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Engineering Leader Under 40, 2024: Imran Khan, 29

Imran Khan, 29, Lead Solution Architect, Pipeline Technologies & Services, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

By Plant Engineering Staff September 9, 2024

Imran Khan, 29
Lead Solution Architect
Pipeline Technologies & Services
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
BS Engineering, Electronics & Communications, Visveshwaraya Technological University

What Makes Imran an Engineering Leader

Imran is a brilliant, dedicated, and hard-working engineer with a strong sense of responsibility. He combines impressive technical abilities with acute business acumen, embodying the qualities of an ambitious yet modest young engineer making significant contributions to the world around him. Imran stands out for his achievements and unwavering dedication to his career.

Achievements, Advancements & Career-related Industry Contributions

Imran earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial process automation in India before moving to Saudi Arabia, where he joined Pipeline Technologies and Services LLC (PipeTech) in the Dammam area. PipeTech is the first design and manufacturing automation company of its kind in the Middle East, boasting the largest indoor pipeline testing facility in the world. Initially, Imran focused on factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), and commissioning of the WaveGuard Leak Detection System (LDS) product, designed and manufactured by PipeTech in Saudi Arabia.

Imran’s knowledge and insight were instrumental in helping the PipeTech engineering team produce one of the most advanced LDS products, adhering to the American Petroleum Institute API-1130 standards for computational-based LDS, covering negative pressure, mass balance, and fiber sensing leak detection. Gradually, Imran assumed a leadership role within the company, advancing to system-level design and becoming a key member of the strategic bidding team. His contributions were pivotal in securing some of the largest pipeline leak detection projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, such as the East-West Strategic Gas Pipeline Corridor. Imran’s efforts at both the technical and strategic levels have helped PipeTech produce superior LDS products and secure significant national projects.

Non-work-related Activities & Hobbies

Imran is an avid painter who appreciates nature and its beauty. He spends his free time creating paintings that reflect nature’s beauty and its more tumultuous aspects. This activity allows him to shift his focus away from work-related concerns and enjoy quality time with his family, who often join him in the creative process.

Interesting Details

Although Imran’s education is rooted in the technical field of industrial process automation, he has demonstrated a remarkable ability to contribute to the strategic aspects of the business. His communication and negotiation skills with potential customers have also played a key role in the company’s success. Imran is a well-rounded individual, possessing both technical and non-technical skills that make him a valuable asset to his organization.

Why Imran Chose This Career

Imran chose a career in industrial process automation because of its transformative impact on the quality of manufactured products. Automation reduces the risk of human error—often caused by fatigue or distraction—which can be a major issue in many manufacturing processes. By enhancing precision and accuracy on the assembly line, automation technologies improve customer satisfaction and complete repetitive tasks more effectively than humans. The digital transformation in manufacturing has led to more efficient use of resources, reduced waste, energy savings, and recycling automation, all of which contribute to a more sustainable approach to manufacturing operations.


Author Bio: Since 1947, plant engineers, plant managers, maintenance supervisors and manufacturing leaders have turned to Plant Engineering for the information they needed to run their plants smarter, safer, faster and better. Plant Engineering‘s editors stay on top of the latest trends in manufacturing at every corner of the plant floor. The major content areas include electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, automation engineering and maintenance and management.