Principal Materials Engineer

Job Purpose

• The Principal Materials Engineer is responsible for leading and managing the materials engineering function across municipal transportation infrastructure projects, including roads, highways, bridges, storm water drainage systems, utility corridors, and associated public realm developments. The role provides expert technical leadership in material selection, testing, quality assurance, pavement engineering, asset sustainability, and compliance with municipal, national, and international engineering standards.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead the development and implementation of materials engineering policies, standards, specifications, and procedures for municipal transportation and storm water infrastructure projects.
• Act as the subject matter expert (SME) for pavement materials, geotechnical materials, concrete, asphalt, aggregates, soil stabilization, drainage infrastructure materials, and emerging construction technologies.
• Provide strategic technical guidance on material selection, life-cycle performance, sustainability, and resilience requirements.
• Review and approve engineering materials specifications, technical submissions, material design mixes, and compliance documentation.
  
  

Roadworks & Pavement Engineering

• Oversee evaluation and approval of asphalt mixtures, pavement layers, aggregates, subgrade treatments, and road construction materials.
• Review pavement design parameters and material performance criteria for roads, highways, intersections, tunnels, and transportation infrastructure projects.
• Lead investigations into pavement failures, material deficiencies, and performance issues, recommending corrective measures.
• Monitor pavement performance and recommend innovative solutions to enhance durability and lifecycle value.
  
  

Storm Water Infrastructure Materials

• Provide technical oversight on materials used in storm water drainage systems, culverts, channels, pipelines, manholes, pumping stations, retention systems, and associated structures.
• Review and approve concrete mix designs, precast products, coatings, waterproofing systems, pipe materials, geosynthetics, and corrosion protection measures.
• Ensure materials used within drainage assets comply with design, hydraulic, environmental, and durability requirements.
• Support storm water asset management initiatives through lifecycle material performance assessments.
  
  

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

• Establish and maintain QA/QC frameworks, laboratory testing requirements, and material inspection procedures.
• Review laboratory testing programs and validate compliance with approved specifications and standards.
• Audit contractors, consultants, suppliers, and testing laboratories to ensure quality compliance.
• Lead investigations into material non-conformances and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Monitor construction quality and material performance through inspections, testing, and technical audits.
  
  

Project Management & Delivery Support

• Provide materials engineering support throughout project planning, design, procurement, construction, and asset handover phases.
• Review contractor and consultant submissions related to materials approvals, testing reports, method statements, and quality documentation.
• Participate in design review committees and technical evaluation panels.
• Assess value engineering proposals and alternative materials to optimize project outcomes.
• Support procurement activities related to engineering materials and construction products.
  
  

Research, Innovation & Sustainability

• Evaluate emerging materials, technologies, and international best practices applicable to transportation and storm water infrastructure.
• Promote sustainable construction materials and circular economy initiatives.
• Lead research programs related to pavement preservation, recycled materials, low-carbon concrete, sustainable drainage materials, and infrastructure resilience.
• Develop technical recommendations to improve asset performance and reduce lifecycle costs.
  
  

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with municipality regulations, transportation authorities' standards, environmental requirements, and relevant engineering codes.
• Monitor industry standards and regulations affecting materials engineering practices.
• Develop and update technical guidelines, specifications, and material approval processes.
• Support internal and external audits related to quality and engineering compliance.
  
  

Stakeholder Management

• Liaise with government entities, consultants, contractors, utility providers, manufacturers, suppliers, and regulatory authorities.
• Represent the municipality in technical committees, industry working groups, and engineering forums.
• Provide expert advice and technical presentations to senior management and project stakeholders.
• Resolve complex technical disputes relating to material quality, performance, and compliance.
  
  

Leadership & People Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop materials engineers, inspectors, laboratory personnel, and technical specialists.
• Review team performance and establish development plans.
• Promote knowledge sharing and technical excellence across the organization.
• Build organizational capability in materials engineering and infrastructure asset management.
  
  

Qualifications

Education

Essential

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Materials Engineering, Construction Engineering, or related discipline.
  
