Senior Water Engineering Manager

About Jacobs

Jacobs is focused on solving critical global problems to support thriving cities, resilient environments, and operational advancements. The company transforms abstract ideas into realities that benefit the world.

Role Overview

Jacobs is seeking a Senior Water Engineering Manager (Water Transmission) to join the team in Neom, Al Jawf, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role involves providing technical leadership for the completion, commissioning, handover, and close-out of a major water transmission infrastructure project. The manager will lead engineering oversight and technical assurance during the final stages of project delivery, working with project leadership, contractors, commissioning teams, operations representatives, and client stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead engineering activities for the completion and close-out of water transmission assets, including pipelines, pumping stations, reservoirs, and associated infrastructure.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight during testing, commissioning, performance validation, and system acceptance.
• Ensure all water transmission systems meet design intent, operational requirements, regulatory standards, and project specifications.
• Manage the resolution of outstanding engineering issues, technical queries, NCRs, punch-list items, and defects through to final close-out.
• Coordinate engineering reviews of commissioning records, performance testing results, as-built documentation, and handover packages.
• Collaborate with contractors, consultants, and operations teams to support operational readiness and asset transfer.
• Monitor contractor engineering performance and provide guidance for timely delivery of close-out milestones.
• Lead multidisciplinary coordination across civil, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, controls, GIS, and BIM teams.
• Support risk assessments, constructability reviews, lessons learned, and asset optimization initiatives.
• Ensure engineering documentation, technical approvals, asset registers, and turnover records are complete, accurate, and compliant.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Experience: Minimum 20 years in water engineering, with substantial experience in delivering large-scale water transmission, utilities, or infrastructure projects through construction, commissioning, and handover phases.
• Technical Expertise: Strong expertise in water transmission systems, including large-diameter pipelines, pumping stations, reservoirs, hydraulic systems, pressure management, testing & commissioning, operational readiness, and asset handover.
• Infrastructure: Proven experience leading engineering activities on major water, utility, or linear infrastructure projects, preferably in complex stakeholder environments.
• Digital Proficiency: Familiarity with engineering management systems, BIM environments, asset information systems, Autodesk Construction Cloud, and digital project delivery platforms.
• Project & Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of contractor management, change management, project controls, risk management, claims awareness, and project completion processes.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams, manage senior stakeholder relationships, and drive project outcomes in complex delivery environments.
• Behavioral Skills: Strategic thinker with strong communication, problem-solving, decision-making, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Preferred: Chartered Engineer status or equivalent professional registration. Previous experience on major Middle East water infrastructure projects and asset handover programs is highly desirable.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Neom, Al Jawf, Saudi Arabia, focusing on a major water transmission infrastructure project.