Design Manager (Marine)

WSP; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in Abu Dhabi seeks a Design Manager (Marine) to lead the engineering design of marine structures, port facilities and coastal infrastructure for Abu Dhabi Ports. You will provide technical leadership from concept through construction, coordinating with clients and stakeholders while ensuring quality, safety and regulatory compliance.

This role requires directing multidisciplinary teams, managing design schedules and budgets, reviewing calculations, and supporting procurement and on-site

Qualifications

• 15+ years in marine/port design with 5+ years in leadership.
• PE or Chartered Engineer registration.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams on large projects.
• Knowledge of international maritime codes and UAE regs.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, STAAD, PLAXIS and BIM.
• Fluent English; Arabic a plus.
• Willingness to travel and on-site work.

Responsibilities

• Oversee full design lifecycle of marine and port infrastructure from concept to construction.
• Lead and mentor multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Coordinate with clients, consultants, and regulators to obtain approvals.
• Develop and maintain design schedules, budgets, and resources.
• Ensure design outputs comply with standards, safety, and environmental regulations.
• Review design calculations, drawings, and specs.
• Support procurement and construction with design clarifications.
• Drive continuous improvement and best practices in marine design.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Mentoring teams

Communication

Travel on-site

Arabic language (a plus)

Fluent in English

Education

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

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

STAAD

PLAXIS

BIM tools

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.