Job Description

Job Title: ALS VSD Specialist
Location: Syria
Open To: Local Syrian Candidates & KRI Candidates
Work Shift: Rotational 
Sector: Oil and Gas

Job Description:

The ALS VSD Specialist is the technical authority for variable speed drive (VSD/VFD) and other surface electrical systems used in artificial lift (ESP, SRP, and PCP), responsible for VSD design, supervising installation and maintenance, performing field troubleshooting, and providing technical support for the evaluation and optimization of lift equipment. The role manages VSD spare-part inventory, train field operators and the maintenance team, coordinates with vendors, the IT team (remote monitoring), and the electrical department, and maintains the technical records and database that capture VSD specifications per well, per field, and per lift type. The role requires strong hands-on experience with VSD/VFD and other artificial lift equipment (like j-box, transformers, control panel, electrical motor etc), practical knowledge of drive design, installation, and troubleshooting, and the ability to work closely with operations, the electrical and IT departments, vendors, and management to maximize uptime, improve reliability, and reduce operating risk and cost. This is an onsite, rotational position.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and size VSD/VFD and other electrical surface equipment for artificial lift applications (ESP, SRP, PCP), selecting e.g. electric motor, transformer, drive ratings, configurations, and protection settings to match well and equipment requirements.

• Supervise the installation and commissioning of all electrical AL surface equipment VSD/VFD, downhole sensors, and associated surface equipment, verifying wiring, settings, and configuration before start-up.

• Supervise preventive and corrective maintenance of all electrical AL surface equipment nd lead field troubleshooting, diagnosing drive and lift-system failures and directing corrective actions on-site.

• Train field operators and the maintenance team on VSD/VFD, transformers, control panels, downhole sensors and flow , troubleshooting, and safe work practices, and provide technical support for equipment evaluation.

• Discuss requirements and solutions with electrical AL surface equipment and artificial lift vendors (design reviews, performance validation, root cause analysis).

• Work with the IT department on the remote monitoring project for VSD and lift systems, defining data requirements and supporting deployment.

• Work closely with the electrical department on power supply, switchgear, and protection for all electrical AL surface equipment , , and identify, provide, and execute field recommendations to improve equipment reliability.

• Keep technical records of VSD, downhole sensor and flow meters specifications per well and develop a database to capture field specifications per well, per field, and per lift type.

Workshop & Inventory Management

• Supervise all electrical AL surface equipment, fequipment preparation, testing, repair, and readiness for field deployment.
• Manage all electrical AL surface equipment inventory: track stock levels, monitor consumption, ensure availability of drives, components, and spares, and prepare the list of spare parts required for inventory.
• Conduct inspection of incoming and outgoing all electrical AL surface equipment and inventory to confirm condition and specification compliance.

Optimization & Field Initiatives

• Identify optimization opportunities for all electrical AL surface equipment of optimization recommendations in the field.

• Interpret well test data thru the VSD, downhole sensors, flow meters parameters

• Develop and maintain the field database and dashboards to track VSD and lift-system performance, specifications per well/field/lift, and KPIs.

• Monitor the protections of the surface and downhole equipment thru VSD parameters

• Integrate flow meters, CCTV, H2S monitor and alarms into the VSD.

Quality Assurance & QA/QCS

• Assure the quality of all field operations and verify compliance with procedures, specifications, and HSSE requirements.

• Perform QA/QC checks on installation, well testing, workover, and handover activities.

• Prepare QA/QC reports documenting field activities, inspections, non-conformances, and corrective actions.

HSSE & Compliance

• Enforce electrical safety on all VSD/VFD and surface-electrical work — lockout/tagout (LOTO), arc-flash protection, safe isolation, and verification of de-energization before any intervention.

• Comply with the permit-to-work system; raise, verify, and close out permits for VSD installation, energization, and troubleshooting activities.

• Apply H2S and hazardous-area (Ex/ATEX) requirements when working on surface electrical equipment in sour-service and classified zones.

