Design Manager

About the company

Position summary

Design leadership and technical coordination

• Lead and develop the design team; set standards and quality controls, allocate resources, review outputs, and mentor staff.
• Oversee structural design, including foundations and superstructure, and MEP systems including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, drainage, fire protection, fire alarm, and ELV/ICT.
• Ensure compliance with Dubai and UAE authority regulations, relevant international codes, and applicable green building requirements.
• Coordinate architecture, structure, and MEP through BIM clash detection; lead value engineering and account for UAE climate, soil, cooling, and material conditions.

BIM, consultants, and approvals

• Implement BIM and oversee execution plans, information requirements, modelling standards, federated models, clash resolution, and 4D/5D and handover deliverables.
• Manage common data environments such as Autodesk Construction Cloud / BIM 360, Aconex, or Procore.
• Coordinate external consultants, define scopes and deliverables, review submissions, chair meetings, and manage performance, variations, and claims.
• Lead authority approvals and submissions through completion, including relevant Dubai Municipality, DDA, Trakhees, Civil Defence, DEWA, RTA, telecom, and cooling authorities.
• Track permit progress, respond to authority comments, and maintain knowledge of Dubai codes, circulars, portals, and submission requirements.

Construction and project support

• Review shop drawings, material submittals, and method statements; respond to site RFIs and technical queries.
• Assess design changes and variations, attend inspections, coordinate authority inspections, and support completion certificates.
• Coordinate as-built drawings, BIM models, and design closeout documentation.
• Support tendering, design and BIM proposals, project budgets and programmes, and design risk mitigation.
• Ensure design complies with company QA/QC, HSE, and contractual requirements, including FIDIC-based contracts.

Qualifications and experience

• Bachelor's degree in Civil/Structural Engineering, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, or Architecture; a master's degree is an advantage.
• 12–15 years in design and construction, with at least 5 years in UAE design management.
• Experience managing structural and MEP design teams on medium-to-large Dubai projects across sectors such as residential, commercial, mixed-use, hospitality, or industrial.
• Hands-on knowledge of Dubai authority approval systems and experience coordinating external consultants and Engineer of Record relationships.
• Working knowledge of BIM delivery and ISO 19650.
• UAE Society of Engineers or Dubai Municipality registration is highly desirable; CEng, PE, or equivalent professional status is an advantage.

Technical skills and attributes

• Proficiency in Autodesk Revit, Navisworks, AutoCAD, and BIM 360 / Autodesk Construction Cloud.
• Familiarity with structural and MEP analysis software such as ETABS, SAFE, STAAD.Pro, HAP, Carrier, DIALux, or ElectricalOM.
• Knowledge of Dubai Building Code, green building and fire safety regulations, DEWA rules, international codes, UAE construction methods, and buildability.
• Good knowledge of FIDIC contracts and design responsibilities within them.
• Strong leadership, people management, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management; able to manage multiple projects and approval timelines.
• Fluent written and spoken English; Arabic is an advantage.

Performance measures