Head of Civil Engineering

Lifestyle Housing; Chennai District; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Lifestyle Housing in Chennai seeks a Head of Engineering to lead the engineering function across residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects, guiding planning, design, execution, and delivery with a focus on quality and safety.

You will mentor engineering managers and teams, drive value engineering and process improvements, manage budgets, ensure regulatory compliance, and coordinate with clients, architects, and contractors to achieve on-time, within-budget project outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering is mandatory.
• Master's degree in Structural Engineering, Construction Management, or MBA preferred.
• Professional certifications such as PMP or RICS are an added advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Engineering department across multiple projects.
• Develop engineering strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Mentor and develop engineering managers and technical teams.
• Drive innovation, value engineering, and process improvements.
• Oversee project planning, design reviews, execution, and commissioning.
• Ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
• Coordinate with Architects, Consultants, Contractors, and Project Management teams.
• Monitor progress and resolve technical challenges proactively.
• Review drawings and ensure compliance with codes and standards.
• Implement engineering best practices across projects.
• Evaluate new technologies and construction methods.

Skills

Construction management

Project leadership

Budgeting & cost control

Contract administration

Vendor management

Leadership & team development

Education

Bachelor's in Civil Engineering

Master's in Structural Engineering or Construction Management or MBA

PMP / RICS certification

Tools

AutoCAD

MS Project

Microsoft Office Suite

BIM/Revit

Job description

The Head of Engineering is responsible for leading the engineering function, ensuring the successful planning, design, execution, and delivery of residential, commercial, or mixed-use construction projects. The role oversees engineering teams, project coordination, quality, safety, budgeting, and compliance while driving innovation and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Engineering department across multiple projects.
• Develop engineering strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Mentor and develop engineering managers and technical teams.
• Drive innovation, value engineering, and process improvements.

Project Planning & Execution

• Oversee project planning, design reviews, execution, and commissioning.
• Ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
• Coordinate with Architects, Consultants, Contractors, and Project Management teams.
• Monitor project progress and resolve technical challenges proactively.
• Review structural, architectural, MEP, and infrastructure drawings.
• Ensure compliance with local building codes, statutory regulations, and engineering standards.
• Implement engineering best practices across all projects.
• Evaluate new technologies, construction methodologies, and materials.

Budget & Cost Control

• Prepare and monitor engineering budgets.
• Optimize project costs through value engineering initiatives.
• Review contractor estimates, BOQs, and technical specifications.
• Support procurement in vendor evaluation and technical approvals.

Quality & Safety

• Ensure adherence to quality management systems.
• Monitor compliance with safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct technical audits and quality inspections.
• Minimize engineering risks through effective planning and controls.

Stakeholder Management

• Liaise with clients, consultants, government authorities, and internal departments.
• Present project updates and engineering reports to senior management.
• Coordinate with Sales, CRM, Finance, Procurement, and Legal teams.

Team Development

• Recruit, train, and mentor engineering professionals.
• Conduct performance reviews and succession planning.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance engineering culture.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering (Mandatory).
• Master's Degree in Structural Engineering, Construction Management, or MBA (Preferred).
• Professional certifications such as PMP, RICS, or equivalent are an added advantage.

Experience

• 20-25 years of experience in real estate, construction, handling MSB, and large extent of development.
• Minimum 8-10 years in a senior engineering leadership role.
• Proven experience managing large residential and commercial projects.

Required Skills

• Strong knowledge of construction engineering and project management.
• Expertise in structural, civil, MEP, and finishing works.
• Budgeting, cost control, and value engineering.
• Contract administration and vendor management.
• Knowledge of statutory approvals and compliance.
• Strong leadership, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Software Knowledge

• AutoCAD
• MS Project
• Microsoft Office Suite
• BIM/Revit (Preferred)

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Project completion within timelines.
• Budget adherence and cost optimization.
• Quality compliance and defect reduction.
• Safety compliance.
• Client and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Team performance and retention.

Preferred Industry

• Infrastructure Projects
• EPC Organizations

This role is ideal for an experienced engineering leader capable of managing multiple high-value projects while ensuring technical excellence, operational efficiency, and strategic growth.