Urgent EPC Oil and Gas Iraq Recruitment 2026: 18 Walk-in & Engineering Vacancies
The global energy sector continues to undergo massive transformations, with Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects leading the charge in oil and gas infrastructure expansion. Iraq remains one of the world's primary hubs for onshore and offshore energy field development, hosting multi-billion-dollar greenfield and brownfield projects across regions like Basra, Majnoon, West Qurna, and Rumaila.
Navigating the complexities of large-scale EPC construction requires a highly skilled workforce, specialized technical expertise, and flawless pre-commissioning and commissioning execution. A high-profile EPC contractor operating in Iraq has announced an urgent recruitment drive targeting seasoned oil and gas professionals across executive management, engineering, supervision, and field operations.
The global energy matrix relies heavily on major capital projects across the Middle East, where massive Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) ventures serve as the operational backbone for upstream exploration, midstream transport, and downstream refining assets. Within this vast industrial landscape, EPC Oil and Gas construction jobs Iraq represent some of the most dynamic, high-stakes, and financially lucrative career pathways for engineering professionals worldwide. Operating across key resource hubs such as Basra, Majnoon, West Qurna, and Rumaila, major international contractors execute complex brownfield modifications and greenfield builds that require seamless integration across civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation disciplines. The execution of these multi-billion-dollar energy projects depends on specialized leaders who understand the precise mechanics of plant startup and field operations. Central to this effort is the position of the Commissioning Manager, whose technical leadership dictates whether a plant transitions safely from mechanical construction to live hydrocarbon processing. When considering a Commissioning Manager salary Middle East, compensation structures reflect the significant responsibility and specialized expertise required for the role. In major energy markets across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and regional oil-producing territories, experienced Commissioning Managers routinely command tax-free monthly salaries ranging from $10,000 to over $18,000 USD (equivalent to 35,000 to 65,000 AED/SAR or local equivalents), often supplemented by comprehensive expatriate benefits including rotational leave flights, fully furnished site accommodations, hazard premiums, and performance bonuses. This executive pay scale highlights the strategic importance of managing plant handovers, where even a single day of schedule slippage or operational downtime can incur millions of dollars in lost revenue for project operators and state energy boards.
Beyond executive leadership, the operational heart of chemical processing and oil separation relies on process engineering expertise. Professionals seeking Process Engineer oil refinery jobs find themselves at the intersection of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and mass transfer unit operations. In modern oil refineries and gas-oil separation plants (GOSPs), Process Engineers are tasked with validating heat and material balances, optimizing distillation columns, overseeing hydrotreating and catalytic cracking units, and ensuring that final product cuts—ranging from diesel and naphtha to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)—meet stringent international purity specifications. During the pre-commissioning and commissioning phases of an EPC contract, Process Engineers draft essential operational manuals, establish chemical cleaning procedures, design system nitrogen purge sequences, and manage hot commissioning activities when live hydrocarbons are first introduced into high-pressure vessels. Their analytical work directly dictates plant throughput efficiency, environmental emission compliance, and energy conservation metrics, making them indispensable during both initial project construction and long-term facility optimization.
Concurrently, as industrial facilities move toward total digital transformation and unattended operations, the demand for control systems expertise has surged dramatically. Exploring PLC Engineer automation careers opens doors to one of the most vital technical fields in modern industrial engineering. Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Distributed Control Systems (DCS), and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) networks form the central nervous system of any hydrocarbon facility. A skilled PLC Engineer designs ladder logic, function block diagrams, and structured text to manage critical interlocks, emergency shutdown systems (ESD), and automated sequence controls across complex processing skids. From configuring complex triple-modular redundant (TMR) safety instrumented systems (SIS) to troubleshooting fieldbus communication protocols like Modbus, Profibus, and Industrial Ethernet, PLC Engineers ensure that every valve, motor, heater, and transmitter operates in exact harmony with safety logic. As energy companies in Iraq and the broader Middle East upgrade legacy facilities with advanced automation and edge computing, automation engineers with field-proven PLC programming capabilities enjoy exceptional career longevity, rapid professional advancement, and competitive global remuneration packages.
