Senior Fuel/ Process Engineer

Job Summary

The Senior Aviation Fuel Systems Manager holds end-to-end responsibility for the technical governance, procurement input, on-site installation, and rigorous commissioning of all airport fuel networks. This includes managing complex storage tank and hydrant farm designs, facilitating HAZOP/HAZID safety assessments, obtaining REMA environmental permits, and directing seamless operational handovers to the airport operator.

Qualification

• Mandatory Educational Background: A formal University Degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Process Engineering is required.
• Preferred Professional Registration: Chartered Engineer status is highly preferred.
• Regulatory Compliance Fluency: Comprehensive familiarity with International Air Transport Association (IATA DFSC) guidelines, Energy Institute (IP) standards, ICAO Annex 14 specifications, and global aviation fuel safety regulations.
• Linguistic Mastery: Flawless professional fluency in written and verbal English is essential.

Experience

Candidates must showcase a distinguished, progressive track record of fuel infrastructure delivery:

Specialist Hydrocarbon Engineering & Longevity

• Petroleum Process Tenure: A minimum of fifteen (15) years of direct, hands-on experience in aviation fuel engineering or petroleum process engineering.
• Airport Fuel Systems Footprint: Proven track record of direct, hands-on project delivery experience specifically focused on airport fuel networks.
• Deep Architectural Toolset: Advanced technical knowledge of specialized airport fueling components, including:
  • High-capacity aviation fuel hydrant networks.
  • Strategic tank farm design and bulk fuel storage layouts.
  • Into-plane dispensing apparatus and fueling logistics.
  • Strict fuel quality management and testing protocols.
• Geographic Advantage: Prior professional experience working within Sub-Saharan Africa or comparable developing international markets is highly advantageous.

Process Safety & Multi-Contractor Coordination

• Safety Workshop Facilitation: Demonstrated experience running HAZOP facilitation and advanced process safety management models for highly flammable liquid systems.
• Interface Management: Strong interpersonal skills with a proven capability to manage engineering interfaces across civil, structural, MEP, and airside operational contractors.
• Procurement Lifecycle Exposure: Background managing technical procurement steps, critically analyzing specialized supplier bids, and structuring data-driven contract award recommendations.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Authority, Design Review & Procurement

• Act as Technical Authority: Function as the chief technical authority for all aviation fuel system designs, physical installation works, and technical commissioning frameworks across the development.
• Evaluate Engineering Submissions: Review and formally approve comprehensive fuel system design documents, P&IDs (Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams), complex equipment specifications, material data sheets, and structural construction drawings against ICAO, IATA DFSC, and IP standards.
• Steer Commercial Procurement: Guide technical input for the fuel systems procurement lifecycle, evaluating specialized international supplier bids and authoring technical award recommendations for storage, pipework, and dispensing systems.
• Facilitate Process Safety: Systematically identify and manage technical risks associated with flammable liquid distribution, contributing actively to formal HAZID and HAZOP exercises.

Construction Supervision, Environmental Permitting & Handover

• Oversee Construction Works: Supervise on-site fuel infrastructure builds, directly managing spatial and programmatic interfaces with civil, structural, MEP, and airside contractors to maintain safe execution.
• Direct the Commissioning Program: Lead the fuel systems commissioning workflow, ensuring absolute adherence to pipeline pressure testing, precise storage tank calibration, strict leak testing matrices, and first-fill fuel validation procedures.
• Liaise with Environmental Authorities: Interface with the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and related local statutory bodies to secure mandatory environmental permits and validate fuel spill prevention plans.
• Execute Throughput Modelling: Provide technical calculations and engineering inputs into fuel throughput modelling workflows and long-term capacity planning matrices for the airport operator.
• Govern Handover Processes: Manage the comprehensive asset handover of all fuel systems to the airport operator, coordinating technical training, delivering complete Operations & Maintenance (O&M) manuals, and setting up maintenance contracts.

Skills Required:

• Chemistry / Chemical / Engineering
• Mechanics / Mechanical / Engineering