Technical Director

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.

Context

The Technical Director will provide strategic and technical leadership across the full design lifecycle of the projecs, from concept through detailed design and design support during construction. The role will ensure that all design outputs meet project objectives, client requirements, regulatory standards, and programme milestones.

 

The successful candidate will lead the integration and coordination of multidisciplinary design packages, including civil, structural, architectural, MEP, track, stations, depots, and associated systems interfaces where relevant.

Missions/Main Duties

• Lead and manage the design scope for metro and urban rail projects in Saudi Arabia.
• Provide technical direction across multidisciplinary design teams.
• Oversee design development from concept, preliminary, and detailed design through to construction support.
• Coordinate and integrate inputs from design centres within the Kingdom and international design offices.
• Ensure all design packages are delivered in accordance with scope, schedule, budget, and quality expectations.
• Review and approve technical submissions, reports, drawings, and specifications.
• Ensure compliance with client requirements, local authority regulations, Saudi standards, and international best practices.
• Manage design interfaces across disciplines and with external stakeholders.
• Support risk identification, mitigation, and resolution of technical and design coordination issues.
• Contribute to design strategy, value engineering, innovation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Act as a senior technical focal point for clients, internal leadership, and project delivery teams.
• Mentor and guide design managers, discipline leads, and technical teams.

Profile/Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architecture, or a related engineering discipline. A Master’s degree would be an advantage.
• Minimum of 15 years’ professional experience in design and engineering, with substantial experience on metro or rail infrastructure projects.
• Proven experience in a senior design leadership role such as Technical Director, Design Director, Engineering Manager, or similar.
• Strong experience in managing multidisciplinary design coordination.
• Demonstrated experience working with design centres or engineering teams both within Saudi Arabia and internationally.
• Experience in the Saudi market is essential, including familiarity with local regulations, standards, approval processes, and stakeholder expectations.
• Professional registration or chartership would be an advantage.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong technical knowledge of metro and rail design delivery.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Strong coordination and stakeholder management capability.
• Ability to manage complex technical interfaces across multiple disciplines and locations.
• Strong understanding of design quality assurance and governance processes.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in a multicultural project environment.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of project delivery drivers.

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