Transport Drainage Principal Engineer

Description

Zutari: Co-creating an engineered impact.

Zutari is a well-established, management-owned engineering firm with over 90 years experience. As human-centred engineering consultants and advisors, we are trusted by our clients, business partners, communities and other stakeholders across the Middle East & Africa.

We co-create engineering solutions that have a positive impact and improve peoples lives. Zutari values inclusion and recognises the importance of a diverse, talented workforce, believing that people need other people to succeed

What kind of talent do we pursue?

We employ people with the right attitude and a positive mindset, who are motivated by doing the right thing, getting things done and share a sense of urgency. People who have an impact in our teams and broader community. People who think differently and connect with those around them to co-create new opportunities and leave a meaningful legacy.

Role Overview:

Zutari is seeking a Transport Drainage Principal Engineer to support our Transport Infrastructure portfolio, including at grade roads, highways, bridges, tunnels and marine interfaces. The role focuses on transport-related surface drainage systems and interfaces, working closely with road, bridge, and traffic teams, while remaining clearly distinct from area-wide stormwater and wet utilities networks.

This position will play a key role in design development, design review, authority coordination, technical assurance, and stakeholder engagement across major infrastructure projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate highway and transport infrastructure drainage design, including carriageway drainage, kerb and gully systems, channels, culverts, and local outfalls.
• Provide drainage input for roads, interchanges, bridges, tunnels, marine interfaces, and ROW corridors.
• Coordinate drainage interfaces with road geometry, pavement design, structures, and traffic systems.
• Support design reviews, independent checks, and technical assurance activities.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and coordination with local authorities and clients, including RTA, Dubai Municipality (DM), DEWA, ADM and other relevant approving entities.
• Represent the Transport Infrastructure team in authority meetings, technical workshops, and coordination sessions.
• Liaise with internal multidisciplinary teams to resolve design, constructability, and interface constraints.
• Support proposals and tenders by contributing to methodology, scope definition, stakeholder strategy, and level of effort for design of transport drainage components.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to junior engineers within the Transport Infrastructure unit.
• Ensure drainage solutions comply with project requirements, local standards, and authority approval processes.
  
  
  

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (Master’s or PhD advantageous).
• Professional registration with an internationally recognised institution (e.g. PE or Chartered status) is preferable.
• Minimum 12 years’ experience in transport and infrastructure projects.
• Proven experience in highway / transport drainage design and coordination.
• Demonstrated stakeholder and authority engagement experience with Dubai and Abu Dhabi clients, including RTA, ADM, DM, DEWA, and similar entities.
• Strong understanding of UAE authority standards, approval pathways, and coordination requirements.
• Experience working on major infrastructure projects within the UAE or wider Middle East.
• Ability to confidently lead discussions with clients, authorities, and internal stakeholders.
  
  
  

• Civil 3D, OpenRoads, or equivalent road design platforms.
• Drainage and hydraulic analysis tools relevant to transport infrastructure.
• Strong capability in interpreting and coordinating multidisciplinary design information.