Connecting these technical disciplines into a single, cohesive project delivery framework requires absolute visibility over thousands of individual equipment checks, pressure tests, and regulatory sign-offs. This is precisely where a Completion Management System oil gas becomes the critical operational engine of modern EPC project delivery. A Completion Management System (CMS)—implemented through advanced enterprise software platforms such as ICAPS, WinPCS, or GoCompletions—serves as the centralized, single-source-of-truth database that tracks the complete life cycle of every system and subsystem from early mechanical completion through pre-commissioning, cold commissioning, hot commissioning, and final client acceptance. By categorizing facility assets into distinct mechanical, electrical, instrument, and process sub-systems, a CMS allows engineering teams to systematically generate Inspection Test Records (ITRs), monitor loop-check completion rates, track hydrostatic pressure test packages, and manage punch lists (A, B, and C item categorizations) in real time. Without a robust Completion Management System, multi-discipline teams working on massive industrial sites face severe risk of miscommunication, unverified safety handovers, and compliance bottlenecks during plant startup. When integrated seamlessly with site management, process engineering, and field automation, a CMS guarantees that every safety barrier is verified, every instrument is calibrated, and every regulatory requirement is met before live hydrocarbons are safely introduced into the facility.
Below is an in-depth breakdown of the project landscape in Iraq, the vital role of commissioning and completion management in EPC execution, and a detailed profile of each vacant position currently open for applications.
The Landscape of EPC Projects in Iraqi Oil & Gas Fields
Operating within Iraq's oil and gas infrastructure involves dealing with high-capacity Central Processing Facilities (CPFs), Gas-Oil Separation Plants (GOSPs), water injection plants, natural gas compression stations, and cross-country export pipeline systems.
EPC contractors carry the end-to-end responsibility of taking a project from basic engineering design through procurement, fabrication, civil construction, mechanical completion, pre-commissioning, cold commissioning, hot commissioning, and final hand-over to operating companies (such as BOC, South Gas Company, or international oil companies like TotalEnergies, Shell, and Eni).
Key Execution Phases of Oil & Gas Commissioning
Mechanical Completion (MC): Ensuring all equipment, piping, electrical, and instrumentation systems are installed, pressure-tested, aligned, and inspected per project specs and piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&ID).
Pre-Commissioning: Performing dynamic non-operational tests, system flushing, chemical cleaning, leak testing, instrument calibration, loop checking, and electrical energization.
Commissioning (Cold & Hot): Introducing safe operational media or live hydrocarbon fluids into systems under controlled conditions to verify process performance, control loops, safety interlocks, and emergency shutdown (ESD) logic.
Handover & Performance Testing: Transitioning operational authority from the EPC contractor to the client/owner operator through formalized Completion Management Systems (CMS).
Urgent Job Openings: Detailed Job Profiles & Key Responsibilities
1. Commissioning Manager
Role Overview
The Commissioning Manager sits at the executive apex of the commissioning phase. This role is responsible for setting the overall strategy, schedule, safety protocols, and operational workflows required to bring complex processing units live.
Key Responsibilities
Formulate the master Commissioning Execution Plan (CEP), system breakdown structure, and schedule integrated with overall EPC project timelines.
Lead cross-functional teams including process, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control systems, and safety personnel.
Coordinate client interfaces, third-party certification authorities, vendor representatives, and local operating personnel.
Maintain direct oversight of SIMOPS (Simultaneous Operations) protocols in live or semi-live plant environments.
Budget management, resource forecasting, and executive reporting on commissioning progress, system handover readiness, and punch-list clearing rates.
Qualifications & Skills
Bachelor's degree in chemical, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering.
15+ years of experience in oil and gas plant commissioning, with at least 5 years in a managerial capacity on major Middle Eastern EPC projects.
2. Completion Manager
Role Overview
The Completion Manager oversees the System Completion Management System (SCMS/CMS), managing the transition from mechanical completion through pre-commissioning, commissioning, and final handover.
