Chief Specialist / Interior Designer - Rail Design

Dubai Careers - A Smart Dubai Initiative

Dubai

On-site

AED 446,000 - 670,000

Full time

4 days ago

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Job summary

Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is seeking a Senior Interior Design Lead to guide rail station interiors, ensuring safety, sustainability, accessibility, and aesthetics across projects from concept to commissioning.

The role requires a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Interior Design or Architecture and 9+ (or 11+) years of experience, plus professional certification (NCIDQ or RIBA). UAE residency is required and the position is full-time.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Interior Design or Architecture required.
Master's degree in Interior Design or Architecture preferred.
Professional certification in Interior Design or Architecture (NCIDQ, RIBA) required.
11+ years of experience for Bachelor's; 9+ years for Master's in interior design.

Responsibilities

Lead and provide expert guidance in interior design for rail stations.
Review and coordinate with stakeholders to ensure safety, sustainability, and aesthetics.
Oversee design standards from concept to construction and commissioning.
Represent RTA in technical forums to promote rail interior design excellence.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Interior Design or Architecture

Master's degree in Interior Design or Architecture

Professional certification in Interior Design or Architecture (NCIDQ, RIBA or equivalent)

Job description

Job Description

Job Purpose: Lead and provide expert guidance in interior design for rail stations, ensuring all designs meet RTA's safety, sustainability, accessibility, and aesthetic standards. The role oversees the development of interior design standards, reviews architectural and interior design submissions, and coordinates with stakeholders to deliver passenger-centric station environments. This position drives design excellence across the full project lifecycle from concept through to construction and commissioning.

Roles and Responsibilities

Strategy

Produce review, evaluation, and recommendation on design proposals focusing on design merits, suitability and Dubai and RTA vision.

Provide technical review of regulations & guidelines related to rail and mass transit systems operating on fixed routes within RTA's scope, specifically in the domains of interior design, architecture, and construction.

Oversee and review planning and design standards, technical requirements, and specifications for rail and mass transit projects in coordination with relevant internal departments and external authorities.

Monitor emerging trends, materials, and innovations in interior design for transit environments and recommend design enhancements to improve passenger experience, energy efficiency, and operational functionality.

Represent the Rail Agency in technical forums, governmental committees, and professional organizations to promote excellence in rail interior design practices and ensure Authority standards influence inter-agency planning frameworks.

Operations

Review and audit preliminary and final interior design submissions, including architectural, structural, and landscape elements, ensuring compliance with RTA standards, safety codes, and project requirements across all rail projects.

Review and validate final designs, materials, and manufacturer specifications for all architectural and interior design packages prior to consultant and contractor engagement during project execution.

Attend technical inspections, factory acceptance tests, and site visits to verify installation quality, manufacturing compliance, and factory capabilities against project requirements.

Review proposed designs for integration with developer projects and assess the impact on passenger flow and necessary station modifications resulting from increased ridership.

Review and audit signage, wayfinding, and directional design submissions for rail and mass transit projects both inside and outside stations, approving changes and issuing implementation clearances to relevant parties.

Review and validate design submissions for commercial projects associated with rail and mass transit systems within RTA's operational scope.

Coordinate with relevant authorities regarding the integration of transport systems in Dubai with rail station lines, including review of station designs for intermodal connectivity.

Review and audit modifications to existing rail projects related to architectural and interior design elements, ensuring continuity and compliance with established standards.

Prepare improvement studies for rail and mass transit projects to address identified issues, complaints, and recommendations, coordinating with relevant departments and authorities for implementation.

Product/Process Improvement

Apply value engineering principles across all interior design packages for rail and mass transit projects to optimize cost efficiency without compromising quality or passenger experience.

Identify opportunities for improvement in interior design processes, material selections, and specification standards to enhance performance and reduce lifecycle maintenance costs.

Drive continuous enhancement of design documentation, BIM standards, and digital design review systems to improve accuracy, collaboration, and stakeholder alignment.

Compile and document knowledge, lessons learned, and best practices within the section in accordance with RTA's established systems and procedures.

Conduct design feasibility studies and technical evaluations to support decision-making on new or upgraded rail station interior environments.

Physical Working Conditions

Requires frequent site visits to rail stations, construction sites, and manufacturing facilities to evaluate interior design implementation, material quality, and installation compliance.

May be required to attend design review meetings, factory acceptance tests, field inspections, and technical audits outside normal working hours based on project timelines and milestones.

Qualifications

Education