Senior Coastal Engineer

Job Description

About the role

Mott MacDonald is growing its coastal engineering presence across the Middle East—and we’re looking for a passionate Coastal Engineer (5+ years’ experience) to join our dynamic land development team. You’ll collaborate with experts across mobility, utilities, sustainability, environment, and waste to deliver transformative coastal and maritime infrastructure projects in the UAE, KSA, and beyond.

This is a unique opportunity to make your mark on high‑profile coastal developments, working on everything from strategic masterplanning to cutting‑edge numerical modelling. If you thrive in multidisciplinary environments and want to help shape resilient, future‑ready coastlines, we want to meet you.

You’ll play a key role in delivering and winning projects that define the region’s coastal landscape. Typical assignments include:

• Major masterplanning and infrastructure design
• Breakwaters, harbors, marinas, and shoreline protection
• Beach design, stabilization studies, and land reclamation
• Numerical modelling (waves, hydrodynamics, sediment transport, flushing, and more)

Key responsibilities and duties are listed, but not limited to, below:

• Support business development efforts and help secure new project wins
• Deliver high‑quality engineering analysis and design for recreational, commercial, and industrial maritime facilities
• Prepare calculations, technical reports, drawings, specifications, and tender documentationCoordinate multidisciplinary inputs across coastal and marine projects
• Conduct met‑ocean assessments and statistical analysis of wind, waves, and water levels
• Undertake advanced numerical modelling (MIKE21, Delft3D)
• Apply relevant international standards and carry out independent research when needed
• Communicate clearly with clients, partners, and internal teams
• Produce technical proposals and contribute to fee estimates
• Travel within the region to engage with clients and project teams

Candidate specifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marine, Coastal, or Civil EngineeringProven experience in UAE/Middle East coastal or marine projects
• Chartered or working toward chartered status
• Strong background in designing coastal structures including breakwaters, marinas, beaches, intakes/outfalls, quay walls, and reclamation works
• Expertise in numerical modelling and met‑ocean analysis
• Excellent communication and report‑writing skills
• Sound commercial awareness and ability to work within budget and programme

Our Purpose
At Mott MacDonald, our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do; relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of our organisation. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate, rather take positive steps towards creating a diverse and inclusive working environment.

Flexible Working
At Mott MacDonald, we support our staff to create work-life balance which works for them and welcome candidates looking for career flexibility. We are open to discussing flexible working at interview stage.

We can offer:

• 90 calendar days’ paid maternity leave
• Competitive annual leave
• An annual professional institution subscription
• Annual company performance bonus scheme – Subject to company performance