  

Preferred

• Master's Degree in Materials Engineering, Pavement Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related field.
  
  

Professional Certifications

Preferably One Or More Of The Following:

• Professional Engineer (PE) or Chartered Engineer (CEng).
• PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification.
• Certified Pavement Engineer or equivalent specialization.
• Relevant material testing, asphalt, concrete, or quality management certifications.
• Membership with recognized engineering bodies.
  
  

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 12-15 years of progressive experience in materials engineering.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior or leadership capacity.
• Extensive experience in municipal roads, highways, transportation infrastructure, and storm water drainage projects.
• Proven experience managing material approvals, laboratory testing programs, quality systems, and engineering compliance.
• Experience working with government, municipality, transportation, or infrastructure authorities.
  
  

Preferred

• Experience in large-scale infrastructure and urban development projects.
• Experience with asset management and lifecycle performance evaluation.
• GCC or Middle East municipal infrastructure experience.
  
  

Knowledge

• Road and pavement engineering principles.
• Asphalt and concrete materials technology.
• Geotechnical and earthwork materials.
• Storm water drainage infrastructure materials.
• Material durability and lifecycle assessment.
• Construction quality management systems.
• Infrastructure asset management principles.
• Sustainable and innovative construction materials.
• Municipal engineering standards and regulations.
• Risk management and engineering governance.
  
  

Technical Competencies

• Materials Engineering Expertise
• Pavement Engineering
• Storm Water Infrastructure Materials
• QA/QC Management
• Laboratory Testing & Evaluation
• Failure Analysis & Root Cause Investigation
• Engineering Design Review
• Specification Development
• Construction Supervision
• Sustainability & Innovation
• Asset Performance Assessment
• Technical Report Writing
• Data Analysis & Performance Monitoring
• Regulatory Compliance
• Contract Administration
  
  

KPIs

• Percentage of material approvals processed within SLA.
• Compliance rate with approved material specifications.
• Number of material-related non-conformances identified and resolved.
• Pavement performance and defect reduction rates.
• Storm water infrastructure material compliance rate.
• Reduction in construction quality issues and rework costs.
• Successful implementation of innovative and sustainable materials.
• Percentage of projects delivered with full QA/QC compliance.
• Technical audit findings closed within target timelines.
• Staff development and competency improvement metrics.
  
  

Job Challenges

The Principal Materials Engineer Operates In a Highly Technical And Regulatory Environment Where The Long-term Performance Of Transportation And Storm Water Assets Depends On Sound Engineering Decisions. Key Challenges Include:

• Ensuring the selection and approval of materials that balance quality, durability, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness while meeting strict municipal standards and project budgets.
• Managing complex materials engineering requirements across multiple concurrent road, transportation, and storm water infrastructure projects with varying technical specifications.
• Addressing premature pavement deterioration, drainage infrastructure failures, and material performance issues under harsh climatic and environmental conditions.
• Maintaining consistent quality assurance and quality control standards across contractors, consultants, suppliers, and testing laboratories.
• Evaluating and approving innovative construction materials and technologies while managing associated technical, operational, and regulatory risks.
• Ensuring compliance with evolving local, national, and international engineering standards, environmental regulations, and sustainability requirements.
• Investigating and resolving complex material non-conformances, disputes, and failures that may impact project schedules, budgets, and asset performance.
• Balancing the need for rapid project delivery with rigorous testing, verification, and quality control processes.
• Managing stakeholder expectations while providing independent technical recommendations based on engineering best practices.
• Supporting the municipality's objectives for asset resilience, climate adaptation, and infrastructure sustainability throughout the asset lifecycle.
• Ensuring material suitability for storm water systems exposed to hydraulic loading, aggressive soil conditions, groundwater intrusion, corrosion risks, and long-term environmental exposure.
• Leading the adoption of recycled, low-carbon, and sustainable materials while maintaining required safety and performance standards.
• Developing and retaining highly specialized technical expertise within the materials engineering function.

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