Senior Architect - Design

Big Fish Recruitment; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Architect in Abu Dhabi. This role involves leading architectural design throughout the project lifecycle and ensuring compliance with UAE regulations. The ideal candidate has 5-8 years of experience and strong knowledge of local authority processes. Responsibilities include managing design consultants, preparing architectural deliverables, and coordinating with internal teams. This position offers a chance to work on various high-profile projects.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of experience in architectural design, preferably with consultancy experience.
• Proven experience in concept and design development stages.
• Strong knowledge of Abu Dhabi and Dubai authority approval processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute to architectural design across all project stages.
• Manage and coordinate external design consultants.
• Prepare, review, and validate architectural deliverables.

Skills

Architectural design

Regulations compliance

Project management

Team coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or Master's degree

Job description

Our client, a leading real estate developer, is seeking a Senior Architect with strong experience across the full design lifecycle, from concept through design development and authority approvals. The ideal candidate should have a solid understanding of UAE authority requirements, particularly in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and the ability to ensure compliance with local regulations and developer standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute to architectural design across all project stages, including concept, schematic, design development, and authority submission
• Manage and coordinate external design consultants to ensure alignment with project vision, budgets, timelines, and developer standards
• Prepare, review, and validate architectural deliverables to ensure compliance with local authority regulations
• Support and manage the design approval process with relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
• Ensure designs meet developer guidelines, quality benchmarks, and technical requirements
• Coordinate with internal teams including development, project management, engineering, and commercial teams
• Review design changes and value engineering proposals while maintaining design intent
• Support construction documentation reviews and provide architectural input during the construction phase when required

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or Masters Degree
• Minimum 5-8 years of experience in architectural design, preferably with consultancy experience handling full design lifecycle projects
• Proven experience in concept and design development stages for residential, mixed-use, commercial, or large-scale developments
• Strong knowledge of Abu Dhabi and Dubai authority approval processes and regulations