Senior Tunneling Lead — Middle East Projects

WSP in the Middle East; Dubai; On-site; AED 450,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking an experienced Tunnels Lead to join our Middle East Transport & Infrastructure team, based in the UAE. This strategic role drives tunnel engineering excellence, oversees complex underground projects, and leads specialist design development across the GCC and broader region.

You will combine deep technical expertise with strong project delivery and people leadership, mentoring multidisciplinary teams and expanding WSP's tunnelling capabilities throughout the region.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Master’s Degree in Tunnel Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or a relevant field would be advantageous.
• Minimum 15+ years of professional experience in tunnel and underground infrastructure engineering.
• Proven experience leading the design and delivery of major tunnelling projects, preferably within rail, metro, highway, utility, or underground infrastructure sectors.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams and large-scale project delivery.
• Experience working on international projects within the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia, or North America is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of both conventional and mechanized tunnelling methodologies.
• Experience in TBM tunnels, NATM/SEM tunnelling methods, cut-and-cover tunnel design, underground station and shaft design, geotechnical and structural analysis for underground works, ground-structure interaction, temporary works and construction methodologies, tunnel safety and risk management.
• Design software and analytical tools relevant to tunnel engineering and underground structures.
• Proven ability to lead high-performing technical teams.
• Strong project management and commercial awareness.
• Excellent client management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Demonstrated ability to secure and deliver major engineering commissions.
• Strong communication, presentation, and report-writing capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership: Serve as regional technical authority for tunnelling and underground projects; lead design and review of TBM tunnels, IMT tunnels, tunnel shafts, underground stations, cut-and-cover structures, retaining systems; provide guidance through feasibility to construction support; ensure compliance with standards and regulations; drive innovation and risk management; engage with global tunnels community.
• Project Delivery: Lead delivery of complex tunnel projects in the Middle East; manage scope, programme, quality, resources, and commercial performance; coordinate multidisciplinary teams; ensure on-time, on-budget delivery and high quality; support construction supervision with specialist design advice.
• Discipline Leadership: Develop and drive tunnelling growth strategy; lead and grow the Tunnelling discipline; mentor engineers across offices; support recruitment, performance development, and capability building; establish technical excellence frameworks and best practices; foster collaboration and high performance.
• Business Development: Support regional growth and strategic planning; engage with clients, contractors, and stakeholders; participate in bids, proposals, and technical workshops; identify market opportunities and expand tunnelling portfolio.

Skills

Tunnel engineering

Leadership

Project delivery

Geotechnical

Stakeholder management

TBM tunnelling

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s in Civil/Geotechnical/Structural engineering

Master’s in Tunnel Engineering

Tools

TBM design software

Finite element analysis

Geotechnical design tools

Job description

WSP is seeking an experienced Tunnels Lead to join our Middle East Transport & Infrastructure team, based in the UAE. This strategic role drives tunnel engineering excellence, oversees complex underground projects, and leads specialist design development across the GCC and broader region.

You will combine deep technical expertise with strong project delivery and people leadership, mentoring multidisciplinary teams and expanding WSP's tunnelling capabilities throughout the region.