Senior Engineer - Plant and Machinery

Sobha Constructions; Dubai; On-site; AED 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Sobha Constructions in Dubai is seeking a Senior Engineer - Plant & Machinery to ensure reliable operation and continuous improvement of plant equipment. You will lead maintenance planning, supervise technicians, and coordinate with Operations to align asset performance with production goals.

The role requires strong mechanical expertise, hands-on leadership, and experience with CMMS, RCA, and capital projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• 8–12 years of experience in plant maintenance, machinery engineering, or industrial operations.
• Proven experience in managing maintenance operations, equipment reliability, and capital projects within industrial/manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical systems, rotating equipment, pumps, compressors, conveyors, and other plant machinery.
• Experience with preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance practices.
• Familiarity with CMMS, maintenance planning tools, and asset management systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversee maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of all plant machinery and mechanical equipment.
• Ensure optimal performance, reliability, and availability of plant assets to support uninterrupted operations.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve preventive and predictive maintenance programs for critical equipment.
• Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) for equipment failures and recurring issues, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Monitor equipment performance and recommend upgrades or modifications to improve reliability and efficiency.
• Lead machinery installation, commissioning, upgrade, replacement, and modernization projects.
• Develop project plans, schedules, budgets, and resource requirements to ensure successful project delivery.
• Coordinate with Operations, Engineering, Procurement, and external vendors to ensure smooth project execution.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on time, within budget, and in accordance with technical specifications.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment performance, reduce downtime, and optimize maintenance costs.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, asset utilization, and operational efficiency.
• Implement best practices in reliability engineering, maintenance management, and asset lifecycle management.
• Analyze maintenance data and performance trends to support informed decision-making and process improvements.

Skills

Maintenance planning

Reliability engineering

Team leadership

Root cause analysis

CMMS

Capital projects

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CMMS

Job description

The Senior Engineer - Plant & Machinery is responsible for ensuring the reliable operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of plant machinery and equipment. The role requires strong technical expertise in mechanical systems, project management capabilities, and leadership skills to drive operational efficiency, equipment reliability, safety compliance, and team performance.

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance & Equipment Reliability

• Oversee the maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of all plant machinery and mechanical equipment.
• Ensure optimal performance, reliability, and availability of plant assets to support uninterrupted operations.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve preventive and predictive maintenance programs for critical equipment.
• Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) for equipment failures and recurring issues, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Monitor equipment performance and recommend upgrades or modifications to improve reliability and efficiency.

Project Management

• Lead machinery installation, commissioning, upgrade, replacement, and modernization projects.
• Develop project plans, schedules, budgets, and resource requirements to ensure successful project delivery.
• Coordinate with Operations, Engineering, Procurement, and external vendors to ensure smooth project execution.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on time, within budget, and in accordance with technical specifications.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Identify opportunities to improve equipment performance, reduce downtime, and optimize maintenance costs.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, asset utilization, and operational efficiency.
• Implement best practices in reliability engineering, maintenance management, and asset lifecycle management.
• Analyze maintenance data and performance trends to support informed decision-making and process improvements.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety regulations, company policies, and maintenance procedures.
• Verify that plant machinery operates within established safety, environmental, and operational standards.
• Lead machinery-related risk assessments, audits, inspections, and safety reviews.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure adherence to safe work practices across maintenance activities.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop engineers, supervisors, and technicians to build a high-performing maintenance team.
• Provide technical guidance and support to resolve complex equipment issues.
• Foster a collaborative work environment that encourages innovation, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning.
• Work closely with production and operations teams to align equipment capabilities with production requirements and business objectives.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of maintenance activities, equipment repairs, service histories, and asset performance.
• Prepare and present regular reports on equipment reliability, downtime, maintenance costs, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Ensure proper documentation of machinery manuals, technical specifications, maintenance procedures, and upgrade records.
• Utilize CMMS and other maintenance management systems to track and optimize maintenance activities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum 8-12 years of experience in plant maintenance, machinery engineering, or industrial operations.
• Proven experience in managing maintenance operations, equipment reliability, and capital projects within industrial or manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical systems, rotating equipment, pumps, compressors, conveyors, and other plant machinery.
• Experience with preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance practices.
• Familiarity with CMMS, maintenance planning tools, and asset management systems.