Associate Principal Architect

WS Atkins & Partners Overseas Engineering Consultants; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 300,000 - 540,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tax-free salary

Life insurance

Medical insurance

Annual leave balance

Company gratuity scheme

Discretionary bonus program

Annual flight contribution

Transportation & housing allowances

Employee Wellbeing Program

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis seeks an Associate Principal Architect to lead multiple complex architectural projects in the Riyadh region, delivering high-quality design and ensuring programme and budget compliance. The role requires chartered status and 15+ years of global studio experience, with strong leadership across multidisciplinary teams.

You will guide design documentation, BIM workflows, and client engagement, while representing the firm in professional settings and industry events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture from an accredited institution.
• Chartered Architect status (RIBA, AIA, or equivalent) preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in a recognised global architecture studio, including high-rise, mixed-use commercial assets, hospitality or healthcare.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple complex architectural projects, ensuring design quality, programme delivery, and compliance with budgetary and regulatory requirements.
• Direct and mentor project teams of architects and engineers, fostering collaboration and professional development.
• Champion innovative and contextually relevant architectural solutions, maintaining high design standards throughout all project stages.
• Act as a primary client contact for assigned projects, building and maintaining strong relationships and managing expectations.

Skills

Project leadership

Budget management

Client facing

BIM processes

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture

Tools

Navisworks

Revisto

Rhino

SketchUp

Job description

Job Description Overview

As part of our regional growth plans, we are seeking A highly motivated Associate Principal Architect to join our Buildings Design team in KSA within the Buildings & Places Market. This role requires an organised and driven chartered professional who can lead complex architectural projects from inception to IFC documentation, deliver creative and technical design excellence, whilst take accountability for project utilisation and budgetary constraints. The role will require the individual to lead multiple project teams and contribute to project client relationship management. Senior Associates also play a visible role in representing the firm within professional organisations and industry events.

Project Leadership

Lead multiple complex architectural projects, ensuring design quality, programme delivery, and compliance with budgetary and regulatory requirements

Team Coordination

Direct and mentor project teams of architects and engineers, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development

Design Excellence

Champion innovative and contextually relevant architectural solutions, maintaining high design standards throughout all project stages

Client Engagement

Act as a primary client contact for assigned projects, building and maintaining strong relationships, managing expectations, and resolving challenges

Strategic Input

Support architectural bid preparation, strategic planning, and resource forecasting, contributing to the firm’s growth and competitiveness

Governance & Compliance

Ensure project processes align with company policies, governance frameworks, and industry standards.

Mentorship

Provide guidance and technical leadership to less experienced members, encouraging growth and career development.

Collaboration

Work closely with multi-disciplinary teams (engineering, cost, PM etc.) to ensure integrated and efficient delivery

Representation

Represent the practice in industry events, conferences, and professional organisations (e.g RIBA, AIA)

About you

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture from an accredited institution. Experience: Minimum of 15 years of experience in a recognised global architecture studio, including experience with high-rise, mixed-use commercial assets, and/or hospitality or healthcare. Professional Accreditation: Chartered Architect status (RIBA, AIA, or equivalent) is preferred. Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in design documentation using Navisworks, Revisto and a strong understanding of BIM processes, combined with a technical ability to resolve details at 1:5 Creative Proficiency: Proficiency in 3D software such as Rhino, Sketchup and traditional sketch/ detail skills Professional Skills: Strong project-lead skills, with experience in utilisation, budgetary control, quality assurance and client facing leadership This role offers an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic architecture studio, ensuring operational excellence and contributing to the success of landmark projects in the region.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. This includes:

• Tax-free salary.
• Life insurance coverage.
• Medical insurance.
• Annual leave balance.
• Company gratuity scheme.
• Discretionary bonus program.
• Annual flight contribution.
• Transportation & housing allowances.
• Employee Wellbeing Program: 24/7 access to specialists in finance, legal matters, family care, personal health, fitness, and nutrition.

Seize every opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your expertise, and be recognized for the impact you make.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. Worker Type Employee Job Type Regular At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences. Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital. News and information are available at Atkinsrealis or follow us on LinkedIn.