Oil & Gas

Corrosion Engineer job description

A Corrosion Engineer prevents asset failure in oil and gas by managing cathodic protection, chemical inhibition, and NDT inspections to maximize uptime.

Published April 1, 2024Updated May 17, 2026958 likes

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Job brief

We are seeking a detail-oriented Corrosion Engineer to join our asset integrity team and lead initiatives that extend the lifecycle of our oil and gas infrastructure. You will be responsible for designing mitigation strategies for complex pipeline networks and refining units, ensuring all activities adhere to NACE and API industry standards. This is a high-impact role where your technical expertise will directly influence site safety, maintenance budgeting, and production reliability. Join us to apply cutting-edge corrosion science to real-world energy challenges in a collaborative, safety-focused culture.

Key highlights

Design and audit impressed current and sacrificial anode cathodic protection systems to ensure compliance with NACE international standards.
Develop site-specific chemical inhibition programs for production wells, pipelines, and processing facilities to mitigate localized and uniform corrosion.
Interpret intelligent pigging data and NDT inspection reports to prioritize maintenance interventions for high-risk segments of the pipeline network.
Perform comprehensive root cause analysis on failed assets, pressure vessels, and piping components using scanning electron microscopy or metallographic techniques.

What is a Corrosion Engineer?

A Corrosion Engineer is a specialized integrity professional who safeguards critical energy infrastructure through advanced material science and electrochemical mitigation strategies. These experts design and implement cathodic protection systems, chemical treatment programs, and coating specifications to combat degradation in extreme offshore and downstream environments. By serving as a Corrosion Engineer, you ensure the mechanical integrity of high-pressure pipelines, subsea assets, and pressure vessels, directly preventing catastrophic failures and environmental leaks.

What does a Corrosion Engineer do?

A Corrosion Engineer identifies degradation mechanisms, such as pitting, hydrogen-induced cracking, or microbial corrosion, by interpreting data from ultrasonic testing (UT) and intelligent pigging reports. On a daily basis, they calculate corrosion rates to predict remaining asset life, specify high-performance alloys or coatings, and monitor chemical injection pumps in production facilities. They work closely with integrity management teams to perform root cause analysis (RCA) on failed components and collaborate with field technicians to audit the performance of impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) systems.

Key responsibilities

Design and audit impressed current and sacrificial anode cathodic protection systems to ensure compliance with NACE international standards.
Perform comprehensive root cause analysis on failed assets, pressure vessels, and piping components using scanning electron microscopy or metallographic techniques.
Develop site-specific chemical inhibition programs for production wells, pipelines, and processing facilities to mitigate localized and uniform corrosion.
Interpret intelligent pigging data and NDT inspection reports to prioritize maintenance interventions for high-risk segments of the pipeline network.
Author detailed technical specifications for protective coatings and material selection during the front-end engineering design (FEED) phase of projects.
Monitor real-time corrosion coupon data and electrical monitoring probes to track system performance against pre-defined integrity key performance indicators.
Collaborate with the HSE department to ensure all corrosion mitigation processes align with environmental regulations and safety management systems.
Provide expert guidance to field operations teams regarding the proper installation and maintenance of internal and external corrosion protection hardware.

Requirements and skills

Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical, Materials, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution.
Minimum of 5 years of field experience in oil and gas asset integrity, specifically focusing on upstream or midstream pipeline corrosion.
NACE/AMPP certification at the level of Corrosion Technologist or higher is strictly required for this role.
Deep technical proficiency in interpreting API 570, API 510, and ASME B31G standards for pressure equipment and piping systems.
Expertise in electrochemical testing, including Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR) and electrical resistance probe data analysis.
Proven ability to manage material selection databases and perform life-cycle cost analysis for infrastructure upgrades.
Demonstrated skill in communicating complex integrity risks to non-technical project managers and executive stakeholders for resource allocation.
Ability to work in challenging offshore or remote environments, including the capacity to travel for site audits and emergency troubleshooting.

FAQs

What does a Corrosion Engineer do in the oil and gas industry?

A Corrosion Engineer is responsible for protecting physical assets from chemical and environmental degradation to prevent leaks, production loss, and catastrophic failure. Their daily work involves evaluating the structural integrity of pipelines and vessels, specifying material grades, designing cathodic protection systems, and monitoring chemical inhibition levels. They act as the primary line of defense against the high costs of corrosion in harsh energy production environments.

What qualifications are required to become a Corrosion Engineer?

To excel as a Corrosion Engineer, you typically need a degree in materials science, metallurgical engineering, or mechanical engineering, paired with extensive experience in the oil and gas sector. Professional certifications from NACE (now AMPP) are highly sought after and often considered mandatory for senior roles. You must also possess a strong grasp of industry codes such as API 570 and NACE standards to ensure regulatory compliance.

How does a Corrosion Engineer interact with other departments?

A Corrosion Engineer works at the intersection of operations, maintenance, and HSE. They provide essential data to maintenance teams to schedule repairs, consult with field operations to optimize chemical usage, and report to the HSE department regarding potential environmental spill risks. This cross-functional collaboration is vital for maintaining the balance between maximizing production throughput and ensuring long-term asset safety.

Why is the role of a Corrosion Engineer critical for production?

Corrosion is a primary cause of downtime and unplanned outages in the oil and gas industry. By proactively identifying degradation trends and implementing mitigation strategies, a Corrosion Engineer prevents costly emergency repairs and catastrophic safety incidents. Their work ensures that infrastructure remains operational for its full design life, significantly improving the return on investment for capital-intensive energy projects.