The posting
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.



