About the Role
Join a dynamic team as a Manager - FLS Expert MEP Design where you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Fire & Life Safety (FLS) engineering across city-wide master-planning, infrastructure, and asset development projects. You will provide specialist fire engineering, design review, and advisory services, guiding a multidisciplinary team and ensuring compliance with various fire safety standards. This role is integral to the Master Developer Unit (MDU) Fire & Life Safety team, emphasizing leadership, innovation, and collaboration.
Ready to apply for roles like this?
Unlock the company name and direct application link. Subscribers get instant access to fresh jobs across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, many with visa support.
Unlock employer & apply directly
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead the development and assurance of Fire & Life Safety design strategies across complex buildings, infrastructure, public realms, transport interfaces, and large-scale master-planned developments.
- Act as a senior FLS engineering authority, providing direction on code compliance, design adequacy, fire strategy, life safety risk, and buildability.
- Review and challenge FLS design submissions, drawings, reports, and calculations from consultants, ensuring early identification and resolution of issues with robust engineering solutions.
- Develop and assess fire engineering solutions for complex or non-standard designs, including alternative solutions, smoke control, evacuation, compartmentation, firefighting access, and firefighting provisions.
- Advise on Saudi Building Code, Saudi Civil Defence requirements, NFPA standards, and relevant international best practices across planning, design, and construction stages.
- Coordinate with architects, MEP, infrastructure, mobility, operations, and delivery teams to ensure FLS requirements are integrated early in the design process.
- Support authority engagement and third-party FLS reviews by preparing clear engineering positions and defending design intent as needed.
- Provide engineering input on fire protection systems including detection and alarm, sprinklers, suppression systems, smoke management, fire water infrastructure, hydrants, fire pumps, and passive fire protection.
- Identify design risks, non-compliance issues, and approval blockers, providing practical measures for mitigation to ensure safety and regulatory compliance.
- Lead FLS engineering workshops, peer reviews, and design coordination sessions, ensuring decisions are recorded and followed through to closure.
- Support the improvement of FLS standards, technical guidelines, review processes, and lessons learned across the program.
- Mentor junior engineers, contributing to their development and supporting the wider FLS team with engineering judgment and quality reviews.
What Required Skills You'll Bring
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Fire Engineering is preferred; alternatively, a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or another related discipline from a recognized university.
- 10+ years of experience in Fire & Life Safety engineering and design across large-scale mixed-use, infrastructure, hospitality, entertainment, transportation, or giga-project developments.
- Demonstrated ability in developing, reviewing, and coordinating Fire & Life Safety strategies throughout all project stages including master-planning, concept, schematic, detailed design, and construction support.
- Strong expertise in means of egress, smoke management, firefighting access, fire water infrastructure, fire alarm and suppression systems, and passive fire protection systems.
- Experience in performance-based fire engineering design, including smoke modeling, evacuation analysis, and complex code compliance assessments.
- Comprehensive understanding of Saudi Building Code (SBC), NFPA standards, IBC, IFC, Saudi Civil Defence requirements, and relevant international fire engineering standards and best practices.
- Proven experience coordinating with Lead Design Consultants (LDCs), third-party FLS consultants, contractors, authorities, and multidisciplinary engineering teams across planning, design, and construction stages.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience in preparing technical reports, presentations, and engineering assessments.
- GCC and giga-project experience is highly desirable.
What Desired Skills You'll Bring
- Membership of the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE) or equivalent professional body.
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent professional registration.
- Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) or NFPA Certifications.
- Performance-Based Fire Engineering, CFD Modelling, or Smoke Control related certifications/training.
- PMP or equivalent project/design management certification is desirable for multidisciplinary coordination roles.
Benefits
- An inclusive company culture that values diversity and encourages personal and professional growth.
- Opportunities for continuous learning and career advancement.
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- A commitment to employee wellbeing and work-life balance.
The company is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity in the workplace, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
