Senior Mechanical Engineer – District Cooling Systems

Dalkia Middle East; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 360,000 - 680,000; Full time

Job summary

Dalkia Middle East in Abu Dhabi seeks a Senior Mechanical Engineer specializing in District Cooling Systems to lead major projects from design review through commissioning.

The role demands 8+ years in mechanical engineering, with at least 5 years in DCS, and strong AutoCAD/Civil 3D/BIM skills. You will manage subcontractors, budgets and schedules while ensuring code compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering required; Master’s or PMP a plus.

Responsibilities

• Review and approve detailed mechanical design drawings, hydraulic calculations, chiller configurations, pump sizing and TES systems.
• Lead site engineering teams, supervise subcontractors, and enforce budget controls on central cooling plants and ETS rooms.
• Manage procurement, variation requests, and on-site QA/QC to ensure conformance with Abu Dhabi DoE standards and codes.
• Coordinate with planning teams to maintain mechanical construction schedules and resolve RFIs and design clashes.

Skills

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

BIM/Revit

Subcontractor management

Budget control

Project scheduling

Pipe sizing

HVAC system knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree or PMP certification

Tools

Pipe-Flo

KYPIPE

HAP

Job description

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Employment Type: Full-time

Arabic proficiency is an advantage

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Engineer specializing in District Cooling Systems (DCS) to join our engineering and construction team in Abu Dhabi. The successful candidate will oversee the full lifecycle of major district cooling projects—from design review and project planning through to installation, budget management, and commissioning.

In this role, you will lead the engineering review for all subcontractor mechanical submissions, directly manage subcontractors on-site, and enforce strict budget controls across central chiller plants, distribution networks, and Energy Transfer Stations (ETS) in accordance with Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) standards, international codes, and project specifications.

Key Responsibilities

1. Design Review & Technical Assurance

• Review and approve detailed mechanical design drawings, hydraulic calculations, chiller plant configurations, pump sizing, thermal energy storage (TES) systems, and piping distribution networks.
• Ensure all designs comply with Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) standards, local municipality regulations, ASHRAE, ASME, and district cooling guidelines.
• Conduct constructability reviews and value-engineering assessments on tender and construction packages to drive efficiency and cost performance.

2. Construction Supervision, Subcontractor Management & Budget Control

• Lead site engineering teams in monitoring construction activities for central cooling plants, ETS rooms, and underground pre-insulated piping networks.
• Lead and direct the engineering review for all mechanical technical submissions from subcontractors—including shop drawings, material submittals, Method Statements, and QA/QC plans—to guarantee strict adherence to project specifications and local codes.
• Manage and supervise subcontractors day-to-day on-site, ensuring work productivity, safety compliance, quality standards, and adherence to approved execution plans.
• Exercise strict financial control over project budgets by monitoring mechanical material procurement, tracking quantity variations, evaluating subcontractor progress payment applications, and managing variation requests to prevent cost overruns.
• Resolve technical site queries (RFIs), design clashes, and site variation requests promptly to keep construction moving efficiently without impacting project budget or timelines.

3. Project Planning & Scheduling

• Collaborate with project controls and planning teams to develop, track, and maintain mechanical construction schedules.
• Identify potential bottlenecks in procurement, site access, or installation sequencing and implement effective mitigation strategies.
• Monitor progress milestones and ensure timely delivery of key mechanical packages.

4. Technical Drafting & Coordination

• Utilize AutoCAD to review, modify, and verify shop drawings, piping layouts, isometric views, and plant room arrangements.
• Coordinate cross-functional MEP overlays to resolve spatial clashes between underground utilities, electrical lines, and district cooling pipelines.
• Oversee testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB), pressure testing, chemical flushing, and integrated system commissioning of chiller plants and ETS installations.
• Review as-built drawings, operation and maintenance (O&M) manuals, and hand-over documentation for client acceptance.

Qualifications & Key Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university. (Master’s degree or PMP certification is a plus).
• Experience: 8+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience, with a minimum of 5 years dedicated to District Cooling Systems (DCS) construction, design review, and subcontractor/budget management in the UAE or Middle East.
• Technical & Commercial Skills:
• Proficiency in AutoCAD (Civil 3D or BIM/Revit experience is highly desirable).
• Strong expertise in evaluating mechanical technical submittals, shop drawings, and variations from subcontractors.
• Solid commercial acumen with proven experience in monitoring site installation costs, verifying subcontractor claims, and controlling mechanical packages budgets.
• Comprehensive technical knowledge of centrifugal chillers, cooling towers, variable primary/secondary pumping systems, TES tanks, plate heat exchangers, and pre-insulated steel/HDPE piping networks.
• Familiarity with hydraulic modeling software (e.g., Pipe-Flo, KYPIPE) and HVAC load estimation software (e.g., HAP).
• Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of Abu Dhabi DoE regulations, ADM rules, Estidama Pearl Rating System, and relevant international codes (ASHRAE, ASME B31.3/B31.9, NFPA).
• Soft Skills: Strong subcontractor leadership, commercial acumen, client-facing communication, contract management, and problem-solving abilities.
• Languages: Fluent in English (written and spoken);