Trainee Shift Engineer (Chemical Engineering)

About the role

The selected candidate will join a 5-year Operations & Maintenance contract for the Basrah Desalination Plant, a 199,000 m3/d reverse osmosis plant in Al Harthain, Basrah Province. Reporting to the Shift Charge Engineer and Control Room Operator on shift (and to the Operations Manager), the Trainee Shift Engineer develops the competencies needed to become a Shift Charge Engineer by working alongside and under the supervision of the Shift Charge Engineer. The trainee learns to operate the plant using the SCADA system and related equipment, in line with the RO Plant Operation and Maintenance Manual, the Integrated Management System and the O&M contract terms. During training the trainee has no independent shift command or supervisory authority over field operators.

Key responsibilities

• Assist the Shift Charge Engineer in operating the plant via SCADA, under direct supervision at all times
• Learn to operate the plant according to IMS work instructions and procedures, and to the O&M manual
• Support monitoring of plant chemical availability and usage
• Help with daily reporting and interface with O&M colleagues
• Take part in the Permit to Work system as holder, working toward Issuer competency under supervision
• Identify and report plant abnormalities promptly, and log daily/hourly events such as backwashes, failures and process changes
• Perform basic water quality analyses (turbidity, conductivity, SDI, etc.) and field duties when required, especially during day shift
• Follow company policies (EHS, quality, HR, finance), maintain housekeeping, work overtime and rotating shifts, and follow any reasonable instruction from management
• Pursue structured on-the-job training toward full Shift Charge Engineer competency, including SCADA proficiency, process troubleshooting and Permit to Work Issuer/Safety Controller roles

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or a closely related discipline
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in water treatment, process operations or a related industrial environment
• Reverse osmosis exposure or operation is a plus
• Spoken and written English is a must
• Ability to work shifts (24 hours, 7 days) in a supervised team, with flexibility, reliability and teamwork

Required skills

• Basic exposure to SCADA and automated processes
• Fundamentals of water treatment and RO desalination
• Basic laboratory analyses (temperature, conductivity, pH, iron, SDI)
• Safe handling of water treatment chemicals and basic first aid
• Understanding of mechanical and electrical equipment and water quality monitoring instruments