Offshore Engineer
Become: Offshore Engineer
To become an offshore engineer you will need a keen interest in Engineering with a strong set of academic results. Typically required is GCSE's, A Levels and a 2:1 in an engineering degree. A degree in Mechanical Engineering would suit a career in subsea engineering well.
Most oil and gas companies have their own online recruitment website for potential engineers.
About: Offshore Engineer
Offshore engineering is a huge industry and requires a highly qualified and intelligent workforce. Companies such as BP employ and train offshore engineers to work on their oil rigs, pipelines and sub sea structures.
As an offshore engineer you will be involved in operations and support for facilities, installation, control/automation, umbilicals, risers, pipelines and hardware. Your work will vary from general operations to highly specialized tasks requiring detailed knowledge of dedicated subsea hardware.
You could be working close to home on short trips of a few days in the North Sea or for prolonged periods in places such as Azerbaijan or the Arctic Ocean.
This is truly a career that offers lifelong progression, constant opportunities to test yourself and as an Engineer you will be well rewarded for your hard work put in at younger ages with one of the best starting salaries on offer anywhere in the industry.
Case Study
Name: Catherine Age: Job Role: Subsea Risers Engineer Company: BP Company Website: www.bp.com Qualifications: Degree Average Salary: £35000
I have been working for British Petroleum or B.P. as a Subsea Risers Engineer for four months. I assist the Subsea and Floating Systems team on a number of different projects working in countries such as Libya, Azerbaijan and Australia. The work ranges from computer modelling of oil and gas platforms with their subsea equipment to offsite Factory Acceptance Tests (commonly known as FAT’s). As I have just started at B.P. I have been on a lot of training courses. The next one I will be attending is the Offshore Survival Training as I hope to complete a one year placement on an offshore platform.
After being at B.P. for only 4 months the number of different projects I have been working on has been astonishing. I have not been bored for one second as the work is challenging yet rewarding. The personal benefits of working for a company like B.P. are quite substantial as well. I started on a salary of over £37,000 with a £3,000 bonus to help me relocate to the area (that’s over £15,000 higher than the average person graduating in Aeronautical Engineering). But my favourite perk is that I never have to cook again - B.P. provides their employee’s with lunch every day!
I knew I wanted to work in the Oil and Gas Industry and B.P. is one the world’s biggest companies with a large base in the U.K. To find the role I’m currently in I simply looked on B.P.’s Careers website as nearly all large companies have an online recruitment process.
I have completed a couple of summer internships during my time at university. The first was at an Oil and Gas Consultancy company called GL Noble Denton. This mainly dealt with the downstream side of the industry i.e. the efficiency of gas metres in their customers’ homes. The second internship I completed was working for an aeronautical company called GKN Aerospace Transparencies. This role was very hands on and mainly involved improving the factory’s design and layout. From the two jobs I liked and disliked aspects of both. I definitely preferred the Oil and Gas industry however, I found the fast pace hands on environment at GKN more rewarding. B.P. has given me the best of both worlds.
Nearly all companies like B.P will require good GCSE’s and A-Level grades. Usually requirements are a minimum of a C in English and Maths at GCSE, and an A and two B’s at A-Level (including Mathematics and another science). A grade of a 2:1 at university or better is also mandatory. However, the requirements are gradually getting more rigorous so it’s always best to check a company’s website before applying (they are strict on this). At GCSE I got an A in English and an A* in Mathematics, at A-Level I got AAB in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry respectively and I achieved First Class Honours in Aeronautical Engineering at Loughborough University. However, if you are certain a career in subsea engineering is what you want to do then I would recommend doing a Mechanical Engineering degree. On a side note however, I would say that having purely academic interests and accomplishments can be a deterrent to some companies. Making sure that you are a well round individual i.e. being part of a sports team, playing a musical instrument or completing the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, can be highly beneficial.
One of the main things why the Oil and Gas industry appealed to me is that you can be based all over the world. I have always wanted to learn a language and experience a different culture and this is one of the few industries where you can do this. Currently I see myself in a technical role and I could become a Chartered Engineer within five years. However, many subsea engineers have become renowned world class managers and leaders. B.P. is a great company to work for as it helps you fulfill your future goals. If you want to be a manager then you will receive the appropriate support to help you become one. The list of career opportunities is endless.
If you have the dedication and right work ethic, I’ve found that this profession can be extremely rewarding and lucrative. The opportunities are endless, the work is diverse and the people are remarkable. My experience has been that if you put in the hard work at school and university, that you will be able to sustain a lifestyle far greater than the average person at my age.