Alexander Sofroniou, Senior Mechanical Engineer

Alexander Sofroniou

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Mott MacDonald

Location
United Arab Emirates
Education
Master's degree, Combustion and Energy Engineering
Experience
23 years, 3 Months

Share My Profile

Block User


Work Experience

Total years of experience :23 years, 3 Months

Senior Mechanical Engineer at Mott MacDonald
  • United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi
  • My current job since August 2013

Project Manager for Construction and Commissioning of newly built Diesel power plant in Oman and Gas Engine “Energy from Waste” power plant in Lebanon.

Power Generation experience spanning across many stages of power plant projects from:
i) Project Inception & Development stages: carrying out feasibility and design basis studies during technology selection / optimisation investigations, generating MFS for potential bidders.
ii) Tendering stages: developed technical specifications, carried out bid evaluations and assisting client during contract negotiations with awarded EPC contractor;
iii) Engineering stage: completed FEED studies for plant fuel systems and BOP, carried out design review of design documents submitted by EPC contractor for approval;
iv) Construction stage: Site construction manager monitoring project progress on behalf of client during construction, erection and commissioning activities.
v) Commissioning stage: Supervised commissioning activities on behalf of clients for gas engine, diesel engine and CCGT plant;
vi) Provided general technical support to clients through site supervision, technical investigations requiring application of Root Cause Analysis and NDT work;
vii) Lender’s Engineer role includes carrying out technical due diligence and reviewing of project compliance to contract agreements between project company, off-taker and EPCs.

(A) Project Manager at CELTIC SMS Ltd
  • Greece
  • March 2005 to April 2013

CELTIC SMS Ltd (Athens, Greece) March 2005 - Present
A) Project Manager responsible for organising and executing maintenance and repair contracts for the "Zubr" type ships, the world's largest and fastest hovercraft in operation today:
- Supervise and coordinate the mechanical & electrical teams carrying out on-board maintenance works on the ship's gas turbine engines, transmission systems, rotating plant and generator sets.
- Responsible for procuring the spare parts & consumables required for the works.
- Collaborate with ship's engineers to ensure that the ship's activities run in parallel to our work.
- Experience in resolving on the spot issues and disputes between the client and the manufacturers.
- Organise and monitor maintenance training courses for the ship's staff.
- Establish and maintain close relationship with the clients.
- Actively engaged in contract negotiations and the development of maintenance agreements between the client and the manufacturers. (Typical project sizes are between €100k and €300k.)

B) Team Leader managing a team of five in the day to day international trading activities of the company.

- Responsible for establishing government spare part tenders and overseeing their successful completion.
- Business Development: Succeeded in doubling the company's product portfolio within the last 3 years.
- Job entails understanding complex technical requirements of often unfamiliar products and demands intuitiveness and resolve in establishing capable, but at the same time reliable manufacturers.
- Collaborate closely with international suppliers in order to ensure their adherence to the specifications.
- Experience in contract negotiations, price deals and closing agreements with suppliers.
- Carry out project cost and budgeting calculations for bid proposals.
- Employ critical thinking and strong communication skills to overcome disagreements with clients during possible delivery setbacks. (Typical project sizes are between €10k and €100k.)

Skills gained: Developed strong leadership and organisational skills through managing maintenance projects under tight time restrictions. Obtained good costing and trading experience, as well as team working on an international level. Developed good commercial awareness through expanding the company's trading capability.

Mechanical Engineering Consultant - Power Generation Division (ENERGY) at MOTT MACDONALD GROUP
  • United Kingdom
  • January 2002 to January 2005

MOTT MACDONALD GROUP, (Brighton, UK) Jan 2002 - Jan 2005
Mechanical Engineering Consultant - Power Generation Division (ENERGY)

- Provided technical expertise to Power and Desalination project developers. Equipment experience includes Gas Turbine plants, boiler plant, steam turbines, heat exchangers and pollution control technologies.
- Performed on-site problem-solving investigations for clients in the UK, Cyprus, Poland and Abu Dhabi. Coordinated plant worker shift teams, NDT inspectors and collaborated closely with plant Engineers in order to obtain reliable results. Responsible for analysing the results and submitting recommendations.
- Developed and run computer simulation models of power stations using GT-Pro and Gate-Cycle software as part of performance augmentation investigations.
- Active role in preparing tender technical evaluation reports for developing power projects.

