Chief Engineer à Émirats arabes unis

General Purpose

We are seeking a technically skilled Chief Engineer – Pools to lead the maintenance, compliance, and performance of all resort swimming pools, spas, and decorative water features. This role is critical to ensuring guest safety, water hygiene, and system reliability across diverse aquatic installations. The ideal candidate will combine practical engineering expertise with a deep understanding of water treatment systems, UAE health and safety codes, and international standards for public pool operation.

Systems Operation and Technical Oversight

• Oversee the daily operation, servicing, and inspection of all pools, spas, and water features, ensuring optimal functioning of pumps, filtration systems, heating, chlorination, and automated dosing equipment.
• Manage water quality standards through routine chemical testing (e.g., pH, chlorine, TDS, alkalinity) and timely adjustments, maintaining compliance with UAE regulations and international health codes.
• Monitor, calibrate, and troubleshoot pool chemical controllers, ensuring accurate dosing cycles and avoiding over- or under-treatment.
• Ensure efficient operation of filtration cycles, backwash routines, and energy conservation measures (e.g., pump scheduling, solar heating, variable-speed motors).
• Supervise cleaning procedures, including vacuuming, skimming, and filter maintenance, to ensure consistently clear and inviting water conditions.
• Maintain real-time records of chemical readings, incidents, and maintenance activities for auditing and regulatory review.
• Perform preventive maintenance on all pool plantroom equipment including filters, booster pumps, heaters, chlorinators, and UV or ozone systems.
• Respond rapidly to mechanical failures, chemical imbalances, or contamination events to restore normal operations while minimizing guest disruption.
• Ensure safe storage and proper handling of pool chemicals in line with MSDS protocols and resort policies.
• Support engineering initiatives to reduce water waste, optimize chemical usage, and contribute to broader resort sustainability targets.
  
  

Compliance and Health Safety Leadership

• Ensure all operations meet the UAE public pool code requirements including water testing, signage, barrier integrity, and emergency preparedness.
• Conduct daily inspections of pool infrastructure and features including tile conditions, drain covers, water depth markers, railings, ladders, and underwater lighting.
• Coordinate with external vendors for advanced testing, water balancing, or major repair works while ensuring adherence to resort standards and safety procedures.
• Lead incident response for pool-related emergencies including contamination, injury, or mechanical failure, initiating closures, treatment protocols, and escalation procedures.
• Maintain documentation to support Civil Defense and health department inspections, and close out any compliance gaps quickly and thoroughly.
  
  

Design Interface and Lifecycle Planning

• Liaise with the Facilities teams during upgrades or construction of new aquatic installations, providing technical input on system specifications and operational feasibility.
• Review equipment submittals, flow calculations, turnover rates, and control logic for new installations to ensure lifecycle operability.
• Propose CAPEX planning inputs based on condition assessments of pumps, filters, and control systems, with recommendations for refurbishment or modernization.
• Ensure proper commissioning and handover of newly installed aquatic systems, verifying performance benchmarks and documentation accuracy.
• Assess opportunities for system optimization through smart controls, real-time water quality monitoring, and automation of testing/dosing operations.
  
  

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain and regularly audit logs of water test results, equipment performance, preventive maintenance completion, incident reports, and safety inspections.
• Prepare weekly and monthly summary reports on pool condition, maintenance status, water quality, safety actions, and contractor activity.
• Develop and update SOPs for water testing, contamination response, backwashing, system shutdown/startup, and chemical handling.
• Support procurement by specifying equipment replacement needs and evaluating supplier proposals based on lifecycle cost and technical fit.
  
  

Team Guidance and Departmental Support

• Supervise a small team of pool technicians, providing daily direction, quality checks, and escalation support on technical tasks.
• Conduct regular briefings to share operating schedules, chemical targets, safety reminders, and shift responsibilities.
• Organize refresher training in areas such as water chemistry, hazard response, and pool system diagnostics to maintain staff competency.
• Coordinate work with other departments including Housekeeping, Recreation, Security, and Landscaping to ensure seamless operations around pool zones.
• Support departmental meetings and contribute insights into seasonal demand, workload planning, and engineering priorities.
  
  

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Building Services Engineering, or a related technical field. A relevant diploma with significant experience in aquatic system operations will also be considered.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in swimming pool engineering or facilities management, including 2+ years in a supervisory or team lead role.
• Background managing large aquatic complexes or multi-pool resorts preferred.
• Experience responding to health and safety inspections and working within highly visible guest areas.
  
  

Technical Knowledge

• Strong grasp of water chemistry, dosing systems, filtration cycles, heat recovery, and system hydraulics.
• In-depth familiarity with UAE public pool regulations and international safety and hygiene standards.
• Certified Pool Operator (CPO) certification or equivalent is highly preferred.
• Knowledge of safety data sheets (SDS), chemical compatibility, and risk mitigation in chemical storage.
  
  

IT and Language Skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) for logging and reporting.
• Familiar with Building Management Systems (BMS) and pool automation platforms.
• Experience with maintenance management systems (e.g., CAFM, CMMS) is an asset.
• Excellent spoken and written English; Arabic or other languages a plus.
  
  

Other Requirements

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills under pressure.
• Flexible and responsive to operational needs including emergency callouts.