Farhan Ahmed, Senior Systems Engineer II

Farhan Ahmed

Senior Systems Engineer II

Saudi Aramco Jubail Refinery (SASREF)

Location
Saudi Arabia - Jubail
Education
Bachelor's degree, B.E. ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
Experience
15 years, 0 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :15 years, 0 Months

Senior Systems Engineer II at Saudi Aramco Jubail Refinery (SASREF)
  • Saudi Arabia - Jubail
  • My current job since September 2017

*OT INFRASTRUCTURE & SECURITY MANAGEMENT \[LEAD ROLE\]

 MOC processing for OT management & security related jobs.
 AD management.
 Deploying ICS vendors’ approved virus signatures & security patches.
 Scanning OT assets for vulnerabilities, non-compliance & file integrity changes along with gaps closure.
 Managing data leakage on OT systems.
 Threat events monitoring & fine-tuning application whitelisting policies.
 OT infrastructure health monitoring via NMS & corrective actions.
 Managing network devices’ configurations for network access control.
 Managing network firewalls’ configurations for network traffic control.
 Managing backup solution for backups retention & restoration of failed systems.
 Managing RD gateways/ remote sessions.
 Logs forwarding to SIEM for SOC monitoring.
 Managing OT audits, maturity assessments, pen tests & incident response drills.

*SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE & ENGINEERING \[SUPPORTIVE ROLE\]

 Supporting plant operations & maintenance. 24/7 on-call support outside working hours.
 Assurance of control systems availability without any down time.
 Management of maintenance contract with vendors & periodic actions tracking.
 Control systems’ life cycle management.
 Devising improvement plans & leading enhancements from conceptual design till final implementation.
 Participation in hazard screening & risk assessments.
 Approving changes as a technical authority for projects.

*ACHIEVEMENTS:

 Implemented all requirements of SASREF’s newly drafted OT cyber security framework over the period of two years to comply with the regulations imposed & gaps identified by the Saudi Aramco/ Shell & NCA in 2018.

 Currently working as technical lead for Level-2 DCS/ SIS migration to virtualization platform
along with OS & app version upgrade. The scope includes massive architectural changes with introduction of control network firewalls & a new virtualized management infrastructure for control network in Level-3.

Service Engineer at Yokogawa Services
  • Saudi Arabia - Jubail
  • April 2014 to July 2017

KEY RESULT AREAS:

▪ On-call support, resident support & services project activities with respect to Distributed Control System (DCS) & Safety Instrumented System (SIS).
▪ Commissioning, turnaround & start-up support for Yokogawa control system products.
▪ Preventive maintenance (PM) & Shutdown maintenance (SDM) of customer’s control systems assets.
▪ Developing controls system concepts, architectures & transferring these into functional, cost effective hardware & software solutions.
▪ CS designing as per company’s PCSD (Process Control Strategy Documentation).
▪ FAT, installation, SAT & commissioning support for new PCS upgrades.
▪ System diagnostics, upgrades, patching & security maintenance.
▪ Investigation, root cause analysis & troubleshooting of control systems application problems. Analysing data & presenting findings in written reports.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES:

▪ Served Saudi Aramco Shell Refinery (SASREF), the largest Yokogawa install-base in the region, as a Resident Systems Engineer for more than 2 years by maintaining its control systems assets & supporting day-to-day plant operations in its refinery & port facilities.

▪ Testing & commissioning of SIS & FGS for SCOT Unit in SASREF.

▪ CS3000 to CentumVP- R6 upgrade at SASREF & Riyadh Refinery.

▪ Start-up & commissioning support to SABIC-NIGC (Phase 8) with Yokogawa-Korea.

▪ Complete SIS function test for Ma’aden Phosphate Co.’s Ammonia Plant during Turnaround.

▪ Shutdown & PM jobs for various Saudi Aramco & SABIC affiliates.

▪ Reinstallation & configuration of all DCS- HIS’ in SAMAPCO.

▪ System errors diagnostic & improvement master plan reporting for SABTANK.

▪ Systems security hardening for multiple SABIC affiliates as per SABIC Maturity Model.

▪ Multiple projects, services & MOC implementations in almost all Yokogawa onshore & offshore install bases of Saudi Aramco, SABIC & private customers in KSA's Eastern Province.

Control Systems Engineer (E&I Projects) at Byco Oil Pakistan Limited
  • Pakistan - Karachi
  • December 2011 to April 2014

KEY RESULT AREAS:

▪ Coordination of the engineering aspects of the project activities with respect to Distributed Control System (DCS) to ensure that safety, operability, maintainability, reliability and other technical objectives are fully met within approved project scope, budget & schedule.
▪ Design coordination, scheduling & reporting, commissioning & validation, project close out & incorporation of ongoing maintenance requirements.
▪ Bid evaluation by reviewing vendor's proposed design & commercial aspects of the offer.
▪ Specifying the operational requirements of the equipment to automation vendor. Reviewing & commenting on contractor’s submission during detailed designing.
▪ Leading process control and PAS Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) and Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) to ensure the system and design meet company's requirements.
▪ Participation in Pre Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), pre-commissioning and start-up activities.
▪ Handling project application audits in compliance with Engineering Department Procedures (EDPs).
▪ Advising Operations & Maintenance teams as to operational methods, control strategies and schemes.
▪ To lead troubleshooting, investigation & root cause analysis of control systems application problems.