Key Responsibilities
Manage the project completion database (e.g., WinPCS, ICAPS, GoCompletions) to track A, B, and C punch lists.
Establish system/subsystem boundary definitions, marking up P&IDs and electrical single-line diagrams (SLDs).
Drive the verification and approval process for Mechanical Completion Certificates (MCC), Ready for Commissioning (RFC), and Final Acceptance Certificates (FAC).
Coordinate joint walks with client representatives to agree on punch-list items, categorization, and sign-offs.
Qualifications & Skills
Degree in Engineering or Information Systems Management with significant EPC field experience.
Expertise in software databases tracking system completions, punch lists, and statutory inspection dossiers.
3. Interface Manager
Role Overview
Large EPC projects in Iraq involve multiple subcontractors, technology licensors, utility providers, and host government entities. The Interface Manager ensures smooth technical, operational, and contractual communication between all internal and external parties.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and maintain the Project Interface Register, managing Interface Requests (IRs) and Technical Queries (TQs).
Resolve battery-limit clashes across piping, electrical power lines, instrument tie-ins, and civil access roads.
Conduct regular interface alignment meetings between EPC contractors, sub-contractors, and local Iraqi authorities.
Mitigate schedule risks arising from delayed information exchange between engineering departments and field vendors.
Qualifications & Skills
Degree in Engineering with strong multidisciplinary technical knowledge.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and conflict-resolution abilities in multi-national project environments.
4. DCC Manager (Document Control Center Manager)
Role Overview
The Document Control Center Manager is responsible for managing the technical documentation life cycle across the project. In the commissioning phase, document integrity is paramount for safety, quality assurance, and legal handover.
Key Responsibilities
Oversee Electronic Document Management Systems (EDMS) such as Aconex, SharePoint, or OpenText.
Ensure all vendor manuals, red-line markups, as-built drawings, inspection test records (ITRs), and loop sheets are cataloged accurately.
Manage document transmission schedules between field teams, client engineering, and vendor support networks.
Enforce strict quality control standards for document formatting, revisions, and distribution security.
Qualifications & Skills
Bachelor's degree with 10+ years in document management leadership for major industrial construction projects.
5. Area Authority
Role Overview
The Area Authority acts as the key operational safety gatekeeper within a designated plant zone. This role ensures all field activities strictly comply with the Permit to Work (PTW) system and site safety regulations.
Key Responsibilities
Inspect work sites before issuing, renewing, or closing out work permits (e.g., Hot Work, Cold Work, Confined Space Entry).
Perform gas testing, oxygen monitoring, and toxic vapor checks (e.g., H2S) prior to authorizing entry or hot work.
Conduct toolbox talks, verify isolation certificates (LOTO), and assess field hazards continuously.
Coordinate SIMOPS activities to prevent conflicting maintenance, civil, or commissioning work in adjacent areas.
Qualifications & Skills
Certified in NEBOSH, IOSH, or equivalent occupational safety qualifications.
Extensive experience as a Permit Authority in live Middle Eastern oil fields or refinery facilities.
6. Mechanical-Commissioning Engineer
Role Overview
The Mechanical Commissioning Engineer is responsible for testing, flushing, running, and proving all static and rotating mechanical equipment across the plant.
Key Responsibilities
Execute lube oil flushing, air blowing, chemical cleaning, and chemical passivation of piping networks and vessels.
Perform mechanical run tests on pumps, compressors, turbines, blowers, and air-cooled heat exchangers.
Verify shaft alignment (laser alignment), vibration analysis readings, bearing temperatures, and mechanical seal flush systems.
Troubleshoot mechanical failures or performance deviations during load testing.
Qualifications & Skills
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with 6–10 years of direct commissioning experience on rotating and static equipment.
7. Electrical Commissioning Engineer
Role Overview
This engineer leads the energization, testing, and operational verification of high-voltage (HV), medium-voltage (MV), and low-voltage (LV) electrical distribution systems.
Key Responsibilities
Test and commission transformers, switchgear, motor control centers (MCCs), variable frequency drives (VFDs), and emergency diesel generators.
