Principal Engineer - Highways

AECOM; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 450,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Paid time off

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a highly experienced Principal Highway Engineer to join our dynamic Dubai Highway Team. The successful candidate will play a key technical and leadership role in the planning and delivery of major highway and road infrastructure projects in the UAE.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams, ensure technical excellence, and support business growth by fostering client relationships. The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of relevant experience and a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of relevant experience in highway engineering and design.
• Chartered / Professional Engineer status preferred.
• Proven track record in leading multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and delivery of highway infrastructure projects.
• Provide technical leadership for geometric design.
• Engage with clients and attend project meetings.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers.
• Support business development efforts and manage client relationships.

Skills

Highway engineering

Project management

Technical report writing

Stakeholder management

Design solutions

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering

Master’s Degree in related discipline

Tools

OpenRoads

Civil 3D

Infraworks

Job description

• Legal Entity: AECOM MIDDLE EAST LIMITED DUBAI BRANCH
• Business Line: Transportation
• Work Location Model: On-Site
• Operating Group: International
• Primary Location: AE - Dubai, UAE - UBora Tower

Job Description

We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Highway Engineer to join our dynamic Dubai HighwayTeam. The successful candidate will play a key technical and leadership role in the planning, design, and delivery of major highway and road infrastructure projects in the UAE and the wider Middle East region.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams, guide the development of design solutions, ensure technical excellence, and support the growth of our Transportation business by fostering client relationships and mentoring future engineering talent.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of highway and road infrastructure projects, including expressways, urban roads, interchanges, junction improvements, and active mobility corridors.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight for geometric design, horizontal and vertical alignments, cross-sections, and associated highway elements in accordance with UAE and international standards (AASHTO, DM, RTA, AASHTO Green Book).
• Review, coordinate, and integrate designs with other disciplines (structures, drainage, utilities, traffic, and environmental teams).
• Act as the technical authority for complex engineering challenges, ensuring designs meet safety, sustainability, and constructability requirements.
• Prepare and review technical reports, feasibility studies, design documents, specifications, and tender documents.
• Engage with clients (such as RTA, ADM, and other regional authorities), attend project meetings, and provide expert technical input.
• Contribute to project planning, resource allocation, and quality assurance to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers and provide knowledge sharing across the Transportation team.
• Support business development efforts including proposal preparation, presentations, and client relationship management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline (Master’s preferred).
• 15+ years of relevant experience in highway engineering and design, preferably with exposure to major UAE or GCC infrastructure projects.
• Chartered / Professional Engineer status (CEng, PE, or equivalent) is strongly preferred.
• Proven track record in leading multidisciplinary teams in the delivery of highway and road infrastructure projects.
• Comprehensive knowledge of regional authority standards (RTA, DM, ADM) and international highway design codes (AASHTO, DMRB, etc.).
• Strong understanding of road safety engineering, sustainable transport solutions, and digital delivery tools (OpenRoads, Civil 3D, Infraworks, etc.).
• Excellent technical report writing, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proactive, collaborative, and able to work in a fast-paced consultancy environment.

Additional Information

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well‑being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.