View Vacancy – AUH – Mechanical & Electrical Design Engineer (SEO)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

FCDO Services

Job Subcategory

Programme / Project Delivery

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The British Embassy Abu Dhabi has two (2) vacancies for a Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) Design Engineer, job grade Senior Executive Officer (SEO) on a fixed-term contract for three (3) years.

Based in Abu Dhabi, as part of the FCDO Services Middle East and Africa (MEA) Project Team, the M&E Design Engineer will be responsible for leading on the design and management of a range of Mechanical & Electrical projects, ranging from £10k up to £5m in value.   They may also be required to lead a global multi-disciplinary team (in-house and external consultants) from inception through design, tendering, on-site supervision and completion. The job holder will engage customers, stakeholders and end-users at each stage of the process, ensuring the delivery of the end-product meets the brief.  A flexible working approach is also necessary as there is often a need to react, sometimes at short notice, to the changing needs and events that impact on the FCDO’s overseas estate. This will require frequent travel around the MEA and APAC region and also on a global level where required.   

The role provides opportunities to work on some iconic and unique buildings and to experience the engineering industry in a broad range of cultures. The role requires a willingness to continually develop your own skills and that of the team. To develop and drive continuous improvement in Construction Design and Management (CDM), design processes, FCDO Services installation standards, technical assurance and accreditation.

The FCDO is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We do not discriminate on any basis, including categories protected by law. In keeping with the FCDO’s commitment to disability inclusion in the workplace, hiring managers must incorporate the principles set out in the FCDO Disability Confident scheme job applications in the CBS recruitment process. Our CBS are recruited by Missions in-country in line with local employment laws.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Responsible for leading on the design and management of a range of Mechanical & Electrical projects through the MEA and APAC regions.
• Understanding, capturing and defining the client’s requirements and objective.
• Undertaking peer reviews on designs developed by other engineers within the global team and external to the organisation.
• Act as the customer liaison, engaging with clients and project sponsors to develop their Brief and Project Requirements, providing specialist knowledge as appropriate.
• Good awareness of budget and resource management is essential in the job. Prepare and manage cost budgets relating to provision of services and the timely delivery of projects within project fee budgets.
• A willingness to travel overseas, sometimes at short notice.
• The job holder may also be required to act as Project Manager on individual projects with overall responsibility for design and supervision. Experience of contract administration would be of benefit.
• Close liaison with our in-house Architects, Surveyors & Structural Engineers is necessary to ensure that all aspects of construction and property maintenance are co-ordinated.
• Engagement with, and management of, overseas-based construction consultants and Clerks of Works.
• Provide assistance in developing fee proposals for project-based work.
• Where possible, identify wider market opportunities to support business growth.
• Maintain an effective professional development (CPD), as well as developing existing and new skills.
• Provide professional Mechanical & Electrical Engineering advice to customers and stakeholders.
• Liaise with customers and stakeholders at a senior level including Ambassadors, DHM’s and High Commissioners at Post to ensure their requirements are understood and met.
• Liaise with the Regional Technical Leads / Technical Works Supervisors
• Work directly with FCDO security advisors to ensure their recommendations are integrated into project proposals.
• Provide regular reports on individual project progress, budgets and programmes for Project Management to customers, typically ESND, PAGs and Wider Market Customers.
• Keep abreast of developments relating to professional and FCDO Services business developments.
• Perform site checks to ensure project quality.
• Carry out live site surveys to generate Snag Lists and Defects Reports for on-going projects.
• Assist other Technical Department members in producing design information across multiple disciplines.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required.

Key behaviours required:

• Managing a Quality Service: Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
• Working Together: Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.
• Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Communicating and Influencing: Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.
• Making Effective Decisions: Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.

Eligibility

Applicants must be able to obtain an appropriate level of UK Security Clearance. Higher clearances can be granted only to certain nationalities. For this reason, candidates must be of British, American, Australian, Canadian, or New Zealand nationality in order to gain and maintain the level of clearance required.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Professional Engineering qualification.
• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer registered with the Engineering Council (C Eng / I Eng), or able to demonstrate you are actively working towards IEng registration via EngTec.
• Corporate member of professional Engineering body i.e. Institution of Engineering & Technology (MIET) or Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (MCIBSE).
• Minimum 7 years post qualification experience in the field.
• Proven track record in leading design and construction teams through project management processes.
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly, confidently and professionally with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of current Health and Safety legislation as applied in a M&E engineering context.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills – both written and verbal.
• Good financial management skills.
• Knowledge and use of Design Software: AutoCAD etc., Microsoft suite: Word, Excel and Project.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Knowledge and use of specialist software: IES, Amtech, Dialux etc.
• Understanding of FCDO Services financial and commercial processes.
• Understanding of the operation of the FCDO Estate.
• Appreciation of Embassy & Residence security and fit-out requirements.
• Experience of working overseas.
• Specialist design awareness of the secure environment within the FCDO Estate.

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together

Application deadline

9 August 2026

Grade

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week

40

Region

Middle East & North Africa

Country/Territory

United Arab Emirates

Location (City)

Abu Dhabi

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

2

Salary Currency

AED

Salary

34,820

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

28 September 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, which includes 25 days of leave per annum (calculated pro-rata).

The salary for this role is AED 34,820 per month. The salary is non-negotiable.

There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

This role is for a full-time employment, on a fixed term contract basis for three (3) years, subject to six (6) months’ probationary period. The contract may be extended, subject to satisfactory performance and on on-going business requirement.

The Embassy is open from Monday to Friday from 0700 to 1800 hrs.  The Employee’s normal weekly working hours are forty (40) Monday to Friday (inclusive). This is inclusive of one-hour paid rest break for each five (5) hours worked; the timing of the rest break shall be approved by the Employee’s Line Manager and in accordance with operational requirements.

The jobholder will be required to be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and will involve frequently working out of hours.

This role is based in Abu Dhabi but will involve frequent travel to the MEA and APAC region and on a global level where required. The successful candidate must be able to secure visas for these countries.

The Embassy has an active Learning and Development Committee, and the whole of Post is committed to providing the time and resources for staff to develop personally and professionally. The 70/20/10 learning and development model is applied in a flexible manner, with extensive informal and formal opportunities readily available.

The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy’s sponsorship. Individuals holding Golden visas will need to cancel them prior to transferring to Embassy sponsorship. 

Additional information

How to apply:

Interested candidates must ensure that the following is fully completed:

1. Fully completed online application form which must include:
2. Fully completed education details and employment history
3. Fully completed experience, professional skills and behaviour-based sections in the online application form.

Please note: It is mandatory that all applicants complete the online application form including the employment and educational details, technical, skills and experience sections and the behaviour-based questions. Applications that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered whilst shortlisting for the next stage.

Closing date for applications is at 23:55 UAE local time on 9th August 2026.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Internal candidates (i.e., those employed by the British Embassies in Abu Dhabi & Dubai) applying for this position are advised to inform their current line managers upon submission of their application.

Process:

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two-three months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and with UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidates’ profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step of the recruitment process will be contacted.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is tentative and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures before employment can begin. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

The FCDO operates an agile approach to delivery. To facilitate an agile workforce, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.  The British Embassy Abu Dhabi is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.