Senior Mechanical Engineer (HVAC & Plumbing)

Position Summary:

The Senior Mechanical Engineer is responsible for the technical management, operation, maintenance, inspection, troubleshooting, and performance of all mechanical and associated MEP systems across the AL Qana mixed-use development.

The role requires strong hands-on experience in HVAC, district cooling, plumbing, drainage, pumps, mechanical equipment, tenant/retail fit-out, and planned preventive maintenance (PPM). The position will provide technical leadership to the site maintenance team and coordinate with tenants, consultants, contractors, specialist service providers, and authorities to ensure safe, reliable, efficient, and uninterrupted operation of the development.

The successful candidate will take ownership of mechanical engineering issues, particularly tenant cooling problems, district cooling interfaces, HVAC performance, heat-load verification, plumbing and drainage issues, fit-out reviews, breakdowns, technical submissions, and maintenance activities.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Mechanical Engineering & HVAC

• Manage and monitor HVAC, district cooling, pumps, plumbing, drainage, and mechanical systems.
• Troubleshoot technical issues, identify root causes, and implement practical solutions.
• Investigate tenant cooling complaints, including chilled-water flow, temperature, pressure, controls, equipment performance, and capacity.
• Verify tenant cooling requirements through heat-load calculations and system capacity assessments.
• Review mechanical calculations, shop drawings, technical submissions, method statements, and material submittals.
• Monitor equipment condition and recommend repairs, replacement, or performance improvements.

2. District Cooling & Tenant Fit-Out

• Manage the interface between district cooling, building systems, and tenant installations.
• Review tenant/retail mechanical fit-out drawings for compliance with project requirements and applicable standards.
• Review chilled-water connections, HVAC equipment, controls, metering, ventilation, plumbing, and drainage provisions.
• Coordinate inspection, testing, commissioning, and handover of tenant mechanical works.
• Identify design/installation issues and ensure timely corrective action.

3. Plumbing & Drainage

• Inspect and troubleshoot water supply, sanitary, drainage, pumps, sump systems, and related mechanical installations.
• Review plumbing/drainage layouts, manhole details, pipe sizing, levels, gradients, and site works.
• Investigate leakage, blockage, pressure, pump, and recurring drainage issues.
• Ensure works comply with approved drawings, specifications, authority requirements, and applicable codes.

4. PPM & Reactive Maintenance

• Develop, monitor, and control the PPM programme for HVAC, district cooling, pumps, plumbing, drainage, and mechanical assets.
• Ensure PPM is completed on schedule and in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and approved procedures.
• Monitor CMMS/work orders, overdue tasks, equipment history, inspections, and maintenance records.
• Review service reports, checklists, readings, test results, and close-out documentation.
• Manage breakdowns and corrective maintenance through effective diagnosis, root-cause analysis, and permanent corrective action.
• Identify recurring failures and recommend engineering improvements or equipment replacement.
• Coordinate planned maintenance and shutdowns with tenants to minimize operational disruption.

5. Site & Contractor Management

• Supervise mechanical works for compliance with approved drawings, specifications, HSE, quality requirements, and method statements.
• Manage specialist contractors and service providers for maintenance, testing, commissioning, and repairs.
• Review technical proposals, quotations, workmanship, testing results, and completion documents.
• Coordinate permits, access, isolations, shutdowns, and works in live operational areas.
• Conduct regular site inspections and maintenance audits.

6. Compliance, Reporting & Coordination

• Ensure compliance with UAE authority requirements, applicable codes/standards, project specifications, manufacturer recommendations, and HSE procedures.
• Support statutory inspections, testing, certification, authority approvals, and audits.
• Maintain asset registers, PPM records, inspection reports, breakdown history, and equipment documentation.
• Report PPM status, overdue works, breakdowns, recurring issues, risks, and contractor performance to management.
• Coordinate with tenants, consultants, contractors, service providers, and other MEP disciplines to resolve technical issues.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.

• Minimum 8–12 years of relevant experience, preferably in facilities management, commercial, retail, hospitality, or mixed-use developments.

• Strong experience in HVAC, district cooling, chilled-water systems, plumbing, drainage, pumps, and mechanical equipment.

• Proven experience in PPM, reactive maintenance, breakdown management, contractor supervision, and asset condition assessment.

• Experience in tenant/retail fit-out, heat-load verification, MEP/shop drawing review, and technical submissions.

• Experience working in live operational environments with multiple tenants.

• Good knowledge of UAE authority requirements, applicable codes, HSE requirements, and manufacturer standards.

• Proficiency in AutoCAD and CMMS/facilities management systems.

• Strong troubleshooting, communication, coordination, reporting, and decision-making skills.