Design Manager (MEP)

Role objective

Design management and leadership

• Lead and develop structural engineers, MEP engineers, architects, BIM modelers and coordinators, and CAD technicians.
• Establish design standards, procedures, templates, and quality control processes aligned with company and UAE requirements.
• Allocate design resources across projects and monitor workloads, deadlines, and deliverables.
• Review and approve drawings, models, calculations, specifications, and reports before issue.
• Provide technical guidance, conduct performance reviews, and identify training needs.

Essential 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 of design and construction experience, including at least five years in design management in the UAE.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary structural and MEP teams on medium to large Dubai projects in residential, commercial, mixed-use, hospitality, or industrial sectors.
• Hands-on knowledge of Dubai authority processes and systems, including DM, DDA, Trakhees, DCD, DEWA, and RTA, and master developer requirements.
• Experience coordinating external consultants and Engineer of Record relationships; working knowledge of BIM delivery and ISO 19650.
• UAE Society of Engineers and/or Dubai Municipality Engineer Registration is highly desirable; CEng, PE, or equivalent is an advantage.

Technical skills and knowledge

• Proficiency in Autodesk Revit for architecture, structure, and MEP; Navisworks; AutoCAD; and BIM 360 / Autodesk Construction Cloud.
• Familiarity with structural and MEP analysis software such as ETABS, SAFE, STAAD.Pro, HAP, Carrier, DIALux, and ElectricalOM.
• Knowledge of the Dubai Building Code, Dubai Green Building Regulations / Al Sa'fat, UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice, DEWA regulations, and relevant international codes.
• Understanding of UAE construction methods, sequencing, buildability, and FIDIC contracts and design responsibilities.

Key performance indicators

• Secure authority approvals and permits in line with project programmes and deliver design and BIM packages to construction on time.
• Maintain design quality with minimal authority comment cycles, RFIs, and rework.
• Manage consultant performance, costs, and deliverables; reduce clashes and site issues through BIM coordination.
• Achieve design cost savings through value engineering and support team development and retention.