Planning Engineer

Who Are We? At Avanceon / Octopus Digital, we don't just do automation, we lead the charge. As a multinational player with a presence in Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, we've been providing cutting-edge control system integration, energy management, and automation solutions for over 24 years. Our clients include major blue-chip companies, and our work spans multiple industries. When it comes to tech, quality, and innovation, we don't cut corners—we set the standard.

Job Overview: Role Purpose The Planning Engineer – Resource & Cost Management plays a critical role in planning, optimizing, and controlling engineering resources and costs for the IX (Instrumentation, Controls & SCADA) function. The position focuses on resource capacity planning, resource loading, utilization reporting, project / SLA planning, and budget tracking across multiple projects, Service License agreements (SLAs) and supporting informed decision-making for leadership and project management teams. The role supports an engineering organization of approximately 100 engineers and acts as a single source of truth for resource availability, workload distribution, and manpower cost performance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Resource Planning & Capacity Management (Primary Focus)

• Develop and maintain resource capacity models for IX engineering teams, considering skills, availability, leave, training, and non-project activities.
• Prepare resource loading plans aligned with project schedules, engineering deliverables, and forecasted workloads.
• Identify over-allocation, under-utilization, and skill constraints, and propose optimization or reallocation strategies.
• Provide short-, medium-, and long-term resource forecasts to IX leadership and PMT.

2. Resource Utilization & Performance Reporting

• Prepare weekly and monthly resource utilization reports (planned vs actual) at individual, discipline, and departmental levels.
• Analyze timesheet and hours data to generate actionable insights on productivity, efficiency, and workload trends.
• Develop and maintain management dashboards highlighting utilization, forecast accuracy, and key risks.
• Provide data-driven inputs during IX, PMT, and management review meetings.

3. Cost & Budget Control

• Support preparation of manpower cost budgets for projects based on approved resource plans and cost rates.
• Track actual vs planned engineering hours and costs, highlighting variances and potential overruns.
• Coordinate with Accounts and ERP teams to ensure accurate and timely hours and cost reporting.

4. Planning & Schedule Integration (Supporting Role)

• Develop and maintain high-level engineering schedules using Primavera /ZOHO, aligned with resource plans

. •Integrate engineering, procurement (RFQs, IRs, POs), FAT, iFAT, and T&C activities into planning views.

• Monitor key milestones and highlight schedule impacts caused by resource constraints.
• Support preparation of recovery plans in coordination with IX delivery leads.

5. Coordination & Interface Management

• Work closely with Engineering Leads, PMT, Procurement, T&C, QA/QC, and SC to ensure alignment between resource plans and execution.

•Coordinate resource deployment for FAT, iFAT, testing, commissioning, and site activities. •Track and follow up on critical action items arising from project and IX review meetings.

6. Risk Management & Governance

• Identify resource- and cost-related risks impacting project delivery.
• Proactively flag high-risk areas and recommend mitigation actions.
• Maintain governance over IX KPIs, including utilization, forecast accuracy, and cost variance

. 7. Process Improvement & Automation

• Continuously improve planning, reporting, and data management processes.
• Enhance and automate Excel-based models, dashboards, and reporting tools.
• Support standardization of resource planning and reporting practices across IX sub-departments.
• Participate in RFG and continuous improvement initiatives with IX management and HR.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong expertise in Excel (Pivot Tables, advanced formulas, data analysis, dashboards), MS Word and power-point
• Solid understanding of resource planning, capacity management, and utilization analysis.
• Good working knowledge of project budgeting and cost control.
• Experience with Primavera, MS Project and/or ZOHO for planning and reporting.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to convert data into management insights.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Organize and Maintain documentation record (Hard copies/ Online Portal).
• Prepare Document tracking sheet/ log sheet in excel.

•Prepare documentation as per client or Avanceon Format •Good Written and verbal communication skills.

• Manage Multiple tasks and projects.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Instrumentation / Electrical / Electronics / Control Systems or related field)
• Project Planning or Project Controls certification is an added advantage
• 3-5 years of experience in project planning, scheduling, and control for engineering or EPC projects
• Hands-on experience with Primavera P6, MS Project
• ZOHO project scheduling and progress tracking (Optional)
• Experience coordinating engineering, procurement, testing & commissioning, and project management teams
• Exposure to Instrumentation, Controls, and SCADA (IX) projects across the project lifecycle

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary & Benefits
• Health & Life Insurance
• Easy Commute (Travel Benefits )
• A Chance to Work in a Growing, Dynamic Company
• Join a Motivated, Talented Team Who Knows How to Have Fun