Senior Architectural Design Engineer

Confidential; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is seeking a Senior Architectural Design Engineer to lead contractor-side architectural review and construction-document coordination, ensuring design integrity, code compliance, and quality across complex building projects.

The role focuses on design review, shop drawings, site support, and multidisciplinary coordination with MEP and civil interfaces, using AutoCAD, Revit, and BIM tools. Fluency in English is mandatory.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or Architectural Engineering is mandatory.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is mandatory; Arabic preferred.
• 8+ years of relevant experience, including contractor-side design review and coordination.
• Valid Saudi Council of Engineers registration/classification for the position.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks and Autodesk Construction Cloud.

Responsibilities

• Review consultant and subcontractor architectural design packages at applicable stages.
• Verify compliance with design intent, codes, and standards; issue review comments.
• Coordinate architectural layouts, facades, fit-out, and landscape interfaces.
• Prepare and endorse shop drawings, submittals, and discipline calculations.
• Respond to RFIs, site queries, and design-change matters with escalation as needed.
• Support site execution, testing, commissioning, and handover activities.

Skills

English fluency

Multidisciplinary coordination

Technical judgment

Clear technical writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture or Architectural Engineering

SCE registration/classification

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit Architecture

Navisworks

Autodesk Construction Cloud

SketchUp

Lumion

Job description

Job Title: Senior Architectural Design Engineer

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Company: Confidential

Role Overview:

We are seeking a technically proficient Senior Architectural Design Engineer to lead contractor-side architectural review and construction-document coordination, including fit-out packages. The role ensures that architectural deliverables protect design intent, code compliance, quality, constructability, and multidisciplinary integration. This position plays a critical role in maintaining design integrity, supporting site execution, resolving technical challenges, and driving coordination across complex building projects.

Key Responsibilities:

Design Review & Technical Assurance

• Review consultant and subcontractor architectural design packages at applicable stages including drawings, calculations, specifications, schedules, reports, and design changes.
• Verify that architectural deliverables comply with the approved design intent, project requirements, applicable Saudi codes, authority requirements, and relevant international standards.
• Identify omissions, inconsistencies, constructability constraints, safety concerns, and technical risks, and issue clear, traceable review comments and recommendations.
• Review architectural layouts, details, facades, accessibility, fit-out packages, schedules, and landscape interfaces.
• Coordinate material samples, mock-ups, and visual/technical compliance with approved design intent and specifications.

Construction Deliverables & Site Support

• Prepare, review, or endorse architectural shop drawings, technical submittals, material submissions, method statements, and discipline calculations before external submission or site use.
• Respond to RFIs, technical queries, site clarification requests, and design-change matters within agreed priorities and escalation requirements.
• Conduct site visits, verify that execution reflects approved documents, and initiate correction or technical hold where work conflicts with codes, safety requirements, or design intent.
• Support testing, commissioning, as-built documentation, and handover activities relevant to the discipline.

Coordination, BIM & Interfaces

• Coordinate architectural requirements with structural, MEP, civil infrastructure, and construction interfaces as applicable.
• Review discipline models and clash reports, resolve assigned clashes, and ensure coordinated information is reflected consistently in drawings, models, and schedules.
• Participate in design, BIM, constructability, and technical coordination meetings; document decisions and close assigned actions.

Procurement, Value & Risk

• Provide technical evaluations of subcontractor and supplier proposals, compliance statements, substitutions, and material alternatives.
• Develop or assess value-engineering opportunities while protecting safety, performance, quality, maintainability, and contractual compliance.
• Maintain discipline risk, comment, RFI, and decision records sufficient for management reporting and auditability.

Technical Supervision & Improvement

• Provide day-to-day technical direction, work allocation, and quality review for the Architectural Draftsman.
• Contribute documented technical input to performance reviews, coaching, and capability-development plans for supervised staff.
• Support the Technical Design Manager in developing discipline standards, checklists, lessons learned, and practical engineering SOPs.

Decision Authority & Escalation:

• Endorse architectural deliverables for internal approval within assigned authority and documented checking procedures.
• Reject deficient discipline submissions and require correction before recommending external issue or site use.
• Request an immediate technical hold and escalate formal stop-work action when execution conflicts with approved documents, codes, safety requirements, or design intent.
• Recommend technical alternatives, substitutions, and value-engineering solutions; changes affecting the designer of record require the approved change and consultant-approval process.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or Architectural Engineering (mandatory).
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is mandatory. Arabic is preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience, including substantial contractor-side design review and multidisciplinary coordination on complex building projects.
• Valid Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) registration/classification appropriate to the position.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit Architecture, Navisworks, and Autodesk Construction Cloud. SketchUp/Lumion are advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of Saudi Building Code and applicable accessibility, fire-life-safety, and authority requirements.
• Experience with architectural design development, fit-out, finishes, facades, accessibility, and building-envelope interfaces.
• Proficiency in material schedules, mock-ups, samples, and architectural shop drawings.

Key Competencies:

• Technical judgment and disciplined checking.
• Constructability and risk awareness.
• Problem solving and timely decision support.
• Multidisciplinary coordination and stakeholder management.
• Clear technical writing and communication.
• Coaching, accountability, and attention to detail.