Senior Architect

KBR Inc.; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

KBR Inc. in Abudhabi seeks a Senior Architect to lead architectural design across industrial and infrastructure projects from Concept through Detailed Design and As-Built documentation.

You will coordinate interfaces with civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and process disciplines, ensure compliance with international codes, apply BIM/ISO 19650 standards, and mentor junior architects. The role emphasizes sustainable design and QA reviews for Middle East EPC projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture or equivalent.
• 10+ years of architectural design experience in EPC, industrial, infrastructure or oil & gas sectors.
• Experience delivering multidisciplinary projects in the Middle East.
• Registered Architect or equivalent accreditation desirable.
• Proven leadership of architectural teams and multi-office coordination.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and deliver architectural design solutions across project phases.
• Produce technical reports, briefs, specifications, drawings and design deliverables.
• Coordinate interfaces with civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and process teams.

Skills

Architectural design

BIM coordination

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Design coordination

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Architecture

Master's Degree preferred

Registered Architect

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Autodesk Civil 3D

Navisworks

BIM Collaborate Pro

Autodesk Construction Cloud

Autodesk Tandem

Autodesk Forma

Job description

Senior Architect

Title: Senior Architect

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Architect
Company: KBR
Location: Abudhabi
Employment Type: Full-time, Contract

Required Nationals Any

About Company

"Belong, Connect, Grow, with KBR!

The KBR team delivers future-forward science, technology and engineering solutions and mission-critical services that help governments and companies around the world accomplish their most important objectives, while also helping achieve their sustainability goals.

KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions provides holistic and value-added solutions across the entire asset life cycle. These include world-class licensed process technologies, differentiated advisory services, deep technical domain expertise, energy transition solutions, high-end design and engineering capabilities, and smart solutions to optimize planned and operating assets."

Senior Architect

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and deliver architectural design solutions for a wide range of industrial and infrastructure projects throughout all project phases, including Concept, FEED, Detailed Design, IFC, and As-Built documentation.
• Produce high-quality technical reports, design briefs, specifications, shop drawings, schedules, material selections, contract documentation, and design deliverables.
• Coordinate architectural interfaces with civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, process, and other engineering disciplines to ensure fully integrated design solutions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable international codes and standards, client requirements, company procedures, and project specifications.
• Review architectural designs for technical quality, constructability, cost-effectiveness, maintainability, and sustainability.
• Conduct design reviews, site visits, inspections, and technical assessments to verify compliance with design intent and quality standards.
• Lead and coordinate architectural activities across multidisciplinary project teams, including Global Delivery Centres where applicable.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior architects and designers, promoting continuous professional development.
• Support multidisciplinary projects by developing Civil, Structural and Infrastructure drawings.
• Prepare and deliver technical presentations, reports, studies, and documentation for clients and project stakeholders.
• Support proposal development by preparing technical inputs, architectural methodologies, man-hour estimates, and commercial documentation.
• Ensure architectural deliverables are completed within approved budgets, schedules, and quality requirements.
• Implement and maintain BIM execution strategies in accordance with ISO 19650 and project-specific BIM requirements.
• Ensure compliance with the KBR Quality Management System (QMS), Health, Safety, Security and Environmental (HSSE) procedures, and applicable corporate policies.
• Review shop drawings, material submittals, contractor documentation, and construction deliverables to ensure compliance with approved designs.
• Attend client meetings, design workshops, technical reviews, and project progress meetings.

Job Specific Knowledge

• Extensive experience delivering architectural design for industrial, infrastructure, oil & gas, energy, and EPC projects.
• Strong understanding of architectural design principles, building systems, sustainable design practices, and industrial facility planning.
• Experience throughout the complete project lifecycle, including Concept Design, FEED, Detailed Design, Procurement Support, Construction Support, and Close-out.
• Thorough knowledge of British Standards (BS), Eurocodes, International Building Code (IBC), NFPA, ISO standards, and applicable international architectural practices.
• Experience working with government authorities, developers, EPC contractors, and international clients.
• Strong knowledge of Building Information Modelling (BIM) processes in accordance with ISO 19650.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams across multiple offices and Global Delivery Centres.
• Strong understanding of design quality assurance, constructability, value engineering, and risk management.
• Excellent communication, leadership, stakeholder management, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to sustainable, innovative, and technically sound architectural solutions.
• Experience working in the Middle East on industrial infrastructure and oil & gas projects.
• Experience with ports, harbours, marine facilities, utilities, and industrial infrastructure projects is advantageous.
• Knowledge of sustainable design principles and green building certification systems, including LEED, Estidama Pearl Rating System, and other applicable sustainability standards.

Digital Engineering & AI Competencies

• Lead the adoption of AI-enabled architectural design workflows across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Review and validate AI-generated design outputs for technical accuracy, constructability, compliance, and quality.
• Integrate AI technologies into BIM execution plans, digital engineering processes, and project delivery workflows.
• Apply AI tools to automate repetitive design tasks, improve documentation quality, optimize design solutions, and support decision-making.
• Utilize AI for design optimization, code compliance research, risk identification, clash analysis, and project planning.
• Collaborate with Digital Engineering and BIM teams to implement AI-enabled solutions across EPC projects.
• Mentor project teams in the responsible, secure, and effective use of AI technologies.
• Promote continuous improvement through digital innovation, automation, and emerging AI technologies.

Software Proficiency

• Autodesk Revit
• AutoCAD
• Autodesk Civil 3D (coordination)
• Navisworks Manage
• BIM Collaborate Pro
• Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC)
• Autodesk Tandem
• Autodesk Forma

Visualization

• 3ds Max
• Rhino
• Enscape
• Twinmotion
• Lumion
• D5 Render

Documentation & Graphics

• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Bluebeam Revu
• Microsoft Office Suite

AI & Digital Productivity

• Microsoft Copilot
• ChatGPT (OpenAI)
• Adobe Firefly
• Midjourney (where permitted)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture (Master's Degree preferred).
• Registered Architect or equivalent professional accreditation is desirable.
• Minimum 10+ years of architectural design experience within EPC, industrial, infrastructure, or oil & gas projects.
• Proven experience delivering multidisciplinary projects in the Middle East.
• Experience with large-scale industrial, infrastructure, ports, marine, utilities, and mixed-use developments is preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing architectural teams and coordinating multidisciplinary engineering activities.