Director of Engineering

AL MARINA INVESTMENT - SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP L.L.C.; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

AL MARINA INVESTMENT - SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP L.L.C. is seeking a Director of Engineering to lead maintenance facilities and technical operations across our portfolio including hospitality, real estate, retail, and mall assets in the UAE.

The role focuses on reliability, safety, efficiency and lifecycle management of buildings, MEP systems, and infrastructure. Strong leadership, budgeting, and stakeholder skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline with exposure to building services.
• Experience 10–15 years in engineering/technical management, ideally director level.
• Experience across hospitality, real estate, retail, malls or asset-intensive sectors.
• Experience managing multi-property operations and coordinating with external contractors.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the group’s engineering maintenance and technical management strategy.
• Oversee operation, maintenance and performance of MEP systems, fire and life safety, and supporting infrastructure.
• Provide technical oversight across hotels, real estate properties, retail outlets, malls and facilities.
• Manage CAPEX projects, renewals, refurbishments and major engineering initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with UAE regulations, codes, and group policies; monitor HSE and risks.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Budgeting & cost control

Problem-solving

Project management

Communication

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Building Services Engineering

Tools

BMS

HVAC systems

Electrical systems

Plumbing systems

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and technically strong Director of Engineering to lead and oversee engineering maintenance facilities and technical operations across the Group s diverse portfolio including hospitality real estate retail and mall operations The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the reliability safety efficiency and optimal performance of buildings infrastructure MEP systems equipment and other physical assets across the Group The role will establish engineering standards preventive maintenance strategies technical policies and asset management practices while supporting property developments renovations and major refurbishment projects

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the Group s engineering maintenance facilities and technical management strategy
• Establish engineering standards policies procedures preventive maintenance programs and technical guidelines across the Group
• Oversee the operation maintenance and performance of MEP systems HVAC electrical plumbing fire and life safety systems lifts generators BMS and other critical building systems
• Provide technical oversight across hotels real estate properties retail outlets malls and other Group facilities
• Develop and monitor preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maximize asset reliability and minimize downtime
• Establish asset management and lifecycle strategies for major equipment building systems and technical infrastructure
• Conduct regular technical inspections and assessments of properties facilities equipment and infrastructure
• Identify engineering risks maintenance gaps energy inefficiencies and potential equipment failures and implement appropriate corrective actions
• Oversee CAPEX renovation refurbishment replacement and major engineering projects ensuring technical specifications quality budget and timelines are achieved
• Review engineering designs drawings specifications BOQs technical submissions and contractor proposals where required
• Provide technical input for property developments renovations refurbishments and major asset improvement projects
• Ensure proper commissioning testing documentation and handover of engineering systems and assets
• Manage and evaluate external contractors consultants service providers and maintenance companies
• Establish service standards and monitor contractor performance against SLAs KPIs and contractual requirements
• Ensure compliance with applicable UAE regulations authority requirements building codes fire and life safety standards and Group policies
• Monitor engineering-related health safety environmental and operational risks in coordination with HSE and other relevant departments
• Develop strategies to improve energy efficiency utility consumption sustainability and operational cost efficiency
• Review utility consumption and identify opportunities for cost reduction and resource optimization
• Develop and monitor engineering budgets CAPEX requirements maintenance costs and lifecycle expenditure
• Review technical procurement requirements and support the evaluation and selection of engineering equipment materials and service providers
• Establish engineering reporting systems covering maintenance breakdowns energy consumption asset condition CAPEX compliance and key technical KPIs
• Investigate major equipment failures recurring technical issues and operational incidents and implement root-cause and corrective action plans
• Ensure proper maintenance records equipment history warranties certificates technical drawings and asset documentation are maintained
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to Engineering Managers Chief Engineers Facilities teams and property-level engineering departments
• Develop engineering manpower plans competency requirements training programs and succession plans
• Promote best practices standardization innovation and continuous improvement across the Group s engineering operations
• Support Management with technical assessments feasibility studies property due diligence and special engineering projects
• Perform other engineering technical and strategic responsibilities as assigned by Management

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Building Services Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• Minimum 10–15 years of progressive engineering and technical management experience, preferably at Director or senior management level
• Strong experience in hospitality, real estate, retail, malls, facilities management, or other asset-intensive industries
• Experience managing engineering operations across multiple properties or business units is highly preferred
• Strong knowledge of MEP systems, HVAC, electrical systems, plumbing, fire and life safety, BMS, building infrastructure, and facilities management
• Strong understanding of preventive and predictive maintenance, asset management, CAPEX, lifecycle costing, and energy management
• Experience managing contractors, consultants, technical service providers, and major engineering projects
• Knowledge of UAE regulatory requirements, authority approvals, building codes, and relevant technical standards
• Strong financial and commercial understanding, including engineering budgets, CAPEX, OPEX, procurement, and cost optimization
• Professional engineering certification or membership is an advantage
• Strong leadership, strategic planning, analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Willingness to travel between Group properties and sites across the UAE

Preferred Profile

• The ideal candidate will be a strategic and hands-on engineering leader with strong multi-property and multi-industry experience
• The candidate should have the ability to establish consistent engineering standards across a diversified Group while balancing asset reliability, safety, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, sustainability, and cost control
• Experience overseeing hotel engineering operations, commercial properties, malls, retail facilities, major refurbishment projects, and centralized technical services will be highly advantageous
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills are essential, together with the ability to manage technical teams, contractors, consultants, and multiple concurrent projects