Developed strong problem solving and team working skills through international technical investigative work.
Obtained good understanding of the complex systems used in power plants and learned to computer simulate them.

Systems Engineer at BRITISH ENERGY
  • United Kingdom
  • July 1998 to August 1999

BRITISH ENERGY: HEYSHAM II NUCLEAR POWER STATION (UK) July 1998 - August 1999 Systems Engineer
- Actively assisted in the maintenance works carried out on the 660 MW Steam Turbine plant and the Nuclear Reactor side during the plant's 2 month outage where I developed further my technical skills and health & safety awareness. Safety trained to preliminary level for Nuclear plant access areas.
- Designed, developed and implemented a fully automated bearing seal flushing system on the plant's cooling water pumps. This involved managing suppliers and contractors during the installation of the system. Liaised with Operation Engineers during commissioning and bringing of the system "on-line". Developed the Operations and Maintenance manuals of the modification and updated the technical drawings on the company's computer network. Trained all the Operations Shift teams on how to operate and maintain it.
- Gained extensive experience in Health & Safety procedures and in carrying out risk assessments.
- Developed good understanding of water treatment and desalination technologies.

Demonstrated intuition and innovativeness through developing and incorporating an automated system onto a non-interruptible part of the cooling water plant. Succeeded in reducing the company's water usage considerably

Plant Engineer Trainee at ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY OF CYPRUS
  • Cyprus
  • July 1996 to August 1996

ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY OF CYPRUS: Moni Power Station 1996 (Summer)
Plant Engineer Trainee
- Provided assistance in all engineering departments and observed maintenance and operation procedures of the plant. Supported shift engineers during refuelling operations from on-board the fuel tanker vessel.

Education

Master's degree, Combustion and Energy Engineering
  • at University of Leeds
  • September 2001

- Received Leeds School of Engineering MSc Scholarship. - Main MSc modules: Combustion in Engines and GTs, Renewable Energy Systems, Fluid Mechanics, Pollution and Emissions Control, Flames & Explosions, Engine Tribology, Thermodynamics. - Dissertation: “Investigation into the auto-ignition and combustion characteristics of Biomass Fuels”

Bachelor's degree, Mechanical Engineering
  • at City University of London
  • June 2000

- Graduated with upper second class honours (2:1) - Optional modules: Renewable Energy (Solar & Wind), Science of Materials, Thermodynamics etc. - Performed industrial year out with British Energy, Heysham II Nuclear Power Station for 13 months and was awarded the Pewter’s Bursary for Contribution to UK Industry by City University.

High school or equivalent, Maths, Physics, Design Technology
  • at Mill Hill School
  • July 1995

- Graduated as Head-Boy from my Boarding House and awarded School Monitor status.

Specialties & Skills

Gatecycle
Project Management
BUDGETING
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
GAS TURBINE Engines
MAINTENANCE
Tendering
Computer modelling of power stations
Rotating Machinery
commissioning

Languages

English
Expert
French
Beginner
Greek
Expert

Memberships

Cyprus Scientific & Technical Chamber (ETEK), Reg. No.: A142792
  • Member
  • November 2011
Institute of Mechanical Engineers
  • Accociate
  • March 2003

Training and Certifications

Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) course (Training)
Training Institute:
Cranfield University
Date Attended:
November 2003
Carbon Free Energy (Training)
Training Institute:
Institute of Mechanical Engineers, London - UK
Date Attended:
October 2004
Energy Assessment & Certification procudures for Buildings (Training)
Training Institute:
Engineering Intelligence
Date Attended:
May 2011
Building techniques for "Zero Energy" Buildings (Training)
Training Institute:
Engineering Intelligence
Date Attended:
March 2013