Responsive Navbar

Vice President – Instrumentation and Automation

Job Description

Roles & Responsibilities

Job Summary:

We are looking for a dynamic and strategic Vice President – Instrumentation and Automation to lead the end-to-end development and execution of instrumentation and automation strategies across oil and gas operations. This role is pivotal in aligning engineering innovation with operational excellence, ensuring that instrumentation and automation systems drive safety, reliability, and efficiency across upstream, midstream, and downstream facilities.


Key Responsibilities:

  • Define and implement global instrumentation and automation strategies to support operational and business objectives.

  • Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams in the design, implementation, and optimization of control systems (DCS, PLC, SCADA, SIS).

  • Establish and enforce company-wide standards for field instrumentation, control architecture, and asset management systems.

  • Oversee automation projects from concept to commissioning, including budget control, vendor coordination, and system integration.

  • Develop and maintain robust cybersecurity practices in line with OT/ICS standards (e.g., ISA/IEC 62443).

  • Ensure compliance with international engineering standards (API, IEC, ISA, NFPA, NEC) and local regulations.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional leaders in production, safety, IT, and digital transformation to align automation with corporate goals.

  • Promote innovation by evaluating emerging technologies (IIoT, machine learning, AI-driven control, predictive diagnostics).

  • Lead talent development initiatives and technical mentoring across global instrumentation and automation teams.

  • Represent the organization in industry committees, forums, and regulatory bodies.


Key Focus Areas:

  • Enterprise-wide Automation Strategy

  • Standardization of Instrumentation and Control Systems

  • DCS/PLC/SCADA System Design and Lifecycle Management

  • Functional Safety & SIL Compliance (IEC 61508/61511)

  • Industrial Cybersecurity & Secure OT Architecture

  • IIoT and Smart Instrumentation Deployment

  • Advanced Process Control & Optimization

  • Automation in Digital Oilfield Environments

  • Vendor and System Integrator Management

  • Regulatory Compliance and Risk Mitigation


Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Instrumentation, Automation, Electrical, or Electronics Engineering

  • Minimum 18+ years of progressive experience in instrumentation and automation within the oil & gas industry

  • Proven leadership in managing large, multi-site automation projects and global engineering teams

  • Deep expertise in DCS (e.g., Honeywell, Emerson, ABB), PLCs, SCADA systems, and instrumentation platforms

  • Functional safety certification (e.g., TÜV FS Engineer) and cybersecurity training preferred

  • Strong business acumen and ability to influence C-level decision-making

  • Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder engagement skills

Job Detail
  • Work Type: Full Time
  • Languages to be known : Arabic, English
  • Country: United Arab Emirates
  • City: Dubai
  • Job Category : Oil and Gas