• Report and investigate electrical incidents, near-misses, and equipment failures, and ensure corrective and preventive actions are tracked to closure.

• Promote a strong safety culture through toolbox talks, safety observations, and emergency-response readiness, leading by example in the field.

Documentation & Procedures

• Prepare Scope of Work (SOW) documents for projects and field activities.
• Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and work instructions for VSD lift system operations.

• Prepare Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and obtain and manage work permits for field activities for VSD installation and troubleshooting.

Field Operations & Integrity

• Interface with operations for safe and efficient artificial lift operations.

• Review operating envelopes, operating limits, and production constraints.

• Participate in risk assessments, MOC, and operational readiness reviews.

• Continuous coaching of artificial lift technicians on the VSD and Electrical motors.

Well Completion & Interface

• Review Downhole sensors design from an ALS and production perspective (tubing size, packer depth, intake position) to understand the VSD needs.

• Provide input into workover procedures of AL equipment.

• Select optimal downhole (DH) completion components for artificial lift performance via VSD.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve electrical AL surface equipment lift run life and system reliability.

• Drive implementation of optimization recommendations and field improvement initiatives.

• Contribute to field development and long-term artificial lift strategy.

• Identify opportunities to improve production and reduce operating costs.

Planning & Management Support

• Prepare budgets and cost forecasts for VSD, downhole sensors, flow meters artificial lift requirement for the field
• Prepare and deliver technical and performance presentations for management.

• Prepare tender documents and support the tendering and contracting process.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or Electronic Engineering, or a closely related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
• 10 years Hands-on field experience with VSD/VFD systems for artificial lift (ESP, SRP, PCP), with a strong track record in drive design, installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting in the field.
• Experience with permanent and induction motors, downhole sensors, f.
• Practical experience supervising well testing, workover operations, well start-up, and handover to production, including workshop and inventory management.
• Working knowledge of alternative artificial lift methods (PCP, gas lift, jet pump, plunger-assisted, ESP) and lift method screening economics.
• Proven experience driving field optimization initiatives and implementing recommendations to improve run life, reliability, and production.
• Prior international field experience, ideally in the Middle East, with the ability and willingness to travel to and work at Syria operations.
• Strong track record of training, mentoring, and capability building for client engineering and operations teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (and Arabic if possible); ability to produce high-quality technical reports and present to senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to HSSE standards and safe operating practices in field environments.
• Echometer experience. Preferred / Desirable Qualifications
• Manufacturer/OEM training and certification on common VSD/VFD platforms (e.g., ABB, Schneider, Siemens, Baker Hughes, SLB, WFT, Lufkin) and ESP/PCP drive systems.
• Recognized electrical-safety authorization (high-/medium-voltage competent person, arc-flash, LOTO) and a valid H2S awareness certificate.
• Working knowledge of SCADA, PLC, and instrumentation/control systems for remote monitoring and integration of lift equipment.
• Experience with VSD harmonic mitigation, power-quality analysis, and protection/relay coordination on field power systems.
• Familiarity with digital-oilfield / remote-surveillance platforms and data analytics for lift-system performance.
• Valid driving license and prior experience working in remote, austere, or security-sensitive field locations. Key Competencies & Skills
• Strong electrical and controls fundamentals — able to read and interpret single-line diagrams, schematics, and drive parameter sets.
• Analytical troubleshooting and root-cause analysis under field conditions and time pressure.
• Clear communication and stakeholder management across operations, electrical, IT, vendors, and management.
• Ability to work independently and make sound technical decisions in remote locations with limited support.
• Coaching and capability-building skills to develop local operators and technicians.
• Disciplined documentation, record-keeping, and data management. Working Conditions
• Onsite, rotational field assignment at Syria operations, with travel to and from site.
• Exposure to oilfield hazards including high/medium-voltage electrical equipment, rotating machinery, H2S, noise, and extreme weather.
• Mandatory use of PPE and compliance with site HSSE and security requirements at all times.
• Extended working hours, shift/standby coverage, and call-outs to support field operations and start-ups.