Senior Design Manager / Technical Principal

About This Role

• A global multidisciplinary consultancy with 16,500+ professionals across 40+ countries
• Delivering world-class infrastructure, buildings, and environmental solutions
• Deliver advanced water infrastructure engineering design and analysis across complex engineering projects

About SJ Group Surbana Jurong Group is a leading global urban, infrastructure, and managed services consulting firm. With a strong presence across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond, we deliver integrated solutions across the entire project lifecycle, from planning and design to delivery and asset management.

Our Middle East operations continue to expand, supporting major infrastructure, transportation, energy, and development projects aligned with national visions and long-term growth strategies.

About The Role The Senior Design Manager / Technical Principal (Mechanical) will provide technical leadership and design governance for water infrastructure mechanical systems across the Middle East region, operating from a UAE base.

Specialising in pumping stations, process mechanical engineering, water desalination, and water treatment works, this role serves as the discipline's technical authority, bridging project delivery, quality assurance, and supporting tenders across SJ’s growing ME water portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical direction and design assurance for mechanical systems across pumping stations (raw water, potable, sewage, irrigation), water treatment works, and desalination plants (SWRO, MSF, MED) from concept through to IFC and construction support stages.
• Lead technical reviews on complex mechanical designs including pump selection and performance analysis, process pipework, and equipment specifications for water infrastructure facilities.
• Champion the use of digital engineering tools including process simulation software, 3D plant design, and BIM workflows for mechanical disciplines.
• Support business development activities including technical input to bids, capability statements, and client presentations.
• Establish and enforce design standards, procedures, and QA/QC protocols for mechanical disciplines, aligned with relevant ME authority requirements (ADWEA, EtihadWE, SWCC, NWC, and equivalent) and international standards (BS, ISO, ASME, AWWA).

Qualifications & Requirements

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering; Chartered Engineer status (IMechE, IChemE, or equivalent) required.
• Deep expertise in the mechanical design of water infrastructure, specifically large pumping stations, SWRO/MSF desalination plants, WTW process mechanical systems, and associated pipework and equipment packages.
• Proven track record of technical leadership on large-scale water sector mechanical projects across the UAE and wider Middle East region, with familiarity of regional authority procurement and approvals processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to engage at executive and regulatory authority level.

Why Join SJ ?

Join a global, multidisciplinary consultancy shaping sustainable, people-centric environments across 40+ countries. Work with world-class teams and lead impactful landscape design across the region.

All recruitment activities are handled by our internal Talent Acquisition Team, and this role currently doesn't require agency input.

Please do not forward resumes directly to SJ employees/managers; we do not accept unsolicited resumes and are not responsible for any associated fees.

**Only shortlisted candidates will be notified**

At Surbana Jurong, we put talent, hard work, teamwork and a fun workplace together to approach problems and solve them creatively and collaboratively. Join us in making a positive impact on the world!