Senior Manager - Engineering

Role overview

Engineering and project responsibilities

• Lead equipment acquisition, upgrades, retrofits, and life-extension projects across the full project lifecycle.
• Establish equipment engineering standards, technical specifications, and design criteria in coordination with Operations and Maintenance.
• Own annual and multi-year CAPEX plans; review business cases, cost estimates, and alternatives using lifecycle cost, availability, reliability, and maintainability.
• Oversee procurement technical input, tender specifications, technical bid evaluations, and negotiations with OEMs and major contractors.
• Govern the project portfolio and monitor schedule, budget, risk, quality, and KPIs; report progress and key risks to leadership.
• Manage OEM, contractor, and consultant relationships, performance, escalations, and technical or commercial issues.
• Ensure FAT, SAT, inspections, commissioning, and final acceptance of new or modified equipment.
• Coordinate asset handover with Operations and Maintenance, including documentation, manuals, spare parts, warranties, and training.
• Maintain MAXIMO asset registration and complete traffic registration and insurance for commissioned equipment.
• Lead failure root-cause analysis, warranty management, supplier claims, and continuous reliability improvement.

Leadership and strategic responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and manage Engineering Managers and Engineers; set objectives and conduct performance reviews.
• Set team structure, resourcing, and capability requirements; coach engineers and support succession planning.
• Contribute to equipment engineering, maintenance, and cluster asset-management strategies.
• Lead equipment investment and fleet renewal planning in line with capacity forecasts, business plans, and technology trends.
• Evaluate automation, electrification, energy efficiency, and other emerging technologies and sustainability initiatives.
• Promote safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Education and experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electromechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 12–15 years of experience, including at least five years managing engineering teams and equipment project portfolios.
• Experience leading equipment engineering and capital projects in ports, terminals, logistics, or heavy industry.
• Strong knowledge of container-handling equipment, including STS cranes, RTG/RMG, straddle carriers, and reach stackers.
• Experience in CAPEX planning, budget, contract, and vendor management with OEMs and contractors.
• Knowledge of asset management, reliability engineering, quality and safety systems, and regulatory requirements.

Preferred qualifications and languages

• A master's degree, professional engineering registration, or project-management certification such as PMP is preferred.
• Excellent English is required; Arabic is an added advantage.

Technical competencies and systems

• Competencies include capital project portfolio management; equipment engineering, reliability, and asset management; engineering leadership and people management; and contract, vendor, and stakeholder management.
• Systems listed include SMWP/SAP and MAXIMO.

Key working relationships