Want to Work on Oil and Gas Projects? What to Know in 2025 and Beyond

Oil and gas projects are still requiring skilled personnel in 2025. Investment across Qatar, the UAE, Australia, and West Africa is fuelling new offshore builds, LNG terminals, and downstream expansions. Global demand for experienced contractors is rising. But so is the competition.

Clients now expect more from candidates than strong technical skills. They want people who can mobilise fast, meet location requirements, and work within complex compliance frameworks. Those who already have the right offshore certifications or multi-phase project experience are standing out.

Recruitment is no longer local. Whether you're in Aberdeen, Houston, or Doha, global oil and gas jobs are open to anyone who meets the brief.

In this blog:
We break down what clients are prioritising, which roles are most in demand, and how to stand out in today’s global oil and gas market.

What Clients Are Prioritising in 2025

From the Gulf to West Africa, oil and gas work is accelerating. Operators need teams that can keep pace. As new projects move into execution, expectations around contractor readiness are getting stricter.

To stand out, candidates need more than technical expertise. Employers are under pressure to meet tight delivery milestones, which means they’re looking for people who can step in with minimal delay and maximum impact.

Here’s what employers are looking for in 2025:

Mobility and visa readiness

Hiring timelines are tight. Candidates with legal right to work, existing visas, or those open to rapid relocation are being prioritised. If you’re ready to move, you’re already ahead.

Certifications and compliance

BOSIET, HUET, H2S training, and project-specific qualifications are now a baseline for offshore jobs and high-risk sites. Without them, candidates can be ruled out before interview.

Complex project experience

Those who’ve worked on multi-phase or joint venture projects bring value from day one. Employers want people who understand the demands of evolving sites, large teams, and cross-discipline collaboration.

Stakeholder management and soft skills

Clear communication, leadership, and cultural awareness are essential when working across global teams. These traits often make the difference between good and great performance.

Digital fluency

Familiarity with remote monitoring tools, project systems, and compliance platforms is increasingly non-negotiable. Candidates who can confidently manage reporting, tracking, and digital workflows are in demand.

Bottom line: Employers aren’t just looking for capability. They’re hiring for readiness, reliability, and adaptability to add value from day one.

The Most Competitive Roles on Global Oil and Gas Projects 

The energy sector is in a high-activity cycle. Projects are kicking off across the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia, and employers are prioritising speed, compliance, and experience. But not all roles are equally in demand.

Operators are putting pressure on delivery partners to hit tighter schedules, meet stricter safety standards, and reduce downtime between phases. That means they’re hiring more selectively, with a focus on proven expertise and rapid mobilisation.

Key trends shaping hiring in 2025:

1. Many LNG and offshore projects are moving from planning into execution

2. FPSO construction is rising in Africa, Brazil, and Asia Pacific

3. Regulatory frameworks are tightening in multiple markets

4. Late-phase delivery roles are under more scrutiny from project sponsors

5. Quality and safety standards are being elevated across the board

Candidates who understand these shifts, and can show direct experience with similar challenges, are already standing out.

Here are some of the roles employers are prioritising right now:

Commissioning Engineers and Completion Leads

With many megaprojects entering execution, professionals who can lead final commissioning activities are crucial. Experience in pre-commissioning, punch listing, and system turnover is highly valued.

QA/QC Engineers and Welding Inspectors

Quality has never mattered more. Global operators are tightening compliance with international standards, especially on FPSO builds and LNG terminals. Candidates with welding inspection, NDT, and QA site audit skills are highly sought after.

Construction Managers and Site Supervisors

Project delivery hinges on strong site leadership. Clients want supervisors who can lead multi-national crews, manage logistics, and handle complex construction sequencing on large-scale sites.

Subsea and Pipeline Engineers

As offshore field development scales up, demand for subsea tie-in specialists, flow assurance engineers, and pipeline leads is growing. Experience with deepwater operations or FPSO integration is particularly attractive.

HSE and Risk Professionals

With evolving safety legislation in multiple countries, clients need HSE leads who understand regional standards, can lead safety cases, and embed a strong culture of compliance from day one.

Companies like QatarEnergy, ADNOC, Shell (Australia), and Petrobras are expanding rapidly, with multiple projects requiring skilled personnel. Being able to demonstrate prior success in similar roles is often the tipping point in the selection process.

Five Traits That Help Candidates Stand Out 

To succeed in today’s global market, technical ability must be paired with real-world readiness. These five traits are helping contractors get noticed and hired:

1. Fast Mobilisation Readiness

Clients value candidates who are truly ‘ready to go.’ Having up-to-date medicals, vaccinations, travel documents, and offshore certifications reduces lead time and gets projects moving faster. It’s a key differentiator.

2. Resilience in Challenging Conditions

Whether it’s the Gulf, Arctic LNG sites, or deepwater rigs, candidates who’ve worked in harsh conditions stand out. Employers want professionals who thrive in remote or high-pressure settings and don’t need handholding.

3. Versatile Project Experience

Candidates who’ve worked across upstream, midstream, and downstream functions, or who have experience in both greenfield and brownfield settings, are considered more adaptable. Flexibility is a huge asset.

4. Updated Certifications

Professionals who actively keep their qualifications current show commitment and readiness. Certifications like NEBOSH, CompEx, rope access, and discipline-specific trade cards (EI, Instrumentation, etc.) can tip the balance in shortlisting.

5. Proven Track Record and Safety Mindset

Clients want people they can rely on. Contractors with multiple successful placements, low incident histories, and references from recent projects build trust quickly. A safety-first approach is non-negotiable.

Why Working With Orion Increases Your Chance of Getting Hired

In a competitive market, working with the right oil and gas recruitment agency can be the difference between landing a top-tier role and being overlooked.

Orion Group is trusted by major energy companies across the world to deliver deployment-ready, compliant professionals. We place thousands of engineers, technicians, and project specialists every year on some of the most complex oil and gas projects globally.

What sets us apart? 

It starts with understanding. Our consultants know exactly what each client needs – from location-specific paperwork and visa support to sector-specific onboarding requirements. That means when you work with Orion, you get more than job listings. You get guidance, preparation, and personal support.

Our services go beyond matching CVs to vacancies:

• We support with mobilisation paperwork and travel logistics
• We advise on certification refreshers and training updates
• We provide local insights to help you settle into project environments
• We communicate with hiring managers to highlight your strengths

Whether you’re a Commissioning Engineer, HSE Advisor, QA Lead or Construction Supervisor, Orion has opportunities to match your ambitions.

We specialise in:

• Offshore recruitment
• Contractor jobs in oil and gas
• Global deployment roles in Qatar, UAE, Africa, and the Americas

With almost 40 years in oil and gas recruitment, Orion is more than a recruitment agency – we’re your career partner.

Supporting Candidates Through Every Stage of the Process

International oil and gas projects continue to expand, but employers are raising the bar. This is where a specialist oil and gas recruitment agency like Orion adds real value. 

Orion Group works with the world’s leading energy operators to place professionals across commissioning, HSE, QA/QC, construction, and engineering roles. From mega-projects in the Middle East to offshore jobs in West Africa and LNG builds in USA, we have opportunities for experienced professionals ready to make a global move.

We support candidates through every stage of the process - from CV submission and interviews to mobilisation and project onboarding. We’ll make sure you’re not just qualified, but fully prepared.

Whether you’re looking for your next commissioning contract or ready to step into a senior role overseas, we can help.

Speak to Orion’s oil and gas recruiters today to take the next step in your international career.

Final thought: 

The best global oil and gas jobs go to those who are ready to deliver, not just on paper, but on site.