Drainage Design Engineer

The Drainage Design Engineer is a specialist role responsible for reviewing and verifying all drainage design deliverables produced by the appointed design consultant for a large-scale, phased residential Design & Build development on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The role focuses specifically on storm water and foul drainage infrastructure — covering drainage network design, hydraulic analysis, catchment assessment, and outfall arrangements — ensuring that all submitted drainage designs meet project requirements, Abu Dhabi authority standards, and applicable codes of practice.

Reporting to the Senior Roads Design Engineer, the successful candidate works closely within the roads and drainage team to ensure that drainage and road designs are fully integrated. Working knowledge of road design principles is advantageous for coordination and design integration purposes, with road design review managed by the Senior Roads Design Engineer.

Key responsibilities: 

Drainage Design Review & Verification

• Review all drainage design submissions from the appointed consultant including drawings, hydraulic calculations, specifications, and reports.
• Verify that drainage solutions comply with ADSSC standards, Abu Dhabi authority requirements, and project-specific criteria.
• Assess storm water drainage designs including catchment analysis, rainfall intensity, pipe sizing, inlet design, and outfall arrangements.
• Review foul drainage network designs including sewer pipe sizing, gradients, manhole layouts, and connection to ADSSC infrastructure.
• Evaluate hydraulic analysis reports and verify adequacy of drainage network capacity under design storm conditions.
• Check drainage profiles, long-sections, and manhole schedules for accuracy and compliance.
• Review sustainable urban drainage (SuDS) provisions and attenuation designs where applicable.
• Identify design deficiencies or non-conformances and prepare draft technical review comments for consultant response and close-out.
• Maintain and update the drainage design submission register and review comment tracker.

Authority & Compliance

• Support the preparation of drainage design packages for ADSSC, DM, TASAREEH, and other relevant authority submissions.
• Assist in tracking authority comments and coordinating consultant responses for drainage NOC and approval processes.
• Maintain working knowledge of ADSSC drainage design standards, Abu Dhabi drainage codes, and Yas Island-specific drainage requirements.

Construction Support

• Assist in reviewing drainage shop drawings, contractor submittals, and method statements during the construction phase.
• Support resolution of technical queries (RFIs) and design clarifications related to drainage works during construction.
• Participate in site visits to verify drainage installations are executed in accordance with approved designs.
• Support drainage testing, commissioning, and ADSSC connection approval processes as required.

Coordination & Reporting

• Coordinate closely with the Senior Roads Design Engineer to ensure road and drainage designs are fully integrated and levels are compatible.
• Liaise with the Infrastructure Lead Engineer and NOC team on drainage-related authority submissions.
• Attend design review meetings and drainage coordination workshops as required.
• Maintain accurate records of drainage design submissions, review cycles, and comment status.
• Escalate unresolved technical issues to the Senior Roads Design Engineer promptly.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university — mandatory.
• Master's Degree in Hydraulic Engineering, Water Resources, or a related discipline — advantageous.
• Membership or working towards membership of a recognised professional body (ICE, IMechE, ASCE, or equivalent) — advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 4 years of experience in drainage engineering, with UAE project exposure.
• Experience in reviewing or contributing to drainage design packages on residential or mixed-use developments in Abu Dhabi — preferred.
• Familiarity with ADSSC drainage design standards and Abu Dhabi drainage submission processes — advantageous.
• Exposure to hydraulic analysis software outputs (InfoWorks ICM, SWIM, or equivalent) — advantageous.
• Experience in Design & Build or contractor environments — advantageous.
• Familiarity with road design principles for coordination and design integration purposes.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in AutoCAD and Civil 3D — mandatory for drainage design review and mark-up.
• Ability to interpret drainage drawings, hydraulic calculations, long-sections, and catchment analysis reports.
• Familiarity with ADSSC drainage design standards and Abu Dhabi drainage codes.
• Exposure to hydraulic modelling software outputs (InfoWorks, SWIM, or equivalent) — advantageous.
• Working knowledge of document control systems and Microsoft Office suite.

Other Requirements

• Valid UAE driving licence — required.
• Good written and spoken English; Arabic is advantageous.
• Strong attention to detail with a methodical approach to drainage design checking.
• Good coordination skills for working closely with the roads engineer and wider infrastructure team.

Key Competencies

• Drainage Engineering Fundamentals (Storm Water & Foul)
• Hydraulic Analysis & Network Design Review
• ADSSC & Abu Dhabi Drainage Regulatory Compliance
• Design Review & Technical Comment Preparation
• Road & Drainage Design Integration
• Attention to Detail & Methodical Approach

Relevant Abu Dhabi Authorities & Standards

The successful candidate is expected to have working knowledge of the following authorities and drainage standards:

• Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC) — foul and storm drainage design standards, network connection, and approval requirements.
• Department of Municipalities (DM) — development and planning compliance for drainage infrastructure.
• TASAREEH — permit and approval management platform for Abu Dhabi construction works.
• Department of Transport (DOT) — road drainage interface and road crossing requirements.
• Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC) — utility corridor coordination with drainage networks.

Nova International General Contracting is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees are treated fairly and with respect. Employment decisions are made based on qualifications, experience, and business requirements, without unlawful discrimination, and in accordance with applicable UAE labor and employment laws. All hiring and employment is subject to compliance with UAE regulatory requirements, including those relating to work permits and residency visas, where applicable.