Danny McDonald

Currently serving as the Mechanical Lead on ExxonMobil’s Fawley Refinery FAST project, a major initiative valued at approximately £800 million. The project is progressing through the final construction phase, preparing for commissioning and startup. In this role, I provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for all mechanical disciplines, ensuring alignment with overall project objectives. I lead and facilitate daily coordination meetings with cross-functional teams to drive progress, identify and mitigate risks, and resolve technical and logistical challenges efficiently.

I act as the primary liaison between the client responsible for enforcing rigorous safety protocols, quality assurance processes, and compliance with regulatory standards, ensuring the project meets or exceeds all safety and quality benchmarks. Through proactive resource management and scheduling oversight, I coordinate mechanical activities to optimise productivity, control costs, and maintain strict adherence to project timelines as we move steadily towards successful mechanical completion and startup.

Mechanical Superintendent on IE24 turnaround at Fawley Refinery, successfully managed the installation of critical path flare drum and associated pipework, ensuring the project was delivered on time and within budget. Responsibilities included overseeing the planning and execution of the installation, coordinating with various teams, and ensuring all work adhered to quality requirements.

Mechanical Superintendent at Fawley Refinery, overseeing a team of 50 technicians, managing all aspects of maintenance operations across the site. Role's including coordinating and prioritising routine maintenance, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and troubleshooting mechanical issues to minimise downtime. Responsible for resource management, performance monitoring, and ensuring that maintenance tasks are completed efficiently and on schedule, while also liaising with other departments to support the refinery's overall operational goals.

Planning Mechanical Maintenance at Fawley Refinery, involving creating Functional Failure and Annual Maintenance plans. Responsibilities included conducting site visits to measure pipework, transferring measurements onto Isometric drawings for fabrication, and estimating project costs. Aswell as allocating labour, running weekly meetings, and ensuring all tasks are aligned with project timelines and safety standards, ensuring smooth operations throughout the planning phase.

Leading a team of mechanical fitters on the Champion X chemical site, liaising with the client to successfully manage and deliver shutdowns on time. Additionally, playing a key role in installing gas skids for SGN across Britain, ensuring each project was completed on time and to high standards.

Successfully completing a 4 year apprenticeship in Pipe fitting NVQ LVL 3 moving onto a skilled tradesman in PTF fabrication shop. Experienced in fabricating pipework, building and installing gas skids across the UK, ensuring quality and safety standards are met on each project.