Senior Façade Engineer

About the Role

Buro Happold Engineering is seeking a Senior Façade Engineer to join their team in Riyadh. This full-time role involves designing high-performing, sustainable building envelopes and contributing to projects that prioritize sustainability, equity, and social outcomes. The position offers an opportunity to make a significant impact within a practice committed to ethical and impactful work.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead façade engineering delivery for medium-sized projects, with support from senior technical leaders as needed.
• Collaborate within single-discipline and multidisciplinary teams, attending and chairing meetings with clients, architects, contractors, consultants, and specialist subcontractors in an advisory capacity.
• Develop façade designs based on initial client requirements, architectural concepts, or remediation proposals.
• Prepare and coordinate façade details, performance specifications, technical reports, calculations, schedules, and tender documentation.
• Review contractor and supplier technical submissions, including shop drawings, material proposals, samples, mock-ups, and testing documentation.
• Conduct site visits to monitor and assess façade installation, workmanship, quality, and compliance with approved designs.
• Support inspections and technical investigations of existing façade systems and contribute to repair, remediation, or refurbishment recommendations.
• Attend project, site, and technical meetings, providing clear advice on façade design, construction, performance, and coordination.
• Assist senior staff in providing design leadership on façade issues to the wider client and design team.
• Identify façade-related technical risks and develop practical, coordinated, and deliverable solutions.
• Provide input to bids, design competitions, proposals, and work-winning activities.
• Maintain strong professional client relationships throughout project delivery.
• Work effectively with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to technical knowledge sharing within the façade engineering team.
• Perform other duties as required to support project delivery and business objectives.

Required Knowledge and Experience

• Experience in façade design involving at least four of the following materials: aluminium, steel, concrete, stone, glass, and timber.
• Robust knowledge of façade weather-performance requirements, including air permeability, water penetration, drainage, pressure equalization, condensation control, and long-term durability.
• Proficiency in architectural component-detail design, with an understanding of aesthetic intent, technical performance, and buildability.
• Working knowledge of building physics, including ventilation, solar-gain control, thermal insulation, overheating, glare control, and occupant comfort.
• Understanding of structural design principles relevant to façades, including movement, tolerances, support, restraint, deflection, and differential movement.
• Knowledge of glass structural design and glazing-system performance.
• Awareness of sustainability design drivers and the role of façade design in reducing energy demand and improving whole-life building performance.
• Solid understanding of passive fire-protection strategies, including cavity barriers, fire stopping, intumescent paint, and façade fire-safety interfaces.
• Practical knowledge of handling, fabricating, and installing typical cladding materials.
• Knowledge of common façade and cladding systems.

Work Environment

Buro Happold fosters a strong learning culture and an entrepreneurial mindset. The Senior Façade Engineer will operate within an inclusive and diverse practice, contributing to projects that emphasize sustainability, equity, and social outcomes. The company is committed to ethical practices and making a tangible impact.

About Buro Happold Engineering

Buro Happold Engineering is recognized for its commitment to delivering exceptional projects and fostering strong client relationships. The firm maintains a clear strategic plan and a culture that supports professional growth and development.