideas during Instrument SIS daily meetings.
• Author procedures, work instructions, and scopes of work as required.
• Possess knowledge competency in FDM and HART interfaces.
• Possess knowledge competency for DCS and subsystems.
• Possess skill competency for SAP.
• Possess knowledge competency for SIF methodology.
• Participate in SIF classification reviews as a resource person in the design of protective functions.
• Participate in SIF incident investigations by providing the required information from the systems.
• Participate in IPS, FGS, and SIF component root cause failure analyses.
• Serve as a mentor to junior IPS technicians, instrument maintenance technicians, maintenance contract partner SIF testing technicians, Honeywell systems engineers, and Qatari nationals as required.
• Prepare IPS and FGS shutdown related scopes of work for turnaround.
• Prepare and execute QA/QC packages for turnaround.
• Act as team lead for the execution of IPS and FGS turnaround work.
• Prepare and lead a team for instrumentation related audits.
• Possess skill competency to be a SAP focal point to support other Instrument personnel.
• Prepare and deliver specific training packages to Instrument personnel.

Key Challenges

• Assist in developing and carrying out flawless maintenance and turnaround practices for installed IPS systems to achieve and sustain Pearl GTL’s availability targets.
• Continuous improvement of complex availability and reliability, reducing mean time to repair.
• Avoid production loss, plant trip, or quality non‑conformance resulting from tasks performed.
• Maintain full utilization of the computerized maintenance management system.
• Maintain a reasonable backlog by completing all allocated tasks within the allocated time.
• Contribute to establishing technical transparency, professional competence, and focused commitment to integrity and reliability.
• Work in a diverse, multicultural environment requiring new systems, procedures, and logistic support.
• Promote efficient work processes, ownership at all levels, technical competence, continuous improvement, and multi‑disciplinary teamwork with delegated leadership.
• Assist in developing QSGTL instrument technicians, engineering staff, operations, maintenance contract partner instrument technicians, and Qatari nationals as required.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Minimum bachelor’s Engineering or equivalent diploma degree in electronics or instrumentation with more than ten years’ experience in onshore or offshore facilities of the oil and gas or petrochemical industry.
• At least five years of hands‑on experience in configuration, logic modification, and maintenance of Honeywell make IPS/FGS systems Safety Manager and Instrumented Protective Field Instrumentation.
• Knowledge of field instrument installation, maintenance execution, and Instrumented Protective device inspection/testing.
• Experience in troubleshooting and analysis of system alarms and equipment failures.
• Knowledge of scientific principles, measuring principles, engineering fundamentals, and computer technology, with the ability to mentor junior colleagues.
• Ability to work in a multicultural team and communicate effectively.
• Fluency in written and verbal English is mandatory.

Shell is an Equal Opportunity Employer.