LOTO Engineer

Role overview

The LOTO Engineer will own the Lockout/Tagout and energy isolation framework for the project during construction close-out, pre-commissioning, commissioning, testing, and handover. This position is focused on keeping people safe by ensuring equipment cannot be unintentionally energized, started, or released from stored energy while work is underway. The engineer will also serve as the coordination point for isolation planning across EPC contractors, OEMs, commissioning teams, construction teams, HSE, and future operations representatives.

Core duties

The role covers program design, isolation planning, execution support, documentation control, training, and compliance verification. It includes building and maintaining the project LOTO procedure, defining isolation boundaries, planning energization activities, supporting commissioning of major plant systems, and ensuring all isolations are tracked and reviewed properly.

LOTO program development

• Update and maintain the project LOTO procedure so it aligns with project needs, recognized international standards, and company HSE expectations.
• Set up isolation controls for mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, and thermal energy sources.
• Define the isolation philosophy and boundaries for plant-wide systems.
• Make sure all practices comply with OSHA, NFPA 70E, IEC, and any project-specific safety rules.

Isolation planning and coordination

• Check commissioning plans to identify where isolations are needed for testing and energization.
• Work with Construction, Commissioning, System Completion, and EPC teams to schedule safe releases and energization activities.
• Take part in System Handover and Ready for Commissioning reviews.
• Confirm that isolations are arranged before commissioning work begins.

Commissioning support

• Support initial energization for gas turbine generators, steam turbines, HRSG systems, electrical substations, MV and LV distribution systems, DCS and control systems, and auxiliary systems.
• Manage temporary and permanent isolations during commissioning and testing.
• Help control SIMOPS so concurrent activities remain safe.

Documentation and reporting

• Keep LOTO registers and isolation logs up to date.
• Monitor live isolations and issue daily status reports.
• Maintain isolation drawings, single-line diagrams, and related mark-ups.
• Prepare weekly and monthly updates covering isolation status and compliance.

Training and awareness

• Provide LOTO awareness and competency sessions to project staff.
• Run toolbox talks and safety briefings focused on energy isolation.
• Support contractor induction with project LOTO requirements.

Audits and compliance

• Carry out regular checks on active isolations.
• Identify LOTO non-conformances and see them through to closure.
• Support investigations into incidents related to energy isolation.
• Suggest improvements that strengthen isolation management and control.

Qualifications and experience

A bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Instrumentation Engineering, or an equivalent qualification, is required. The ideal candidate should bring at least 10 years of experience in power generation and a minimum of 5 years in commissioning, startup, operations, or energy isolation management. Experience in combined cycle power plants is preferred, and hands-on exposure to commissioning and startup of CCGT projects with the same capacity of 1890 MW or above is highly desirable.

Technical knowledge

• Strong understanding of Lockout/Tagout systems and procedures.
• Working knowledge of Permit-to-Work processes.
• Electrical safety practices and switching operations.
• Mechanical isolation methods.
• Commissioning and startup workflows.
• System completion and turnover processes.
• SIMOPS management.
• Risk assessment and Job Safety Analysis.

Preferred certifications

• OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety.
• NFPA 70E awareness.
• Authorized LOTO Coordinator training.
• NEBOSH IGC preferred.
• Electrical Safety Training.