ACHIEVEMENTS:

▪ Entire project execution & commissioning of refinery's Distributed Control System \[A 4500 IO Yokogawa CentumVP-R4 system distributed across 3 locations, operating 8 plant & utility areas\].

Instrument & Control Engineer (Maintenance) at Byco Petroleum Pakistan Limited
  • Pakistan - Karachi
  • December 2009 to December 2011

KEY RESULT AREAS:

▪ Controlling the preventive, predictive, corrective & shutdown maintenance activities on various types of instrumentation & control systems used for managing plant's process control & custody transfer measurements.
▪ Maintaining the refinery reliability program through reliability strategy document & action tracking systems.
▪ Ensuring proper planning for manpower & material resources for the implementation & completion of planned maintenance activities as per schedule.
▪ Management of Change (MOC) processing & utilizing it in support of routine facility changes.
▪ Managing Plant Maintenance activities as a Power User on S.A.P (Plant Maintenance Module).
▪ Technical evaluation of all Instrument related offers from suppliers.
▪ Liaising with the Materials team in relation to forward planning & determination of levels of spares employing Risk Based Maintenance and Failure Mode, Effects & Criticality Analysis techniques (FMECA).
▪ Assisting management in developing the maintenance component of the annual budget.
▪ Liaising with the Mechanical & Electrical sections and establishing a seamless integration between O&M.
▪ Preparation of shutdown schedules.
▪ Assessment of KPIs for instrumentation & control systems in terms of reliability and efficiency.
▪ Maintaining documents as per IMS (Integrated Management System) Quality Standards.


ACHIEVEMENTS:

▪ Master Data Standardization for S.A.P Implementation (Plant Maintenance Module)
Performed data migration of all Instrument equipment in the plant as a part of S.A.P. implementation in the organization’s framework. The task included preparation of Master Data for all Instrument installations, inventory standardization & formulation of maintenance schedule along with relevant task lists.

▪ Refurbishment of 150+ Control Valves during Refinery's Turnaround in 2010.

Project Execution Engineer at Siemens Pakistan Engineering Co. Ltd
  • Pakistan - Karachi
  • May 2009 to December 2009

KEY RESULT AREAS:

▪ Project management of Control/Protection & Communication Systems Network based projects running across Pakistan that fell in Energy Automation domain.
▪ Planning, scheduling, coordination with Engineering & Services, approval from client & quality control.
▪ Procurement that includes Technical and Commercial evaluation of offers from various suppliers in compliance with technical specifications of contract & order finalization.
▪ Financial & Commercial Aspects (Invoicing Plan, Projected Costs, Cost Control & Profit from Operations).
▪ Progress reports and day to day correspondence and meeting with client, consultant and suppliers.
▪ Conducting FAT & SAT for the project.
▪ Meeting customer satisfaction & delivery of the project.


PROJECTS HANDLED:

▪ Communication System Network:
NTDC Saif-Sahiwal-Fauji Foundation interconnectivity, IESCO & Bahria 220kV projects with the scope of supply, installation & commissioning of 22 PLC & 8 SDH Panels.

▪ Control & Protection:
HESCO project with the scope of supply & installation of 28 Control & Protection Panels.

Education

Bachelor's degree, B.E. ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
  • at NED University of Engineering & Technology
  • March 2009

Specialties & Skills

Engineering Management
Control System Design
Cyber Security
Control Systems Engineering
Control Systems Maintenance
Safety Systems Engineering
Safety Systems Maintenance
Fire & Gas System Engineering
Fire & Gas System Maintenance
OT Cybersecurity
OT Network Architect

Languages

English
Expert
Urdu
Native Speaker

Training and Certifications

Yokogawa Prosafe-PLC & Prosafe-RS Engineering & Maintenance (Training)
Training Institute:
Yokogawa Middle East & Africa HQ
Date Attended:
July 2014
Duration:
120 hours
Siemens S7 Series PLC Engineering & Maintenance (Training)
Training Institute:
Siemens Saudi Arabia Ltd.
Date Attended:
October 2021
Duration:
40 hours
GIAC- Advisory Board Member (Certificate)
Date Attended:
January 2021
FS Eng (TÜV Rheinland, #16958/ 18, Safety Instrumented Systems) (Certificate)
Date Attended:
August 2018
Valid Until:
August 2023
GIAC- GICSP (Global Industrial Cybersecurity Professional) (Certificate)
Date Attended:
January 2021
Valid Until:
January 2025
S.A.P – Plant Maintenance Module (Training)
Training Institute:
Siemens (Pakistan) Engineering Co. Ltd.
Date Attended:
May 2011
Duration:
40 hours
Intergraph- Smart Plant Foundation (Training)
Training Institute:
Atheeb Enterprises
Date Attended:
August 2016
Duration:
16 hours
Analyser Management and Data Acquisition System (AMADAS) (Training)
Training Institute:
Yokogawa Middle East & Africa HQ
Date Attended:
October 2015
Duration:
24 hours
Helicopter Under-Water Escape Training- Cert. No: KMO121456 (Certificate)
Date Attended:
December 2016
Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate–Enterprise Switching Track (Certificate)
Date Attended:
August 2008
Cisco Certified Network Associate- Cisco ID: CSCO11571524 (Certificate)
Date Attended:
April 2009
Valid Until:
March 2011