Design Engineer Manager

Ultiwise Consult; Sharjah; On-site; AED 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Ultiwise Consult in Sharjah, UAE, is searching for a Design Manager to oversee water and wastewater treatment projects. This role demands extensive experience in design leadership and project execution, with a focus on international standards and quality assurance. The ideal candidate will possess a strong engineering background, project management skills, and the ability to lead a team effectively.

The role entails involvement in every aspect of design, from initial concepts to detailed engineering. A commitment to quality and sustainable solutions is essential for success.

Qualifications

• Minimum 20 years in water & wastewater design.
• Minimum 5 years as a Design Manager or Senior Engineering Manager.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the end‑to‑end design including Concept, Basic, and Detailed Engineering.
• Prepare a complete detailed WBS for every project.
• Define all deliverables required for Concept, Basic and Detailed Engineering.
• Conduct weekly engineering review meetings and maintain progress dashboards.
• Support tender engineering and technical proposals.

Skills

SWRO Plants

STPs

ZLD Systems

Foul Sewage & Stormwater Pumping Stations

Hydraulics

Electrical

Instrumentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Chemical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Company Overview

A pioneering leader in the United Arab Emirates water and wastewater treatment industry since 1992. Building upon decades of expertise and innovation, the company has expanded the group’s footprint into the Indian market, delivering end‑to‑end infrastructure solutions in water and wastewater treatment, desalination and environmental engineering. It aims to bring proven international standards, sustainable technologies and technical excellence to India, supporting industrial, municipal and environmental projects across the country. With a strong foundation in engineering excellence, project management and client‑focused solutions, the company is committed to advancing water infrastructure, fostering sustainability and contributing to India’s growing demand for reliable and efficient water management systems.

Key Responsibilities

1. Design Leadership
   • Lead and manage the end‑to‑end design: Concept, Basic, and Detailed Engineering.
   • Review, validate and approve all engineering deliverables (P&IDs, hydraulic calculations, layouts, SLDs, BOQs, technical specifications, data sheets).
   • Ensure alignment of design with client requirements, project specifications and authority standards.
   • Provide technical solutions for complex design issues and cross‑discipline challenges.
   • Maintain high standards of detail accuracy and constructability.
2. Detailed Engineering Planning & Forecasting (Critical Responsibility)
   1. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) – Prepare a complete detailed WBS for every project; break work into discipline‑wise and package‑wise tasks.
   2. Engineering Deliverables Planning – Define all deliverables required for Concept, Basic and Detailed Engineering; develop a full engineering deliverable register with timelines; track progress daily/weekly and ensure zero delays.
   3. Forecasting & Resource Allocation – Estimate engineering hours required for each discipline; assign tasks to Mechanical, Electrical, Process, Civil (vendor) and drafting teams; identify bottlenecks early and take corrective action.
   4. Coordination with Execution Team – Provide construction inputs such as foundation loads, cable routing, piping routes, method statements and installation drawings; ensure engineering supports procurement by delivering timely data sheets, specifications and vendor approvals; align engineering milestones with procurement and site execution.
   5. Monitoring & Control – Conduct weekly engineering review meetings; maintain dashboards showing percentage progress, pending items, risks and recovery plans; take ownership of resolving delays and design gaps.
   6. Accountability – Ensure zero rework due to engineering errors; ensure design deliverables do not delay procurement or site execution; take responsibility for maintaining the engineering schedule end‑to‑end.
3. Project Execution & Technical Support
   • Support tender engineering and technical proposals.
   • Participate in technical meetings with clients, consultants and OEMs.
   • Lead design review, HAZOP, value engineering and coordination meetings.
   • Support site teams during installation, testing, commissioning and troubleshooting.
   • Validate vendor designs and FAT reports.
4. Team Management
   • Lead and mentor a team of 10 engineers across Mechanical, Electrical, Process and Drafting disciplines.
   • Review and monitor individual performance and output quality.
   • Build engineering capability through training and technical development.
   • Ensure effective internal coordination between all design disciplines.
5. Quality & Documentation
   • Establish internal engineering standards, templates and checklists.
   • Ensure all drawings and documents are IFC quality.
   • Manage document control and versioning through engineering document management systems.
   • Ensure compliance with international standards: AWWA, ASTM, ASME, BS, IEC, NFPA, etc.
6. Stakeholder Coordination
   • Coordinate with clients, consultants, technology licensors and government authorities.
   • Present designs during technical workshops and approval meetings.
   • Support procurement during vendor evaluation and finalization.

Required Technical Expertise

• SWRO Plants: intake systems, pre‑treatment, membrane design, ERDs, post‑treatment.
• STPs: MBBR, SBR, MBR, IFAS tertiary treatment, sludge systems.
• ZLD Systems: high‑TDS treatment, evaporators, crystallizers.
• Foul Sewage & Stormwater Pumping Stations: pump sizing, surge analysis, hydraulics.
• Hydraulics: pipe sizing, head loss, surge, pump selection.
• Electrical: load analysis, SLDs, MCC design, cable sizing.
• Instrumentation: instrument selection, IO lists, control philosophy, SCADA basics.
• International Codes: AWWA, ASTM, ASME, BS, IEC, NFPA, DEWA/ADDC/SEWA guidelines.

Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Chemical Engineering.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 20 years in water & wastewater design.
• Minimum 5 years as a Design Manager or Senior Engineering Manager.

Soft Skills & Work Style

• Highly detail‑oriented and methodical.
• Strong planner with excellent forecasting abilities.
• Hands‑on designer with deep technical competence.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills.
• Strong leadership, mentoring and decision‑making abilities.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.

KPIs for Performance Evaluation

• Timely submission of all engineering deliverables.
• Quality and accuracy (zero or minimal rework).
• Reliability of WBS and engineering time forecasts.
• Efficiency and performance of the design team.
• Client/consultant approval turnaround time.
• Smooth coordination with procurement and execution teams.