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.