Opportunities in United Arab Emirates

The Senior Highway Design Engineer leads the technical delivery of highway design packages across all project stages, providing engineering leadership, multidisciplinary coordination, mentoring of junior staff, and direct client engagement. The role is responsible for ensuring high-quality design solutions that satisfy client requirements while maintaining programme, budget, and technical excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead the geometric and detailed design of major highway infrastructure projects.
• Develop innovative engineering solutions for complex transportation challenges.
• Review and approve highway design calculations, drawings, reports, and specifications.
• Lead design reviews, interdisciplinary coordination, and technical workshops.
• Resolve complex engineering issues throughout project delivery.
• Lead Value Engineering studies and design optimisation exercises.
• Ensure compliance with RTA, Dubai Municipality, AASHTO and international design standards.
• Review temporary traffic management and construction staging proposals.
• Provide technical support during construction including RFIs, NCRs, design revisions and engineering assessments.

Project Management Support

• Plan and manage assigned design packages.
• Monitor project schedules and resource allocation.
• Coordinate internal and external design interfaces.
• Identify project risks and develop mitigation measures.
• Support project managers in commercial and programme reporting.

Client Management

• Act as technical point of contact for clients.
• Attend client meetings and technical presentations.
• Respond to authority review comments.
• Support authority approvals and stakeholder coordination.

People Leadership

• Mentor Highway Design Engineers and Graduate Engineers.
• Review junior engineers' work prior to submission.
• Support technical development and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to staff performance reviews and development planning.

Quality and Governance

• Ensure compliance with AECOM Quality Management System.
• Lead independent design checks.
• Promote continuous improvement and best practices.
• Ensure lessons learned are incorporated into future projects.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering.

Master's degree is desirable.

Experience

• 8–12 years of highway design experience.
• Extensive experience delivering major highway projects.
• Strong UAE experience.
• Experience with RTA infrastructure projects is highly desirable.

Technical Expertise

• Highway geometric design
• Junction and interchange design
• Corridor modelling
• Earthworks optimisation
• Road safety engineering
• Utility coordination
• Construction staging
• Design management
• Value Engineering
• Design risk management

Software Proficiency

• Bentley OpenRoads Designer
• Civil 3D
• MicroStation
• AutoCAD
• ProjectWise
• Bluebeam
• Microsoft Office

Experience with BIM collaboration environments is highly desirable.

Knowledge

• RTA Road Design Manual
• Dubai Municipality standards
• AASHTO
• Local authority approval processes
• Highway BIM standards
• Construction methodologies
• Design management principles

Leadership Competencies

• Technical leadership
• Client relationship management
• Decision making
• Mentoring and coaching
• Communication and presentation
• Commercial awareness
• Risk management
• Stakeholder engagement

Key Performance Indicators

• Technical quality of deliverables
• Project programme performance
• Budget performance
• Client satisfaction
• Successful authority approvals
• Team development and mentoring
• Design innovation
• Quality compliance
• Resource utilization

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.