Principal Engineer – Foundation Engineering
Heerema Marine Contractors
Company Overview
Heerema Marine Contractors
Leiden, Netherlands
1948
Approximately 2,000 employees worldwide (source: heerema.com).
What They Do
Heerema Marine Contractors specializes in maritime contracts for offshore oil and gas infrastructure. Their core technologies focus on heavy-lift semi-submersible crane vessels (SSCVs) such as Thialf, Hermod, and Sleipnir, designed for complex installations in water depths of up to 3,000 meters (source: heerema.com). Their services include engineering, procurement, installation, construction (EPIC), transportation, decommissioning, and project management for both fixed and floating structures worldwide. This makes them a key player in the oil and gas industry, particularly in challenging environments like the North Sea (source: noia.org). With over 60 years of experience in innovative heavy-lift solutions, they are capable of executing projects that others cannot handle (source: heerema.com). Their focus is increasingly on the decommissioning of aging installations, representing a growing market (source: heerema.com).
Projects & Track Record
Heerema has an impressive track record of completed projects, including early installations in Lake Maracaibo and multiple platforms in the North Sea through turnkey EPIC contracts on the Dutch continental shelf (source: heerema.com). Since the 1990s, they have executed deepwater field developments with their SSCVs Balder, Hermod, and Thialf, installing jackets and modules in water depths of up to 3,000 meters. These installations are now often focused on decommissioning by Heerema itself (source: heerema.com). Their recent projects utilize the full fleet for transportation, installation, and removal of offshore facilities worldwide, although specific details about post-2019 projects have not been documented (source: noia.org). Key clients include oil and gas companies in regions such as the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Angola to Australia (source: heerema.com).
Recent Developments
In the past two years, there have been no major announcements, contracts, acquisitions, or mergers documented in the available sources, except for the launch of Sleipnir in 2019 (source: heerema.com). The company continues to operate with its fleet for offshore projects amid shifts in the industry towards decommissioning (source: heerema.com).
Working At
Heerema offers a wide range of positions in engineering, project management, construction, logistics, planning, manufacturing, marine operations, and decommissioning (source: noia.org). Recruitment locations include the headquarters in Leiden, the manufacturing yard in Vlissingen, and international offices in Houston, Texas; Port Fourchon, Louisiana; Angola; Australia; Brazil; Mexico; Malaysia; Singapore; and the United Kingdom (source: heerema.com). The company culture emphasizes a 'Dare to Care' safety program that prioritizes an incident- and injury-free workplace, as well as social responsibility and high-quality standards (source: heerema.com). While specific benefits are not detailed in public documents, the emphasis is on team well-being and a safer workplace through proactive feedback and action (source: heerema.com).
Contact
Last updated on 2025-12-27 | Report an issue
Job Description
As a Principal Engineer - Foundation Engineering, you are a recognized technical authority and strategic advisor, acting as an ambassador for technology within and beyond Heerema Marine Contractors. You thrive at the intersection of engineering, innovation, and business strategy. Through leadership in design, execution, and thought leadership, you deliver added value while safeguarding and enhancing Heerema Marine Contractors technical reputation in the offshore industry. You will be working next to the lead discipline engineering of the foundation department.
What you will be working on
- Lead the safe and validated execution of offshore foundation designs and procedures, both in fabrication yards and offshore environments.
- Provide expert technology advice to Heerema and HMC management on complex, cross-disciplinary engineering challenges.
- Define and deliver development and innovation initiatives that strengthen our long-term capabilities.
- Manage approved budgets related to assigned engineering scopes and development programs.
- Evaluate and recommend technical solutions considering our commercial position, risk appetite, reliability standards, and industry reputation.
- Act as a company and industry-recognized expert in offshore foundation technologies and related disciplines.
- Align technological directions with industry counterparts and represent us in relevant forums and partnerships.
- Identify alternative technologies and propose creative engineering approaches that challenge conventional thinking.
- Monitor our readiness in strategic technology areas, identify capability gaps, and initiate appropriate interventions.
- Supervise external technical subcontract scopes, ensuring alignment with our strategic goals.
- Inform HMC management of technology outcomes and provide visibility on the impact and opportunities of key initiatives.
Key ingredients for success
- MSc or PhD in Civil, Geotechnical, Structural, or Mechanical Engineering.
- Proven expertise in monopile foundation design, installation, and offshore geotechnical engineering.
- Extensive experience in managing high-impact technology scopes and development programs.
- Ability to translate deep technical challenges into business-relevant advice and innovations.
- Strong commercial awareness, budget management skills, and stakeholder communication capabilities.
- Fluent in English, with the ability to lead both technical content and cross-functional alignment.
- A personal commitment to technology excellence, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.
At Heerema Marine Contractors, we excel in engineering and executing complex offshore projects for the energy sector. With a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, we deliver pioneering solutions that shape the future of offshore construction. Our unique fleet, in-house engineering expertise, and commitment to excellence allow us to tackle the most challenging projects worldwide. We believe in empowering our people, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and driving progress through technology. Whether it's installing offshore wind foundations or decommissioning legacy platforms, we take pride in doing things our way, safely, responsibly, and with integrity.
Here's why people love working with us
- Working on innovative and challenging projects;
- Strong compensation and benefits package, including a bonus system
- Free access to our in-house gym, including fitness classes;
- Activities to socialize with colleagues outside your team, such as our Friday-afternoon get together;
- 30 days off to fully recharge;
- A modern and easily accessible office in Leiden.
Is this your dream job? Put in your application now!
We are looking forward to hearing from you. We are interested in your CV, but we mainly want to find out more about your ambitions, your personality, and what is your motivation to succeed. So be sure to include a brief cover letter explaining why you are the perfect fit for this position. So hit the button, apply, and make the impossible possible with Heerema. We’d love to meet you!
Are you ready to make the impossible possible?
Ready to join our team?
Corliz van Amersfoort Recruiter
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About the role
August 27, 2025
Full Time
Company
December 27, 2025
On-site
- Leiden, the Netherlands
Senior level with extensive experience
UTC+01:00
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