From Oman to Leatherhead: Two Graduates’ Journeys So Far

Originally from Oman, graduates Abdallah Aloraimi and Qusai Alqasmi started their journey with KBR in March 2025, joining as an instrumentation and control engineer and electrical engineer for the Oman LNG project. "We applied to KBR as part of Oman's In-Country Value (ICV) programme," Abdallah explained. "It's an initiative which focuses on building up Oman's skills capability across the oil and gas industry, which helped us with our applications. We then trained for around nine months before fully stepping into our roles."

Now based in the Leatherhead office, Abdallah and Qusai spent a month working in Oman while sorting out the logistics of their move and are now fully immersed in their various projects. "I feel like I've done so much already." Qusai commented, "Even in such a short time, we've had great exposure to multiple projects."

Looking at their journeys so far, that exposure becomes evident. Abdallah first began with Oman LNG and has since moved to working on the MoReTec MRT-1 Project on their plastic recycling facility, while Qusai started on FEED stage for Oman LNG and is now involved in the pre-FEED stage of the CLIP Project (Common Liquefaction and Import Power) - an impressive variety for them both!

So, where did their passion for engineering begin? "For me, it started when I was a child and I used to take apart my toys and try to put them back together," laughed Abdallah. "I've always been interested in how things work and why, so engineering felt like a natural fit." In particular, he credits an internship at a fertiliser company in Oman for steering him toward instrumentation engineering.

Qusai's experience, on the other hand, is firmly tied to his family. "My father and four of my brothers are engineers," he explained, "so it was a clear path for me. I've always enjoyed physics and maths, too, which helps!" Both went to university on four-year engineering courses, with Abdallah studying at the University of Leeds and Qusai staying closer to home at Sultan Qaboos University in al-Seeb, Oman. Now in the world of work, they're both enjoying the shift away from education. "It's nice to be earning in a full-time role," Abdallah joked, "but most of all, it makes a real difference to do things independently and have more responsibility in your day-to-day."

Having worked at KBR for some months now, we asked Abdallah and Qusai what they've enjoyed most about their time so far. "In terms of the work itself, I've learned how valuable design and verification work is," Abdallah said, "it's changed my perspective on my role, and I have more appreciation for the work I'm doing." Qusai agreed, adding that his "experience so far has been very rewarding; I've had the opportunity to contribute to real deliverables from day one, which I've enjoyed a lot."

Looking ahead, we ask both graduates which direction they want their careers to take. "I see myself in a role with more technical authority, maybe a quality assurance role or similar," Abdallah said, "I'd particularly like to get more site and commissioning experience, as that would be really useful." For Qusai, his future aspirations are rooted in leadership roles: "I'd like to lead on engineering projects," he commented, "and take on more responsibility with innovative technology and projects."

The two graduates also have some solid advice for future graduates considering KBR for their next step. "Be proactive in learning, ask questions, and make the most of the mentorship available to you," Qusai says. "KBR offers a supportive environment, and it's important to make the most of it." Abdallah agrees, adding, "At KBR, the people make the business. Everyone is genuinely helpful, and it creates a great opportunity for you to grow and achieve a lot." Well done to both Abdallah and Qusai for everything they've achieved so far, we're delighted to have you both on the team!

Commenting on KBR's involvement in Oman's ICV Programme, Sanjay Panda, Senior Project Manager - EPC, said: "KBR is committed to Oman's In-Country Value (ICV) programme and with support from Oman LNG, we have been contributing to this programme for nearly a decade. Our ICV goals and achievement align with Oman's Vision 2040 and is designed to leave a lasting legacy in Oman through meaningful knowledge transfer. Through a structured training programme, we have so far trained more than 15 Omani engineering graduates at KBR offices in the UK, India, Oman and Abu Dhabi and helped in human capital development. The rich experience and benefits Qusai and Abdallah have gained from KBR's training programme demonstrates its effectiveness and contribution to overall Oman's ICV goals."