Design Manager (Marine)

WSP in the Middle East; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 420,000 - 620,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in the Middle East is seeking a Design Manager (Marine) to lead the engineering design of marine structures, ports, and coastal infrastructure for Abu Dhabi Ports. You will provide technical leadership from concept through construction and ensure deliverables meet quality, safety, and regulatory standards while guarding budget and schedule.

You will oversee design teams, coordinate with clients and authorities, and drive value engineering, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Marine, or Structural Engineering (Master's preferred).
• Minimum 15 years in marine/port infrastructure design with 5+ in leadership.
• Professional Engineer (PE) or Chartered Engineer registration.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams on large-scale projects.
• Strong knowledge of international maritime codes and UAE regulations.
• Ability to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in English; Arabic is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel to project sites and work on-site as required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the complete design lifecycle of marine and port infrastructure from concept to construction.
• Lead and mentor multidisciplinary engineering teams for effective collaboration and performance.
• Coordinate with clients, consultants, and regulatory authorities to capture requirements and obtain approvals.
• Develop and maintain project design schedules, budgets, and resource plans.
• Ensure design outputs comply with technical standards, safety, and environmental regulations.
• Review and approve design calculations, drawings, and specifications.
• Facilitate value engineering and risk mitigation strategies throughout the project.
• Prepare and present technical reports, progress updates, and design reviews to senior management.
• Support procurement and construction phases with design clarification and on-site assistance.
• Drive continuous improvement and adopt best practices in marine engineering design.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

English proficiency

Problem solving

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil, Marine, or Structural Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

STAAD

PLAXIS

BIM tools

Job description

Job Description

The Design Manager (Marine) will spearhead the engineering design of marine structures, port facilities, and coastal infrastructure for Abu Dhabi Ports. Reporting to the AE Maritime department, you will provide technical leadership from concept through construction, coordinate with clients and stakeholders, and guarantee that all deliverables meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and regulatory compliance while staying within budget and schedule constraints.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the complete design lifecycle of marine and port infrastructure projects, from concept to construction.
• Lead and mentor multidisciplinary engineering teams, ensuring effective collaboration and performance.
• Coordinate with clients, consultants, and regulatory authorities to capture requirements and obtain approvals.
• Develop and maintain project design schedules, budgets, and resource plans.
• Ensure all design outputs comply with technical standards, quality, safety, and environmental regulations.
• Review and approve design calculations, drawings, and specifications.
• Facilitate value engineering and risk mitigation strategies throughout the project.
• Prepare and present technical reports, progress updates, and design reviews to senior management.
• Support procurement and construction phases by providing design clarification and on-site assistance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and adopt best practices in marine engineering design.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Marine, or Structural Engineering (Master's preferred).
• Minimum 15 years of experience in marine and port infrastructure design, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Professional Engineer (PE) or Chartered Engineer registration.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary teams on large-scale projects.
• Strong knowledge of international maritime codes, standards, and local UAE regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in design software (e.g., AutoCAD, Civil 3D, STAAD, PLAXIS) and BIM tools.
• Fluent in English; Arabic language skills are an advantage.
• Willingness to travel to project sites and work on-site as required.