Perform primary and secondary current injection testing, protection relay setting checks, and insulation resistance (Megger) tests.
Ensure uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems and battery banks operate within safety standards.
Safely execute plant energization sequences under strict electrical permit protocols.
Qualifications & Skills
B.S. in Electrical Engineering with proven experience in power plant or oil refinery energization.
8. Instrument Commissioning Engineer
Role Overview
The Instrument Commissioning Engineer verifies that all field instrumentation, control elements, and measurement devices accurately interact with control rooms and automated safety systems.
Key Responsibilities
Perform loop checks (cold and hot) between field instruments (transmitters, control valves, switches) and the Distributed Control System (DCS).
Calibrate pressure, temperature, level, flow, and analytical instruments (gas chromatographs, analyzers).
Stroke test control valves, verify positioner responses, and test Emergency Shutdown Valves (ESDVs) for stroke timing and partial stroke testing (PST).
Supervise impulse line impulse tubing installation, leak testing, and heat tracing checks.
Qualifications & Skills
B.S. in Instrumentation & Control Engineering or Mechatronics.
9. Leak Test Engineer
Role Overview
System integrity testing is a critical safety step before introducing hydrocarbons. The Leak Test Engineer designs, manages, and executes specialized pressure and tightness tests.
Key Responsibilities
Develop hydrotesting, pneumatic testing, and sensitive leak testing procedures (e.g., Helium/Nitrogen leak detection).
Calculate test pressures, hold times, expansion rates, and safety exclusion zones.
Supervise high-pressure pumping units, manifold hookups, calibrated gauges, and mass spectrometer leak detectors.
Prepare leak test packages, document test results, and issue line-clearance certificates upon completion.
Qualifications & Skills
Mechanical/Chemical Engineering degree with certified training in high-pressure testing standards (ASME B31.3, ASME VIII).
10. Process Engineer
Role Overview
The Process Engineer ensures that liquid and gas processing systems operate within their designed thermodynamic and hydraulic envelopes during commissioning and startup phases.
Key Responsibilities
Review and validate heat and material balances, P&IDs, PFDs, and utility consumption profiles.
Prepare operational procedures for plant purging, nitrogen blanketing, solvent circulation, catalyst loading, and flare system light-up.
Monitor operational parameters (temperatures, pressures, flow rates, separation efficiencies) during initial hydrocarbon feed.
Troubleshoot process bottlenecks, off-spec products, or operational instability during performance guarantee runs.
Qualifications & Skills
B.S. or M.S. in Chemical/Petroleum Engineering with extensive experience in refining, GOSP, or LNG process operations.
11. Commissioning Completion Engineer
Role Overview
Working closely with technical disciplines and the Completion Manager, this engineer prepares, audits, and processes all commissioning documentation packages.
Key Responsibilities
Compile Commissioning Test Packages (CTPs) and system walk-down dossiers.
Audit completed ITRs (Inspection Test Records) and loop sheets to ensure compliance before authorizing system energization.
Verify punch-list item completion status and update field databases in real time.
Draft hand-over dossiers for operational acceptance sign-offs.
Qualifications & Skills
Degree in Engineering with strong administrative, database, and technical writing skills.
12. Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Engineer
Role Overview
The PLC Engineer manages the programming, logic verification, and troubleshooting of local control panels, safety instrumented systems (SIS), and automated machinery skid logic.
Key Responsibilities
Program, test, and troubleshoot PLC software (e.g., Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens S7/TIA Portal, Schneider Modicon).
Verify cause-and-effect matrices, interlocks, permissive start conditions, and alarm trip settings.
Integrate field PLCs with overarching plant DCS and SCADA architectures using protocols like Modbus, Profibus, and Ethernet/IP.
Provide field support for package vendor skids during initial operational testing.
Qualifications & Skills
B.S. in Control Systems, Automation, Electrical, or Computer Engineering with expert PLC programming credentials.
13. Mechanical Commissioning Supervisor
Role Overview
A hands-on field supervisor responsible for leading teams of technicians, riggers, and fitters in executing mechanical pre-commissioning work.
