QC Inspector Oil & Gas Petrochemical Middle East – Saudi Arabia

Location: Middle East -Saudi Arabia
Industry: Oil & Gas / Refinery / Petrochemical
Department: Quality Control / QA-QC
Employment Type: Full-Time / Project / Shutdown, depending on project requirements

Job Summary

The QC Inspector is responsible for conducting quality inspections, surveillance, testing, and documentation activities to ensure that materials, equipment, fabrication, installation, construction, maintenance, and pre-commissioning activities comply with approved specifications, drawings, Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs), procedures, applicable codes, and client requirements.

The position works closely with QA/QC Engineers, construction teams, contractors, subcontractors, vendors, maintenance, engineering, and client representatives to identify quality issues, prevent defects, and ensure that work is completed in accordance with approved quality requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Inspection

• Perform inspection and surveillance of construction, fabrication, installation, maintenance, and pre-commissioning activities.
• Inspect piping, mechanical equipment, pressure vessels, tanks, valves, pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, and related petrochemical equipment according to assigned discipline.
• Verify that materials and workmanship comply with approved drawings, specifications, procedures, and ITP requirements.
• Conduct visual, dimensional, functional, and documentation inspections.
• Witness required testing activities such as hydrostatic testing, pneumatic testing, pressure testing, leak testing, and functional testing.
• Monitor welding activities, including fit-up, welding parameters, preheating, PWHT, and visual inspection where applicable.

Documentation & Quality Records

• Review Material Test Certificates (MTCs), certificates of conformity, inspection reports, calibration certificates, and test records.
• Prepare inspection reports, checklists, punch lists, and quality records.
• Review Inspection Requests (IRs) and coordinate inspection hold/witness points.
• Maintain accurate inspection documentation and traceability records.
• Support preparation of Mechanical Completion, Pre-Commissioning, and Final Handover dossiers.

NDT & Testing

• Monitor and coordinate applicable Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) activities.
• Review NDT reports including:
  • RT – Radiographic Testing
  • UT – Ultrasonic Testing
  • MT – Magnetic Particle Testing
  • PT – Liquid Penetrant Testing
  • VT – Visual Testing
• Verify that NDT activities are performed by qualified personnel using approved procedures.

Non-Conformance Control

• Identify defective or non-conforming work and materials.
• Raise or support Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) when requirements are not met.
• Follow up corrective and preventive actions.
• Verify completion of corrective actions before final acceptance.
• Assist in identifying recurring quality problems and contributing to Root Cause Analysis (RCA).

Coordination

• Coordinate inspections with construction, maintenance, engineering, contractors, subcontractors, vendors, and client representatives.
• Participate in quality meetings, toolbox meetings, inspection coordination meetings, and technical discussions.
• Communicate quality concerns clearly and professionally.
• Support QA/QC Engineers and Quality Managers in implementation of project Quality Management Systems.

Applicable Codes & Standards

Depending on the assigned discipline and project scope, the QC Inspector should have working knowledge of applicable international standards, including:

• ASME BPVC
• ASME Section V – Nondestructive Examination
• ASME Section VIII – Pressure Vessels
• ASME Section IX – Welding Qualifications
• ASME B31.3 – Process Piping
• API 510 – Pressure Vessel Inspection
• API 570 – Piping Inspection
• API 653 – Tank Inspection
• API 650 – Welded Tanks
• AWS standards, where applicable
• ASTM standards
• ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
• Applicable Saudi/client/project specifications and procedures

Qualifications

Education

• Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in:
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Metallurgical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Welding Engineering
  • Civil/Electrical/Instrumentation Engineering for discipline-specific QC roles
• Technical diploma may be acceptable for certain inspector positions depending on project requirements.

Experience

Typical requirements for experienced oil & gas QC Inspector positions include:

• 5+ years of relevant industrial experience is commonly requested.
• Experience in refinery, petrochemical, oil & gas, EPC, plant maintenance, construction, turnaround, or shutdown projects.
• Experience with inspection activities, quality documentation, testing, and contractor/vendor coordination.
• Saudi Arabia project experience is an advantage.

Preferred Certifications

• API 510 – Pressure Vessel Inspector
• API 570 – Piping Inspector
• API 653 – Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector
• CSWIP Welding Inspector
• AWS Certified Welding Inspector
• NDT Level II – UT / RT / MT / PT
• BGAS-CSWIP / AMPP coating certification for coating inspection
• Other internationally recognized QA/QC certifications

Certification requirements vary by discipline and project scope; for example, recent Saudi roles specifically request API 510/570/653 for API inspection work.

Technical Skills

The successful candidate should be able to:

• Read and interpret P&IDs, isometric drawings, GA drawings, fabrication drawings and technical specifications.
• Understand ITPs, inspection procedures and quality plans.
• Perform dimensional inspection using appropriate measuring equipment.
• Understand welding inspection and welding documentation.
• Review NDT and pressure-test documentation.
• Identify material and workmanship defects.
• Understand equipment installation and alignment requirements.
• Maintain inspection traceability.
• Prepare professional inspection reports.
• Use Microsoft Office and electronic quality documentation systems.

Safety Responsibilities

The QC Inspector must:

• Follow all site HSE requirements and permit-to-work procedures.
• Stop or report unsafe quality-related activities when necessary.
• Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Follow site procedures for confined spaces, hot work, working at height, lifting operations and hazardous areas.
• Participate in safety and quality meetings.
• Ensure inspection activities do not compromise personnel or process safety.

Key Performance Indicators – KPI

Performance may be evaluated based on:

1. Inspection accuracy and effectiveness.
2. Compliance with approved ITPs and procedures.
3. Timely completion of inspection requests.
4. Quality of inspection reports and documentation.
5. Reduction of recurring non-conformities.
6. Timely NCR closeout.
7. Material and equipment traceability.
8. Successful completion of testing and inspection activities.
9. Compliance with HSE requirements.
10. Successful mechanical completion and project handover.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal QC Inspector should be:

• Technically competent in his/her inspection discipline.
• Experienced in refinery and petrochemical environments.
• Familiar with international codes and standards.
• Strong in quality documentation and reporting.
• Able to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Detail-oriented and analytical.
• Strong in communication and coordination.
• Committed to safety, quality and operational excellence.
• Able to work effectively with multinational project teams.

Professional Candidates

• Updated professional CV.
• Engineering/technical certificates.
• Relevant QC/QA certifications.
• API/CSWIP/AWS/NDT certificates where applicable.
• Previous project experience records.
• Training certificates.
• Experience letters where available.
• Valid identification/work authorization documents as applicable.
• References from previous employers/projects.