E&I

Engineering Leadership · 35+ Years

Suresh
Nikam

Engineering leader in Electrical & Instrumentation and EPC projects across India and the Middle East. Currently Head of Electrical & Instrumentation and Business Development at Thermax Limited, driving multidisciplinary projects from concept to commissioning.

35+
Years Experience
27
Years at Thermax
IPMA
Level D Certified
Current Position
Head – E&I and Business Development
Thermax Limited · Pune, India
IPMA Level D Certified Professional
EPC Projects E&I Engineering Business Development Contract Management Project Planning Asset Management
sureshsnikam@rediffmail.com
LinkedIn Profile
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Profile

About Me

Engineering leader with 35+ years of experience building and managing multidisciplinary Electrical & Instrumentation, Business Development, Contract Management, and Asset Management functions across India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

I specialise in resolving complex technical and commercial challenges, partnering closely with project managers, engineering and finance teams, site engineers, suppliers, and customers to deliver predictable outcomes on large EPC and industrial projects.

Grounded in strong E&I domain expertise and strategic business acumen, I focus on turning business objectives into executable project strategies, developing high-performing teams, and creating sustainable value for organisations and stakeholders.

I specialise in the following areas:

01
Technical Proposal & Estimation
Cost estimation, tender assessment, and techno-commercial negotiations.
02
Project Management & Execution
End-to-end EPC project delivery, planning, monitoring, and meeting revenue and invoicing targets.
03
Contract Management
Drafting, structuring, negotiating, and concluding contracts; risk identification and mitigation.
04
Team Leadership & Mentoring
Recruitment, deployment, and long-term development of engineering and project teams.
05
Vendor & Asset Management
Supplier development, asset audits, procurement, and R&M planning for project assets.
Career Journey

Professional Experience

2018 – Present
7+ Years
Thermax Limited · Pune
Head – E&I and Business Development
Leading multidisciplinary departments encompassing Electrical & Instrumentation, Business Development, Contract Management, and Asset Management for large EPC and industrial projects. Managing overall project execution strategy, formulating operational plans that ensure profitability through timely project completion and cost-effectiveness as an IPMA Level D certified professional.
2007 – 2018
11 Years
Thermax Limited · Pune
Sr. Manager – E&I, Business Development, Contract & Asset Management
Responsible for the full project lifecycle from estimation to execution. Led business development strategy, inquiry generation, and offer submissions while closely engaging with key customers. Headed contract management functions including vendor finalization, contract drafting, and statutory compliance, and managed asset acquisition plans, audits, and R&M programmes.
2004 – 2007
3 Years
Thermax Limited · Pune
Manager – Electrical & Instrumentation
Managed E&I project execution teams and contractor finalization within assigned budgets, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure on-time and safe project delivery.
1998 – 2004
6 Years
Thermax Limited
Deputy Manager & Associate Manager – E&I
Progressive engineering and management roles within the E&I function, contributing to the growth of Thermax's project execution capabilities across multiple industrial projects.
1995 – 1998
3 Years
National Contracting Company (Rezayat Group) · KSA
Senior Engineer – Estimation
Estimation of Civil, Mechanical, and E&I erection works for large-scale power plants. Supervised and led teams of engineers and designers for detailed engineering of major power projects, ensuring compliance with tender requirements within budget and schedule.
1991 – 1995
4 Years
National Contracting Company (Rezayat Group) · KSA
Senior Engineer – E&I
Executed E&I erection and commissioning of landmark projects including the Saudi Formaldehyde Chemical Expansion Project and Rabigh Power Plant Extension for Saudi Electricity Company. Led multidisciplinary teams of execution, quality, safety, and planning engineers on complex industrial and power projects.
1990 – 1991
1+ Year
Technip · Maharashtra
Instrumentation Engineer
Executed instrumentation erection and commissioning of LLDPE and HDPE trains for the petrochemical project at IPCL, Nagothane. Led engineering and technician teams within budgeted man-hours and project schedules.
1989 – 1990
11 Months
Nihon Nirmaan Ltd. (J K Cement) · Rajasthan
Graduate Trainee Engineer – Instrumentation
Contributed to the white cement expansion project at Gotan, Jodhpur — the foundation of a distinguished engineering career.
Core Skills

Key Competencies

Electrical & Instrumentation
Deep domain expertise in E&I engineering, IS codes & standards, design, erection, and commissioning across industrial and power plant projects.
Project Management
End-to-end project execution from planning and monitoring to delivery. IPMA Level D certified with a track record of meeting invoicing and revenue targets.
Business Development
Strategic business planning, inquiry generation, tender assessment, and techno-commercial negotiations with vendors and customers.
Contract Management
Expert in contract drafting, structuring, negotiating, and concluding. Risk identification and mitigation with strong statutory compliance knowledge.
EPC & Operations
Comprehensive experience in EPC project environments spanning power plants, petrochemical, and industrial facilities across India and KSA.
Leadership & Mentoring
Building and mentoring high-performing engineering teams, managing cross-functional relationships and driving organizational excellence.
Qualifications

Education & Certifications

Bachelor of Engineering (BE)
Instrumentation & Control
Savitribai Phule Pune University
1985 – 1989
IPMA Level D Certified Professional
Project Management
International Project Management Association (IPMA)
Certified Professional
Get In Touch

Let's Connect

Available for senior leadership roles, consulting engagements, and board advisory assignments in EPC, Electrical & Instrumentation, and project management.

sureshsnikam@rediffmail.com View LinkedIn Profile

Based in Pune, Maharashtra, India – open to global opportunities