Key Responsibilities
Direct field teams in valve line-ups, blind installation/removal, spring hanger unlocking, and strainer cleaning.
Oversee air-blowing, chemical cleaning, and hydro-blast flushing of major process piping loops.
Supervise static mechanical checks, vessel internal inspections, and packing installation.
Ensure all field crews adhere to safety permits, PPE, and site rules.
Qualifications & Skills
Diploma or Degree in Mechanical Engineering with 8+ years of hands-on field supervision experience in EPC projects.
14. Electrical Commissioning Supervisor
Role Overview
Leads electricians and technicians during field testing, cable pulling verification, equipment connection, and local electrical checks.
Key Responsibilities
Direct field teams in cable insulation checks, glanding, termination, and phase rotation checks.
Supervise local operational checks on electric motor drives, space heaters, and local isolation switches.
Coordinate safety tagging and lock-out/tag-out (LOTO) procedures at local switchgear and MCC panels.
Qualifications & Skills
Diploma in Electrical Engineering with practical experience in industrial oil facility power systems.
15. Instrument Commissioning Supervisor
Role Overview
Supervises instrument technicians executing line checks, local transmitter mountings, tubing runs, and field junction box terminations.
Key Responsibilities
Lead field instrument technicians during cold loop checking and hook-up inspections.
Inspect installation quality of impulse lines, air headers, cable tray layouts, and instrument enclosures.
Assist engineers with valve stroke testing and field instrument calibration setups.
Qualifications & Skills
Technical Diploma in Instrumentation and Control with demonstrated field supervisory background.
16. Site Superintendent
Role Overview
The Site Superintendent oversees overall daily site operations, coordinating civil, mechanical, electrical, and commissioning workforce activities to maintain schedule momentum.
Key Responsibilities
Manage daily manpower deployment, equipment allocation, and site logistics across active work zones.
Resolve field conflicts, remove operational roadblocks, and maintain communication between subcontractors and engineering heads.
Enforce quality control and site HSE compliance across all discipline construction activities.
Qualifications & Skills
Senior technical background with 12+ years of field construction leadership in oil and gas infrastructure.
17. Field Operator
Role Overview
Field Operators execute physical plant lineups, local monitoring, gauge readings, valve operations, and manual process adjustments during pre-commissioning, startup, and continuous operations.
Key Responsibilities
Perform manual valve alignment, utility tie-ins, filter changes, and equipment sampling operations.
Conduct regular field rounds to monitor pressures, levels, temperatures, leaks, and unusual machinery noise or vibration.
Execute local start/stop procedures for field equipment under direction from the central control room.
Respond immediately to emergency alarms, site isolation calls, or upset conditions per safety protocols.
Qualifications & Skills
Technical certificate or diploma in Process Operations with direct refinery or GOSP field operational experience.
18. Completion Clerk
Role Overview
Provides crucial administrative support to the completions team, ensuring high volumes of field inspection records are processed without error.
Key Responsibilities
Data entry of daily field test reports, ITRs, and quality sign-off sheets into the Completion Management System.
Maintain physical and digital filing archives for system turnover packages.
Generate daily/weekly completion statistics, punch-list status reports, and outstanding action logs.
Qualifications & Skills
High school diploma or business administration certificate with strong computer skills (MS Excel, word processing, document databases).
Why Work in Iraq's Oil & Gas Sector?
Working on major EPC infrastructure projects in Iraq offers distinct career advantages for international oil and gas professionals:
Competitive Financial Compensation: Positions offer tax-free, competitive international pay scales with project completion bonuses.
Rotational Schedules: Rotational work cycles (e.g., 28/28 or 60/14) with fully paid travel, accommodation, and comprehensive medical coverage.
Accelerated Professional Growth: Direct exposure to high-capacity processing facilities, advanced technology deployments, and complex engineering challenges.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their updated resume/CV immediately.
Primary Application Email:
job@go2abroad.inSubject Line Format: Application for [Position Title] - EPC Iraq Project
Required Documents: Updated CV, educational certificates, work experience letters, and safety training credentials (e.g., NEBOSH, BOSIET).
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