Associate Director / Technical Director – Rail

Job Description

Technical Leadership & Design Governance

• Provide senior technical leadership and act as technical authority, or deputy where appropriate, on rail projects in the UAE and across the Middle East.
• Define and uphold technical standards, design principles and governance processes in line with UAE and regional authority requirements.
• Lead the delivery of multidisciplinary rail design projects as Project Director, Project Manager or Subject Matter Expert, as required.
• Lead multidisciplinary design reviews, technical approvals and assurance activities across complex rail programmes.
• Ensure compliance with international standards and regional regulations, codes and approvals processes.

Multidisciplinary Rail Design Oversight

• Track & Alignment

• Civil & Structural Works (bridges, viaducts, tunnels, earthworks)
• Stations & Buildings (architecture, MEP, fire & life safety)
• Rail Systems (signalling, traction power, OCS, substations, SCADA)

• Systems Integration, Interfaces & RAMS

Business Development & Client Engagement

• Play a leading role in business development and work-winning across the Middle East rail market.
• Shape bid strategies, technical solutions, delivery methodologies and fee proposals for priority rail opportunities.
• Act as a senior technical representative in client meetings, workshops, presentations and bid interviews.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with government entities, rail authorities, operators, developers and contractors across the UAE and wider region.
• Contribute to pipeline growth, key account development, market intelligence and strategic positioning for rail in the Middle East.

Project Delivery Support

• Work with Project Directors and discipline leads to support the successful delivery of major rail programmes across the UAE and Middle East.
• Resolve complex technical, interface and systems integration issues across multidisciplinary rail projects.
• Support technical review of contractor submissions, authority submissions and design deliverables.
• Provide technical input during construction, testing and commissioning phases where required.
• Promote high standards of design quality, safety and engineering excellence.
• Support the application of RAMS, safety assurance and risk management processes.
• Proactively identify technical and integration risks and support mitigation strategies.
• Ensure full compliance with regional and local QHSE requirements.

Quality, Safety & Risk

• Promote high standards of design quality, safety and engineering excellence.
• Support the application of RAMS, safety assurance and risk management processes.
• Proactively identify technical and integration risks and support mitigation strategies.
• Ensure full compliance with regional and local QHSE requirements.

People & Capability Development

• Mentor and develop engineers and discipline leads across the Middle East rail team.
• Collaborate effectively with global rail colleagues and contribute to cross-region technical excellence.
• Support recruitment, succession planning and capability growth to meet the expanding Middle East rail market.
• Promote knowledge sharing, lessons learned and regional best practice across the business.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil, Railway or Systems Engineering; a Master’s degree is advantageous.
• Chartered Engineer status, or the ability to demonstrate progress toward chartership.
• Typically 15 to 18+ years of experience in rail engineering and rail design consultancy.
• Proven rail project experience in the UAE and/or Middle East, including familiarity with regional authorities, standards and approvals processes.
• Strong multidisciplinary rail background with experience across the full project lifecycle and a track record of rail design and delivery.
• Experience leading bids, proposals, client engagement and business development activities.
• Ability to operate confidently in a client-facing technical leadership role.
• Strong technical credibility across rail disciplines, with systems-thinking and problem-solving capability.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience supporting bids, client frameworks and market growth.
• Client-focused, collaborative and credible with senior stakeholders.
• Clear communicator with the ability to influence clients, partners and internal stakeholders.
• Experience working across both regional and international rail programmes, including high-speed rail, metro and light rail.
• Established relationships with key regional rail clients, authorities or delivery partners would be advantageous.
• Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.
• Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact.
• Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.
• With us, you can.
• Apply today.