PROJECT ENGINEERING LEAD (Technology Commercialisation | Engineering Leadership | Design Governance)

Our client is a pioneering climate technology company commercialising breakthrough carbon removal and green hydrogen technologies. Following successful pilot and demonstration deployments, the organisation is progressing towards commercial-scale implementation and expanding its engineering and project delivery capabilities for future global deployments. As it transitions from technology development into commercial execution, they are seeking an experienced Project Engineering Lead (based in Vadodara, Gujarat, India) to lead and manage the engineering execution of a first-of-a-kind commercial technology deployment, ensuring engineering partners, contractors, consultants, and vendors execute safely, efficiently, and in accordance with the organisation's technical, commercial, schedule, quality, and operational objectives.
ABOUT THE ROLE
This is a senior project engineering leadership role responsible for leading and managing the engineering execution of a first-of-a-kind commercial technology deployment project from pre-FEL-2 through FEL-3, detailed engineering, procurement, and manufacturing readiness. This role requires dual capability:
(1) Deep Process Engineering - Providing technical oversight and design governance, ensuring engineering deliverables meet project requirements through hands-on review of process simulations, heat and mass balances, equipment sizing, and the translation of lab/pilot data into commercial design.
(2) Technical Engineering Management - interfacing with, and holding accountable, large engineering contractors and equipment vendors to ensure technical conformance and execution stays on track.
This role requires deep technical engineering expertise to review, challenge, and coordinate engineering activities - not just manage them. You must be able to review technical documents using engineering principles, including pre-FEL-2 deliverables such as fundamental equipment sizing, design considerations, and available equipment options. You will work alongside the EPC contractor to coordinate FEED/FEL-3 activities, ensuring alignment with Equatic's requirements. Rather than producing detailed engineering designs, you will provide engineering leadership, design governance, delivery assurance, and independent oversight across multidisciplinary engineering teams, EPC partners, consultants, equipment vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders. Acting as the organisation's trusted representative throughout the project lifecycle, you will ensure engineering execution, schedule, cost, quality, and operational readiness remain aligned with project objectives while supporting successful commercial deployment of the company's proprietary technology. You will operate with significant autonomy, escalating only critical decisions that require leadership input.
WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE UNIQUE :
EPC / FEED Coordination: Work alongside the EPC contractor to coordinate FEED/FEL-3 activities.
Engineering Leadership + Management: Lead and manage engineering execution, providing technical oversight and design governance.
Engineering-Centric Focus: Focused on pre-FEL-2, FEED/FEL-3, detailed engineering, design governance, and contractor management - not construction or site execution.
First-of-a-kind Project: Deliver novel seawater electrolysis technology at commercial scale for the first time.
Owner's Representative: Act as the trusted eyes and ears of leadership, providing independent engineering oversight and escalating only critical decisions.
Technology Protection: Safeguard proprietary technology while working with external engineering partners and contractors.
Scale-Up Bridge: Bridge R&D and pilot-scale data with demonstration and commercial-scale design, translating lab-scale results into engineering specifications and design requirements.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
EPC / FEED Coordination (50%)
Act as the primary technical interface with the EPC partner during FEED/FEL-3 and detailed design phases.
Coordinate engineering activities between Equatic, the EPC partner, and other engineering partners to ensure alignment with project objectives.
Review and challenge engineering deliverables from the EPC partner to ensure technical conformance, schedule alignment, and cost control.
Facilitate resolution of technical and commercial issues arising during FEED/FEL-3 and detailed design.
Technical Engineering Leadership & Design Governance (25%)
Lead and manage engineering execution from FEL-3 through detailed engineering, procurement, and manufacturing readiness - providing both technical oversight and design governance.
Review and approve engineering deliverables, ensuring they meet project requirements, specifications, and quality standards - without performing detailed engineering design yourself.
Review and challenge pre-FEL-2 technical deliverables using engineering principles, including conceptual process designs, preliminary heat and mass balances, equipment sizing calculations, design considerations, available equipment options, utility requirements, and cost drivers.
Review process simulations and calculations to verify equipment sizing (vessels, pumps, PSVs) from first principles.
Provide independent, trusted oversight across all project phases while safeguarding the organisation's proprietary technology and intellectual property.
Support the selection and appointment of peer reviewers and monitor the engineering team's QA/QC processes.
Ensure engineering, procurement, schedule, cost, quality, and safety objectives remain aligned with project requirements.
Owner's Engineering & Governance (15%)
Interface with, and hold accountable, large engineering contractors - ensuring they deliver on scope, schedule, and quality commitments.
Lead and participate in HAZOP studies and process safety reviews; coordinate follow-up actions.
Support Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) to ensure fabricated equipment conforms to engineering specifications.
Support project governance, decision-making, and timely resolution of technical and commercial issues.
Operate with significant autonomy, escalating only critical decisions that require leadership input.
Provide independent, trusted oversight across all project phases while safeguarding the organisation's proprietary technology and intellectual property.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Management (5%)
Build strong working relationships across engineering, process engineering, procurement, manufacturing, operations, and executive leadership teams.
Coordinate multiple external engineering partners and contractors while ensuring clear communication, accountability, and timely decision-making.
Facilitate project meetings, technical reviews, governance forums, and stakeholder updates throughout the project lifecycle.
Communicate complex technical and commercial matters clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Procurement, Contracts & Vendor Coordination (Supporting)
Support procurement activities covering long-lead equipment, technology packages, major contracts, and engineering services.
Review procurement strategies, technical bid evaluations, contract recommendations, supplier performance, and manufacturing progress.
Coordinate closely with vendors, suppliers, fabricators, logistics providers, and project teams to ensure timely delivery of equipment and materials.
Monitor manufacturing progress, expediting activities, and supplier commitments to minimise project risks.
Project Controls, Risk & Performance Management (Supporting)
Monitor integrated project schedules, milestone achievement, project costs, budget performance, and overall project execution.
Maintain project risk registers, action logs, decision registers, issue trackers, and change management processes.
Review variation orders, change requests, contractor claims, payment milestones, and recovery plans.
Prepare regular project reports highlighting progress, risks, mitigation plans, key decisions, commercial impacts, and overall project status for leadership.
Construction & Commissioning (Future Phases) (5%)
Coordinate engineering interfaces and provide oversight during future construction and commissioning phases, ensuring alignment with design intent and project requirements.
Support commissioning planning, operational readiness, and successful transition into plant operations as the project progresses.
REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Chemical, Process Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Approximately 10-12 years or more of experience in engineering leadership, engineering management, or project delivery roles on large-scale industrial, manufacturing, energy, or technology commercialisation projects. Experience delivering first-of-a-kind (FOAK) or deep-tech pilot/demonstration facilities is highly valued.

Work arrangement
No