Associate Director – Mechanical – Abu Dhabi

Black & White Engineering; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Leadership opportunities

Support for accredited courses

Job summary

Black & White Engineering in Abu Dhabi is seeking an Associate Director – Mechanical to lead the design and delivery of complex MEP projects, acting as the technical authority and shaping project strategy.

You will build and mentor a high‑performance engineering team, drive commercial outcomes, manage budgets and client relationships, and ensure compliance with relevant codes.

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex MEP projects in a consultancy
• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities
• Commercial awareness and ability to manage project profitability
• Excellent communication with technical and non‑technical audiences
• Solid understanding of codes and regulatory frameworks

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of complex MEP projects
• Develop and mentor a high-performance engineering team
• Act as technical authority on projects
• Shape project strategy and commercial outcomes
• Manage client relationships and multidisciplinary collaboration

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory knowledge

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Cymap

IES

Job description

Associate Director – Mechanical – Abu Dhabi

Are you an experienced mechanical engineer ready to take on more ownership, lead complex, high-value projects and build a team around you? Then this role is for you.

As Associate Director – Mechanical Engineering, you will lead the design and delivery of complex MEP projects across diverse sectors. You will lead and develop a team of engineers, act as technical authority on projects, and work closely with senior leadership to shape project strategy and commercial outcomes.

What’s in it for you?

Technical leadership and design excellence

You will act as the technical authority on projects, guiding design and delivery across technically complex, high-impact MEP projects. You will help shape project strategy and technical direction, working closely with senior leadership.

Team leadership and capability building

You will lead and develop a team of engineers, building a high-performance culture rather than simply managing delivery. You will play an active role in mentoring the people around you, and ensure health, safety and compliance standards are consistently met across your team.

Commercial ownership and business growth

You will contribute to fee proposals, manage project profitability and take ownership of commercial outcomes. You will play an active role in business growth, including client development and winning new work.

Stakeholder and client relationships

You will build strong relationships with internal teams, clients and external stakeholders, ensuring expectations are met on time and within budget. Your ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences will be central to the role.

Business influence and leadership involvement

You will play an active role in the office leadership team, contributing to wider business strategy. This is a genuine platform to influence how projects are delivered and how the business grows, with clear progression toward senior leadership roles.

• Strong background in mechanical building services design within an MEP consultancy.
• Experience leading complex projects and managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Commercial awareness, with the ability to manage budgets and project profitability.
• Confident communicator, able to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Sound understanding of relevant codes, standards and regulatory frameworks.
• Proficiency with industry design tools such as AutoCAD, Cymap or IES.
• Degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent.
• Chartered status, or working towards it, is preferred.

You will also join a community that focuses on learning and development through regular knowledge-sharing sessions and investment in accredited professional courses. You can set the pace for your own development, and whatever path you choose, you will receive the right support.

About Black & White Engineering

Black & White Engineering is a multi-award-winning engineering consultancy with more than 1,300 employees across the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and North America.

We specialise in the full spectrum of engineering design consultancy for the data centre sector, including Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP), Civil & Structural, Design Management, Sustainability, BIM, Power Systems and other infrastructure-related services.

Our engineering approach is grounded in practicality, technical excellence and operational efficiency. With rapid growth across regions, many colleagues have progressed from engineering roles into leadership positions — your future development is supported and recognised.