Design Manager

Confidential; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential in Abu Dhabi seeks a Wet Utility Design Manager to lead the design of stormwater, sewerage, potable water, irrigation, and TSE networks from concept through detailed design and tender. You will review hydraulics, ensure UAE-compliant standards, and coordinate with clients, authorities, and multidisciplinary teams to meet project targets.

The role requires 15+ years in wet utility design, strong leadership, and proficiency with InfoWorks ICM, SewerGEMS, WaterGEMS, and Civil 3D.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field; Master’s degree is an advantage.
• Minimum 15 years in wet utility and infrastructure design and leadership roles.
• Strong knowledge of UAE design standards, authority procedures, and Abu Dhabi specifics.
• Proven experience in hydraulic modelling, network analysis, and BOQs.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or PE qualification is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the design of stormwater, sewerage, potable water, irrigation, and TSE networks across project phases.
• Review design calculations, hydraulic models, technical reports, drawings, specifications, and BOQs.
• Ensure compliance with UAE standards, client requirements, and project specs.
• Coordinate with clients, authorities, and multidisciplinary teams to obtain approvals.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to engineers and designers; manage resources and budgets.
• Support tenders, cost estimates, and value engineering; respond to technical queries.

Skills

Leadership

Client coordination

Project management

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering

Master’s degree is an advantage

CEng/PE certification preferred

Tools

InfoWorks ICM

SewerGEMS

WaterGEMS

Civil 3D

GIS

Job description

The Wet Utility Design Manager is responsible for leading, managing, and coordinating the design and delivery of wet utility infrastructure across projects, including stormwater drainage, sewerage, potable water, irrigation, and TSE networks.

The role oversees projects from master planning and concept design through detailed design, tender documentation, and authority approvals, ensuring compliance with client requirements, UAE authority standards, technical specifications, programme, budget, and quality requirements. Key responsibilities include reviewing technical deliverables and hydraulic models, managing design interfaces and utility conflicts, coordinating with clients and relevant authorities, and providing technical support throughout the tendering and construction stages.

Key Responsibilities – Wet Utility Design Manager

• Lead and manage the design of stormwater, sewerage, potable water, irrigation, and TSE networks from master planning through detailed design and tender stages.
• Review and approve design calculations, hydraulic models, technical reports, drawings, specifications, and BOQs.
• Ensure designs comply with UAE authority standards, client requirements, applicable codes, and project specifications.
• Lead coordination with clients, authorities, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary design teams to obtain required approvals.
• Manage design interfaces and resolve utility conflicts and technical issues across disciplines.
• Manage project scope, programme, resources, budget, deliverables, and design priorities to achieve project targets.
• Implement and monitor QA/QC procedures, design reviews, and technical compliance.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to engineers and designers and support team development and resource planning.
• Support technical proposals, tenders, cost estimates, and project planning as required.
• Provide technical support during tendering and construction, including responding to technical queries and reviewing design changes.
• Identify and manage design risks, constructability issues, and value-engineering opportunities.
• Monitor overall wet utility design performance and ensure timely, coordinated, and high-quality project delivery.

Requirements – Wet Utility Design Manager

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related engineering discipline; Master’s degree is an advantage.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in wet utility and infrastructure design, including proven experience in a design management/leadership role.
• Strong experience in stormwater drainage, sewerage, potable water, irrigation, and TSE networks.
• Proven experience delivering projects from master planning and concept design through detailed design, tender, and construction support.
• Strong knowledge of UAE design standards, authority requirements, and approval procedures, particularly within Abu Dhabi.
• Demonstrated experience in hydraulic modelling, network analysis, design calculations, technical reports, specifications, and BOQs.
• Proficiency in relevant design and modelling software such as InfoWorks ICM, SewerGEMS, WaterGEMS, and familiarity with Civil 3D/GIS.
• Strong understanding of utility corridors, infrastructure interfaces, NOCs, utility conflicts, and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Proven ability to manage design teams, resources, project programmes, budgets, risks, and technical deliverables.
• Experience in technical proposals, tender preparation, cost estimation, and value engineering.
• Strong client-facing and authority coordination skills with the ability to lead technical meetings and presentations.
• Excellent leadership, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Professional engineering certification such as Chartered Engineer (CEng), PE, or equivalent is preferred.
• Previous UAE consultancy experience, particularly on major infrastructure and government projects, is highly preferred.