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Category
Construction & Installation
Work Pattern
Onshore with offshore campaign support
Reports To
Cable Lay Project Manager / Installation Manager
Position Overview
The Cable Lay Engineer (Subsea) specializes in the engineering, planning, and execution support of subsea power cable and umbilical installation campaigns for both oil & gas and offshore wind applications. This role is at the epicenter of the energy transition, as subsea cable installation demand has surged dramatically with the global offshore wind build-out.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop cable lay procedures for subsea power cables (HVAC, HVDC) and umbilicals using carousel and turntable-equipped vessels
- Perform cable installation analysis including tension, bending radius, touchdown monitoring, and abandonment/recovery calculations
- Design cable route plans including burial assessment, crossing analysis, and protection requirements
- Prepare vessel-specific cable lay documentation including carousel loading plans, tensioner settings, and cable hang-off arrangements
- Coordinate with cable manufacturers on factory acceptance testing, load-out, and carousel loading operations
- Support offshore cable lay campaigns as vessel-based engineering representative
- Manage cable installation risk assessments including weather stand-by criteria, cable damage prevention, and emergency recovery procedures
- Plan and engineer cable pull-in operations at offshore platforms, substations, and landfall points
- Coordinate with pre-lay and post-lay survey teams on route clearance, as-laid, and burial verification
- Prepare cable installation completion documentation including as-laid route charts, burial depth records, and testing certificates
Qualifications
Required
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Subsea Engineering
- Certifications: BOSIET/FOET (for offshore support); Valid Offshore Medical; Chartered Engineer status preferred
- Experience: Minimum 5 years in subsea cable or umbilical installation engineering; experience on cable lay vessels (CLVs)
- Technical Skills: Cable installation analysis (OrcaFlex, Sima); cable route engineering; tensioner and carousel systems; HV cable specifications and testing; DNV cable installation standards
Preferred
- HVDC cable installation experience
- Offshore wind array and export cable experience
- Cable jointing and termination engineering knowledge
- Landfall and shore approach installation experience
Market Intelligence
$600–$1,000/day
Shortage Level: Critical
Key Skills Gap: Cable Lay Engineers with both O&G umbilical AND offshore wind power cable experience; the offshore wind sector has created massive demand that the existing talent pool cannot satisfy
Regions in Highest Demand: North Sea, East Asia, East Coast US, Mediterranean, Australia
Demand Drivers: Unprecedented offshore wind farm construction globally requiring array and export cables; interconnector projects between countries; O&G subsea umbilical campaigns competing for same vessel and engineering resources