Design Manager/Engineering Lead (Tracks), Dammam

SYSTRA is one of the world's leading engineering and consultancy groups specialising in public transport and sustainable mobility. With over 10,300 employees, SYSTRA's mission is to design safe and sustainable transport solutions to bring people together, develop social inclusion and facilitate access to employment, education and leisure throughout the world.

For 65 years, the Group has been working alongside cities and regions to contribute to their development by creating, improving and modernising their infrastructure and transport systems, throughout the life cycle of their projects. SYSTRA is involved from the earliest stages of design through to the testing, deployment and maintenance phases. The company provides all its services in over 80 countries worldwide and generates 74% of its turnover internationally. With its new services, SYSTRA supports its clients and partners in their digital, ecological and energy transition, in order to invent the mobility of tomorrow.

The Design Lead will lead the integrated project management and consultancy (PMC) scope for rail and infrastructure programs supporting the Client. The role will manage a team of signaling, telecoms, civil, structural and geotechnical engineer working as Client representative answering Technical Queries, Requests for Information and providing technical governance, compliance and assurance support for the East West Rail line.. This role oversees multi-disciplinary design management, design assurance, and interface control from concept through detailed design and construction support, ensuring alignment with client requirements, KSA standards, and international best practice

The ideal candidate will come originally from a Track / Permanent Way background before managing full rail systems engineering teams. 

• Establish and enforce design standards, technical criteria, and compliance with KSA codes, MOMRAH, MOT, and relevant rail standards (e.g., EN, AREMA where applicable), including client-specific requirements.
• Manage multi-disciplinary design teams (track, civil/structural, geotechnical, drainage, utilities, architectural, MEP interfaces, systems), ensuring integration and timely delivery.
• Provide subject matter expertise in permanent way engineering (alignment geometry, trackform selection, rail systems interfaces, ballast/non-ballast solutions, turnouts, transition zones).
• Oversee civil/structural scope for rail structures (viaducts, bridges, culverts, retaining walls, stations sub/ superstructure interfaces, depots, and ancillary structures), including design calculations, specifications, and constructability.
• Direct geotechnical interpretations and earthworks strategies relevant to trackbed design, settlement control, and durability in arid environments.

• Appreciation of the telecoms, signaling and electrical power rail systems disciplines and their interfaces is required. 

  
  
  
• Manage interfaces across civil works, track, signaling, telecoms, power/traction, rolling stock, and O&M inputs; maintain interface control documents and close-out logs.
• Coordinate corridor interfaces (roads, utilities, third parties, land acquisition) and station/yard integration.
• Drive BIM and data integration (CDE management, model federation, clash detection) to support design coordination and delivery.
• Develop and implement the Design Management Plan (DMP), Design Assurance Plan (DAP), and Verification & Validation (V&V) strategies.
• Lead hazard identification, HAZID/HAZOP sessions, constructability reviews, RAMS inputs, and design risk registers.
• Ensure robust change control, technical query (TQ/RFI) management, and conformity with project KPIs, ISO processes, and PMC quality standards.
• Act as the primary client-facing design lead, providing clear status reporting, issue resolution, and decision facilitation.
• Engage with authorities and utilities (KSA ministries, municipalities, utility providers) to secure NOCs, permits, and approvals.
• Support procurement (scope, specifications, employer’s requirements) and tender evaluations for design and D&B packages.
• Provide technical leadership during construction support, responding to site queries, managing shop drawing reviews, and addressing non-conformances.
• Oversee design changes and value engineering, balancing cost, schedule, quality, and lifecycle performance.
• Contribute to testing and commissioning readiness from a design perspective, ensuring handover documentation and as-builts are complete and accurate

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.

• Minimum 15 years of experience with a strong emphasis on trackwork within rail/transportation infrastructure and minimum of 5 years experience leading multidisciplinary railway design teams.

  
  
  
• Demonstrable PMC or client-side program/portfolio design management experience on large, complex projects.
• Proven Middle East experience with a minimum of several years delivering projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; strong knowledge of local regulations and authority processes is essential.
• Chartered or Professional Engineer status (e.g., CEng, PE, PEng) preferred.
• Extensive experience with design codes and standards relevant to track and structures (EN, Eurocodes, AASHTO/AREMA as applicable), and KSA/regional authority requirements.
• Proficiency in BIM/CDE environments and associated workflows (e.g., ISO 19650), with familiarity in tools such as Autodesk, Bentley, and model review platforms.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and communication skills; proven track record of leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Technical excellence in permanent way and civil/structural design, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Mastery of design governance, assurance, and risk management in a PMC environment.
• Interface management across systems and civil disciplines, with a focus on integration and deliverable quality.
• Commercial acumen: scope definition, change management, value engineering, and claims avoidance.
• Results-driven mindset with the ability to operate in fast-paced, culturally diverse environments and navigate complex stakeholder landscapes in KSA.

Systra is an equal opportunities company; this position is open to all applicants.