Design Coordinator - Underground Structures

AECOM Middle East Ltd; Dubai; On-site; AED 446,000 - 781,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM Middle East Ltd in Dubai, UAE seeks a Design Coordinator to lead the design development and delivery of underground structures such as tunnels, shafts, and retaining systems. You will harmonise inputs from civil, structural, geotechnical, and MEP teams to meet project specs, standards, and milestones.

The role emphasizes interface management, design reviews, constructability, and risk-aware delivery on-site with a senior background in underground infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree.
• Minimum 10 years in underground structures design coordination.
• Experience with tunnels, shafts, retaining systems, or related underground structures.
• Experience on large-scale infrastructure or rail projects.
• Ability to coordinate civil, structural, geotechnical, and MEP design interfaces.
• Experience reviewing technical design submissions.
• Understanding of design programme requirements and milestone tracking.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with contractors, consultants, and multidisciplinary project teams.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate multidisciplinary design inputs for underground structures.
• Support the coordinated development of tunnels, shafts, and retaining systems.
• Manage interfaces between civil, structural, geotechnical, and MEP disciplines.
• Review design submissions against project specifications and applicable technical standards.
• Track design development and monitor progress against programme milestones.
• Coordinate with contractors, consultants, and internal project teams.
• Facilitate resolution of design issues affecting technical delivery.
• Maintain alignment between project requirements and multidisciplinary design activities.

Skills

Design coordination

Interface management

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Progress tracking

Constructability awareness

Education

Engineering Degree

Job description

Design Coordinator - Underground Structures Job Snapshot

Role: Design Coordinator

Location: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Civil Engineering

Function: Civil & Structural Engineering

Experience: Minimum 10 years in underground structures design coordination or a related field

Job Type: Full Time

Work Arrangement: On-site

Position Overview

AECOM is seeking a Design Coordinator in Dubai, UAE to coordinate the design development and delivery of underground structures, including tunnels, shafts, and retaining systems. The position brings together multidisciplinary technical inputs, manages design interfaces, reviews submissions, and tracks design progress to ensure solutions meet project requirements, technical standards, stakeholder expectations, and programme milestones.

Job Details

Country: UAE

City: Dubai

Industry: Civil Engineering

Function: Civil & Structural Engineering

Salary: Not disclosed

Gender: No Preference

Candidate Nationality: Not specified

Job Type: Full Time

Work Arrangement: On-site

Responsibilities

• Coordinate multidisciplinary design inputs for underground structures.
• Support the coordinated development of tunnels, shafts, and retaining systems.
• Manage interfaces between civil, structural, geotechnical, and MEP disciplines.
• Review design submissions against project specifications and applicable technical standards.
• Track design development and monitor progress against programme milestones.
• Coordinate with contractors, consultants, and internal project teams.
• Facilitate resolution of design issues affecting technical delivery.
• Maintain alignment between project requirements and multidisciplinary design activities.

Multidisciplinary Interfaces

The Design Coordinator will manage technical interfaces across civil, structural, geotechnical, and MEP disciplines. This requires close coordination of individual design inputs to identify interface issues and maintain consistency across underground structure packages. The role also involves working with contractors, consultants, and internal teams to resolve design matters efficiently and support timely project delivery.

Design Review and Delivery

Review design submissions to confirm alignment with project specifications and relevant standards. The position will monitor design progress throughout development and help ensure required deliverables are completed in accordance with programme milestones. The Design Coordinator will also support constructability reviews, helping project teams consider how proposed underground structure designs can be effectively delivered during construction.

Value Engineering and Risk

• Support value engineering activities during design development.
• Participate in constructability reviews.
• Assist with identification of design-related risks.
• Support development of appropriate risk mitigation measures.
• Highlight multidisciplinary interface issues requiring resolution.
• Contribute to technically coordinated design outcomes.

Qualifications and Experience

• Engineering Degree.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in underground structures design coordination or a related field.
• Experience with tunnels, shafts, retaining systems, or related underground structures is relevant to the position.
• Experience on large-scale infrastructure or rail projects is advantageous.
• Ability to coordinate civil, structural, geotechnical, and MEP design interfaces.
• Experience reviewing technical design submissions.
• Understanding of design programme requirements and milestone tracking.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with contractors, consultants, and multidisciplinary project teams.

Technical Focus

The role centers on underground structures design coordination, multidisciplinary interfaces, design compliance, constructability, value engineering, programme monitoring, and design risk management. Successful delivery requires an integrated understanding of how civil, structural, geotechnical, and MEP disciplines interact within tunnels, shafts, retaining systems, and other complex underground infrastructure.

Why Join AECOM

AECOM provides opportunities to contribute to major infrastructure projects while working with a global network of planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital specialists, program managers, and construction professionals. Its training and development programs are designed to strengthen technical expertise and leadership capabilities. Depending on employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life and disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absence, voluntary benefits, well-being resources, an employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plans, and an employee stock purchase plan.

About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure firm delivering professional services across transportation, water, environment, energy, and buildings. Its capabilities span the project lifecycle from advisory, planning, design, and engineering through program and construction management. AECOM has a global team of more than 50000 professionals and reported revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025.