Planning Engineer - RTA Project Controls

AECOM Middle East Ltd; Dubai; On-site; AED 201,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM Middle East Ltd invites an experienced Planning Engineer to support RTA Project Controls in Dubai. The role focuses on developing and maintaining detailed project schedules, coordinating with authorities, and delivering recovery plans for complex civil infrastructure programs.

The ideal candidate has 7–12 years of planning experience, advanced Primavera P6 skills, and a proven track record in delay analysis, EOT submissions, and KPI-driven reporting for major community transportation

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or related field with professional certification.
• Experience with RTA projects and approvals is highly valuable.
• Strong analytical and communication skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed baseline, revised, and recovery programmes using Primavera P6.
• Maintain project schedules in accordance with RTA specifications and contractual requirements.
• Review scheduling logic, activity relationships, durations, milestones, and sequencing for realism.
• Monitor progress against baselines and identify schedule variances.
• Analyse critical path changes and determine activities affecting milestones.
• Perform schedule risk analysis to identify threats to project completion.
• Prepare and evaluate Extension of Time claims per contract procedures.
• Coordinate planning activities with RTA approval procedures and external authorities.
• Prepare weekly and monthly progress reports and look-ahead programmes.

Skills

Primavera P6

Project scheduling

RTA planning

Baseline programmes

Recovery planning

Time Impact Analysis

Delay analysis

EOT claims

Stakeholder coordination

Procurement tracking

Long-lead items

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

Professional Engineer certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Planning Engineer - RTA Project Controls Job Snapshot Role: Planning Engineer - RTA Project Controls Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Industry: Civil Engineering Function: Project-Program Management Experience: 7-12 years Job Type: Full-time Position Overview Planning Engineer - RTA Project Controls in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a Civil Engineering opportunity with AECOM for an experienced planning professional specializing in project scheduling, RTA compliance, delay analysis, Extension of Time claims, recovery planning, and infrastructure project controls. The role supports complex community infrastructure and transportation projects by developing and maintaining schedules, monitoring critical path performance, coordinating authority approvals, and providing structured planning intelligence for project decision-making.

Job Details Country: United Arab Emirates City: Dubai Industry: Civil Engineering Function: Project-Program Management Salary: 18000-26000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer. Gender: Any Candidate Nationality: Any Job Type: Full-time

Key Responsibilities

• Develop detailed baseline, revised, and recovery programmes using Primavera P6 or equivalent planning software.
• Maintain project schedules in accordance with RTA specifications, standard work breakdown structures, and contractual requirements.
• Review scheduling logic, activity relationships, durations, milestones, and sequencing to ensure programmes remain realistic and technically sound.
• Monitor actual progress against approved project baselines and identify emerging schedule variances.
• Analyse critical path changes and determine activities affecting contractual milestones.
• Perform schedule risk analysis to identify threats to programme completion.
• Conduct time impact analysis for changes, delays, and other events affecting project delivery.
• Coordinate planning activities with RTA approval procedures and project-specific authority requirements.
• Integrate NOCs, permits, traffic diversion approvals, and other external approvals into project programmes.
• Monitor interim milestones and sectional handover requirements.
• Incorporate traffic staging and construction phasing requirements into planning activities.
• Review contractor programmes, schedule updates, and planning submissions for compliance with contractual milestones.
• Assess contractor method statements where sequencing or planning implications affect programme delivery.
• Evaluate programme performance against agreed KPIs and phasing requirements.
• Identify unrealistic assumptions, weak logic, or insufficient recovery measures within contractor schedules.
• Prepare project master schedules and maintain clear visibility of major delivery milestones.
• Develop short-term look-ahead programmes to support site execution and coordination.
• Prepare weekly progress reports covering schedule status, critical activities, delays, and required actions.
• Produce monthly planning reports with clear analysis of trends, risks, and forecast completion.
• Prepare and evaluate Extension of Time claims in accordance with contractual procedures.
• Develop detailed planning narratives explaining delay events, chronology, schedule effect, and supporting evidence.
• Assess contractor EOT submissions and determine whether claimed impacts are supported by programme data.
• Maintain accurate documentation supporting delay and claims analysis.
• Develop recovery programmes for activities that fall behind schedule.
• Recommend mitigation strategies to regain lost time and protect key milestones.
• Track procurement activities and long-lead items that could affect construction sequencing.
• Identify procurement bottlenecks before they create downstream schedule delays.
• Coordinate with construction teams to confirm site progress and realistic activity durations.
• Work with design teams to incorporate engineering deliverables and approval dependencies into programme updates.
• Coordinate with commercial teams where schedule changes affect contractual or financial matters.
• Work with procurement teams to align material and equipment delivery requirements with construction priorities.
• Participate in weekly and monthly planning meetings with clients, contractors, consultants, and project stakeholders.
• Present schedule performance and recovery recommendations clearly to project leadership.
• Provide strategic planning input to the Project Manager to support timely decision-making.
• Maintain accurate planning records and ensure schedule documentation is organised and traceable.
• Use Microsoft Office and project management tools to support reporting, analysis, and stakeholder communication.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying more effective scheduling, reporting, and planning practices.

Ideal Profile

Candidates should hold a Bachelor 's Degree in Civil Engineering or a related discipline. Applicants should have approximately 7-12 years of professional experience in planning engineering, with demonstrated exposure to community infrastructure projects and claims management. A Professional Engineering certification is required. Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 or equivalent project planning software is essential. The successful candidate should demonstrate strong experience in schedule risk analysis, time impact analysis, critical path assessment, and recovery planning. Detailed knowledge of Extension of Time claim preparation and evaluation is required. Experience supporting RTA projects or working within RTA approval procedures is highly valuable, particularly where projects involve traffic staging, phased construction, sectional handovers, and authority approvals. Candidates should understand procurement tracking, long-lead item monitoring, schedule bottleneck identification, and coordination across construction, design, commercial, and procurement teams. Strong analytical ability, attention to detail, and structured problem-solving are important because the role requires detailed interpretation of schedule data and contractual requirements. Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills are required to coordinate effectively across multiple project teams and seniority levels.

Skills Set

Primavera P6 Project planning Project scheduling RTA planning requirements Baseline programmes Recovery programmes Revised programmes Critical path analysis Schedule risk analysis Time impact analysis Extension of Time claims EOT evaluation Delay analysis Claims preparation Progress monitoring Variance analysis Master schedules Look-ahead programmes Weekly progress reporting Monthly progress reporting RTA approvals NOC coordination Permit tracking Traffic diversion approvals Traffic staging Construction phasing Sectional handover Procurement tracking Long-lead item management Schedule mitigation Recovery planning Contractor programme review KPI monitoring Project controls Stakeholder coordination Microsoft Office Infrastructure projects Community infrastructure Project documentation

Why Join Us

Dubai 's ongoing investment in roads, communities, utilities, and transportation infrastructure creates strong demand for planning professionals who understand both project controls and RTA delivery requirements. This position offers substantial exposure to schedule management, delay analysis, claims evaluation, authority coordination, and recovery planning across complex infrastructure projects. The role also provides a strong platform for progression into Senior Planning Engineer, Planning Manager, Project Controls Manager, or broader programme management positions by developing expertise across contractual planning, construction sequencing, stakeholder coordination, and strategic project reporting.

About the Company

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting and professional services organization delivering engineering, planning, design, environmental, programme, project controls, and construction management services. Its multidisciplinary teams support transportation, buildings, water, energy, and infrastructure projects, helping clients manage complex programmes through technical expertise, structured planning, and coordinated project delivery.