Materials Engineer

WSP; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 300,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking an experienced Materials Engineer to join our Construction Supervision team on a major Roads & Highways project in Riyadh. The role oversees all materials-related activities, ensuring compliance with specifications, standards, and contract requirements.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in roads/highways construction supervision, with a strong background in review, approval, testing, and QA of construction materials.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of materials engineering principles for roads/highways.
• Strong experience in QA/QC procedures for transportation projects.
• Proven ability to review and approve material submissions and specs.
• Thorough understanding of laboratory and field testing for road materials.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all materials engineering and QA activities across the project.
• Review and approve material submittals, specs, suppliers, and manufacturers per contract.
• Ensure materials comply with standards, specs, and authority requirements.
• Review mix designs for asphalt, concrete, and other road components.
• Oversee material testing by contractors and third-party labs.
• Monitor QA/QC to ensure compliance with ITPs.
• Review lab and field test reports and provide technical recommendations.
• Audit batching plants, asphalt plants, quarries, borrow pits, and material facilities.
• Evaluate material sources for project suitability.
• Coordinate RFIs, technical queries, material approvals, and method statements.
• Support Resident Engineer in resolving material non-conformances.
• Ensure compliance with Earthworks, subgrade, aggregates, concrete, cementitious, road marking, barriers, and drainage materials.

Skills

Materials engineering

Quality assurance

Review & approvals

Laboratory testing

Contract compliance

Education

Bachelor's in Civil Engineering

Master's in Materials Engineering

Job description

WSP is seeking an experienced Materials Engineer to join our Construction Supervision team on a major Roads & Highways infrastructure project. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing all materials-related activities, ensuring compliance with project specifications, quality standards, contract requirements, and industry best practices.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in roads and highways construction supervision projects and a strong technical background in the review, approval, testing, and quality assurance of construction materials. Candidates must have previously worked with leading engineering consultancy firms and demonstrate a proven track record on large-scale transportation infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage all materials engineering and quality assurance activities across the project.

Review and approve material submittals, technical specifications, suppliers, and manufacturers in accordance with contract requirements.

Ensure all construction materials comply with approved standards, project specifications, and relevant authority requirements.

Review and assess mix designs for asphalt, concrete, treated materials, and other road construction components.

Supervise material testing activities conducted by contractors and third-party laboratories.

Monitor quality control and quality assurance processes to ensure compliance with approved Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs).

Review laboratory and field test reports and provide technical recommendations.

Conduct audits and inspections of batching plants, asphalt plants, quarries, borrow areas, and material production facilities.

Evaluate sources of construction materials and verify their suitability for project use.

Review Requests for Information (RFIs), technical queries, material approvals, method statements, and contractor submissions.

Support the Resident Engineer and Project Management Team in resolving material-related non-conformances and quality issues.

Ensure compliance with contract specifications for:

Earthworks and fill materials

Subgrade materials

Aggregate materials

Concrete works

Cementitious materials

Road marking materials

Safety barrier materials

Drainage and utility materials

Investigate material failures and provide corrective actions and recommendations.

Prepare technical reports, quality assessments, non-conformance reports (NCRs), and material approval recommendations.

Coordinate with contractors, laboratories, suppliers, authorities, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Monitor compliance with project quality, environmental, health, and safety requirements.

Mentor and provide technical guidance to Materials Inspectors, Laboratory Technicians, and junior engineering staff.

Technical Requirements

• Extensive knowledge of materials engineering principles related to roads and highways construction.
• Strong experience in quality assurance and quality control procedures for transportation infrastructure projects.
• Proven expertise in reviewing and approving material submissions and technical specifications.
• Thorough understanding of laboratory and field testing requirements for road construction materials.
• Experience reviewing and assessing:
  • Asphalt mix designs
  • Concrete mix designs
  • Pavement materials
  • Earthworks materials
  • Aggregate sources
  • Quarry and borrow pit operations
  • Material compliance certifications
• Familiarity with international and regional standards including AASHTO, ASTM, BS EN, and relevant local authority specifications.
• Strong understanding of pavement materials, geotechnical materials, concrete technology, and asphalt technology.
• Ability to identify quality risks and recommend practical engineering solutions during construction.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an accredited university is mandatory.

Degree disciplines may include:

Civil Engineering

Construction Engineering

Or a related Engineering discipline

Master's Degree in Materials Engineering, Pavement Engineering, or related field is desirable.

Professional registration or chartership is advantageous.

Minimum 15 years of post-graduate professional experience.

Proven experience working for reputable engineering consultancy firms in construction supervision and/or design supervision environments.

Demonstrable experience on large-scale roads and highways construction supervision projects.

Experience managing laboratory testing, material approvals, quality assurance, and contractor compliance.

Previous GCC or Middle East project experience is highly desirable.

Strong technical expertise in construction materials and quality management.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Effective communication and report writing skills.

Ability to manage multiple stakeholders in a complex project environment.

Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities.

Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary project teams.

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