Commissioning engineer

Commissioning engineer job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Employers of commissioning engineers include companies that manufacture/operate mechanical, electronic and electrical systems, equipment and machinery; building services, process, control, instrumentation and communications companies; utilities; engineering contractors; consultancies.

Typical responsibilities of the job include:

• making improvements to and offering advice about operational procedures;
• scheduling and co-ordinating work to tight deadlines;
• ensuring that equipment works to its specification;
• creating and carrying out test procedures;
• investigating problems, diagnosing/repairing faults;
• troubleshooting;
• liaising with installation/project engineers;
• supervising engineering and technical staff;
• writing reports and documentation;
• providing technical support;
• ensuring safe working conditions;
• training maintenance and operative staff where appropriate.

Ability to work under pressure is important, with tight schedules necessitating extra hours at times: shift and ‘unsocial' hours are often required, particularly where equipment is in 24-hour operation.

Jobs are advertised in newspapers, via the internet, by specialist recruitment agencies and in several engineering journals including TARGETjobs Engineering, TARGETjobs Construction, Civil Engineering & Quantity Surveying, The Engineer, The Chemical Engineer, Electrical Contractor, Electronics Weekly, Electronics Times, Engineering News, Manufacturing Engineering etc.

Qualifications and training required

An MEng degree in a relevant engineering discipline is necessary for entry into the profession. Practical work experience is often required, although this can be gained via sponsorship, vacation work, 'year in industry' placements and graduate engineering training schemes. A relevant postgraduate qualification can also be helpful.

To achieve chartered status you will need an accredited MEng degree followed by at least four years' vocational training with an accredited employer.

Key skills for commissioning engineers

It is essential for all candidates to possess excellent interpersonal, leadership and managerial skills. Employers seek graduates who are commercially aware and capable of working well under pressure within a team environment. Relevant technical expertise (for example, test, design, development and operations experience) is of particular importance, as are good IT and analytical skills. Foreign language skills can also prove advantageous.